With the increasing complexity of the property market and the constant introduction of new concepts and measures new for the island (although not so in the European countries) it is advisable that the potential purchaser seeks professional advice prior to concluding a deal in order for hardships and disappointments to be avoided. This advice is specially useful to the foreign purchaser who has to encounter the problem of different laws and local attitudes. For this reason this firm has prepared the following tips which may be useful to the local property purchaser.

Try to check whether there is any road or other scheme which affects your property or the locality in general. It is advisable that you buy a recent Lands' and Surveys' plan (a whole sheet) for the property you intend to buy, since on these plans many proposed public projects such as roads etc are shown. It is best, if you suspect any schemes in the area you wish to invest, to see the District Inspector (at the District Officer's Office) and/or pay a visit to the local Planning Office.

Location: In any particular area there are many blocks of flats under construction (this is less true for the Paphos residential areas). Try to shop around and choose a block in a good area. Of course what is a 11 good" area is relative and depends on various factors including personal judgement and taste. it is widely accepted, however, that a 11 good" area is one which is relatively central, not densely developed with flats, more of a residential area, relatively quiet (not on main roads) and which is close to schools and shops.

Permission will be granted to company for the acquisition of property, provided that it is for its own use. Offshore companies could therefore, acquire property within the above limits.Generally the permission will not be granted if the property is to be used for letting to others, commercial exploitation or speculation.

On a sale of a property the current policy is to allow immediate repatriation of a sum equivalent to the amount of the original purchase value of property. Any profit can be exported at the rate of CY 10,000 per calendar year, plus any interest.There is no Capital Gains Tax where the property was acquired by the importation of foreign currency. Otherwise CGT is levied at 20% on gains in excess of CY 5,000.