Why Properties in Northern Cyprus?

Northern Cyprus Property offers the best value for money investment in the Mediterranean region with a high standard of living, significantly cheaper than in any other popular European destinations. With properties in North Cyprus your investment has a huge potential value growth to boost your hard earned savings.
The north part of the island will enchant you with its unspoiled nature and beautiful weather, friendliness of the local people; it is virtually crime free and lots of opportunities to make your social life as interesting as you want it to be, with the thriving and growing Western European and a large local British community. It is not commercialised by massive tourist industry.

Paradise for Retired

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Retired people settle in north part of Cyprus because they enjoy higher standards of living in their new homes, compared to what their pension can buy in Spain, France, Germany, South Cyprus and especially in Britain. It is becoming more attractive as North Cyprus remains a very cheap place to live without compromises on luxuries and with great opportunity to improve your living standards.

Northern Cyprus Properties – are they for Retired Only?
Investment in North Cyprus property may not only appeal to retired people. Younger generations are looking for alternatives of securing their future as their pension funds look less and less attractive, being invested in stock and shares that might leave them less well off, when it comes to retirement. You also might be searching for a seasonal retreat from home for holidays or short breaks.
Buying a Property in Northern Cyprus
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Buying a property in North Cyprus now could be your opportunity to be at the right place at the right time, before the expected rise in property prices. You do not need to be rich to make a first move in buying a property in Northern Cyprus.
If you consider buying villas in North Cyprus or apartments, you should look for the best Northern Cyprus estate agents.
Sunny Property Estate Agents will offer you the best prices for North Cyprus properties to satisfy any of your requirements and provide you with full after sales support.


History and other useful information

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is close to the Turkish coast (approximately 65 km from the north coast), Egypt to the south (around 420km) and Syria to the east (100km). TRNC territory encompasses a third of the island.
The climate in Cyprus is typically Mediterranean with long dry summers and short, rainy winters. The average annual year round temperature is 19oC (66oF). The temperature in midsummer can reach over 40oC (105oF). The sea temperature never falls below 16oC and the average throughout the year of 22oC (75oF). The winter eather is very mild and frost is almost unknown. The island remains green even in winter months. From May to September the sun shines around 11 hours a day, 340 days a year and it is ideal for swimming in the sea. Spring and autumn are short and the weather is changeable during this period.
Background

The island has been ruled by more than two dozen nations. This has been reflected in it's history and influenced religion, trade, culture, language, politics and pace of life.

A Cypriot nation has never existed in the long history of the island and its population is descended from the settlers from many races, who ruled the island. However from the end of 16th century, two distinct nationalities could be identified. One is of the Greek Cypriots with Greek ancestors, another from Turkish Cypriots, originally from Turkish mainland Anatolia. These nationalities existed peacefully for more than four centuries during the ruling of the Ottoman Empire and subsequently under the British ruling from 1878 until 1960. On 16 August 1960, the transfer of power was completed and a new bi-communal Republic was proclaimed in Mediterranean. The co-partnership of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots started. There were a lot of controversy around the constitution and unequal representation of Greeks and Turks in the Government during the takeover period, supported by the strong desire of the Greek Cypriot community to reunite with Greece, which was not popular in the other community. The situation escalated in the following years, which led to the island being divided in two parts. Turkish Cypriots were moving north of the island, where they felt safe, leaving their land, property and belongings in the South. There were a lot of atrocities on both sides, which reached their peak in 1974. They were stopped by Turkish intervention and ever since the Turkish and Greek peoples of the island have been living within their separate independent states in peace and complete security. Great Britain provided a home for refugees from both sides of the island in hard times, keeping impartial and offering its role as a peacemaker. There is a British Consulate in the capital of TRNC Nicosia, which will provide you with a high standard service as usual, if you ever come to need their help.

The Turkish and Greek Cypriots are looking to find a fair solution to reunite the island and the negotiations are ongoing with the Southern part. However, this process is not going to be fast.

In the meantime, the Greek Cypriots, as well as British ex-patriates and other European nationalities that live in TRNC today, have the same living conditions as Turkish Cypriots. There are no restrictions on their freedom of movement, access to medical and educational facilities, freedom to attend religious services. The same laws apply to everybody. Turkish Cypriots will overwhelm you with their politeness and friendliness. They are particularly fond of Europeans, especially British people, as many of them have families or relatives in UK now and reminisce about the nostalgic old days.

History and other useful information

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is close to the Turkish coast (approximately 65 km from the north coast), Egypt to the south (around 420km) and Syria to the east (100km). TRNC territory encompasses a third of the island.
The climate in Cyprus is typically Mediterranean with long dry summers and short, rainy winters. The average annual year round temperature is 19oC (66oF). The temperature in midsummer can reach over 40oC (105oF). The sea temperature never falls below 16oC and the average throughout the year of 22oC (75oF). The winter eather is very mild and frost is almost unknown. The island remains green even in winter months. From May to September the sun shines around 11 hours a day, 340 days a year and it is ideal for swimming in the sea. Spring and autumn are short and the weather is changeable during this period.

Background

The island has been ruled by more than two dozen nations. This has been reflected in it's history and influenced religion, trade, culture, language, politics and pace of life.
A Cypriot nation has never existed in the long history of the island and its population is descended from the settlers from many races, who ruled the island. However from the end of 16th century, two distinct nationalities could be identified. One is of the Greek Cypriots with Greek ancestors, another from Turkish Cypriots, originally from Turkish mainland Anatolia. These nationalities existed peacefully for more than four centuries during the ruling of the Ottoman Empire and subsequently under the British ruling from 1878 until 1960. On 16 August 1960, the transfer of power was completed and a new bi-communal Republic was proclaimed in Mediterranean. The co-partnership of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots started. There were a lot of controversy around the constitution and unequal representation of Greeks and Turks in the Government during the takeover period, supported by the strong desire of the Greek Cypriot community to reunite with Greece, which was not popular in the other community. The situation escalated in the following years, which led to the island being divided in two parts. Turkish Cypriots were moving north of the island, where they felt safe, leaving their land, property and belongings in the South. There were a lot of atrocities on both sides, which reached their peak in 1974. They were stopped by Turkish intervention and ever since the Turkish and Greek peoples of the island have been living within their separate independent states in peace and complete security. Great Britain provided a home for refugees from both sides of the island in hard times, keeping impartial and offering its role as a peacemaker. There is a British Consulate in the capital of TRNC Nicosia, which will provide you with a high standard service as usual, if you ever come to need their help.
The Turkish and Greek Cypriots are looking to find a fair solution to reunite the island and the negotiations are ongoing with the Southern part. However, this process is not going to be fast.
In the meantime, the Greek Cypriots, as well as British ex-patriates and other European nationalities that live in TRNC today, have the same living conditions as Turkish Cypriots. There are no restrictions on their freedom of movement, access to medical and educational facilities, freedom to attend religious services. The same laws apply to everybody. Turkish Cypriots will overwhelm you with their politeness and friendliness. They are particularly fond of Europeans, especially British people, as many of them have families or relatives in UK now and reminisce about the nostalgic old days.

Land Title
There are several categories of land title in Northern Cyprus.

a) Clean freehold British or foreign title pre-1974 - internationally recognised title deeds.
b) Turkish Cypriot pre-1974 - also 100% safe, but subject to re-registration by the TRNC Council of Ministers, which can take up to 6 months.
c) TRNC absolute possession document - land previously owned by Greek Cypriots who moved south in 1974. Turkish Cypriots moving north were allowed to take over these properties, after surrendering rights to their home in the South to the TRNC government, who assess values on a points basis and hold property ‘in trust’ until a settlement is reached. Often known as ‘exchanged land’.
d) Turkish Mainland Deed - land awarded to military personnel and their families, and granted to people in mainland Turkey prepared to settle on the island.
e) Land offered without title deeds, or where the granting of title is pending a decision by the TRNC courts, or offered on a 49 year lease by the government. In our opinion, this should not be purchased.

What is acceptable Title?
Land and buildings under categories a) and b) above usually command a premium in price for obvious
reasons. However, some new properties are being built on categories c) and d) land with correspondingly lower asking prices. The degree of risk to incoming purchasers is generally regarded as low. If a settlement between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots is every reached, it has been suggested that a nominal compensation payment of about a third of the land value / 10% of the property’s value - would be due. (such claims will be handled by the TRNC government rather than by individual property owners). Meanwhile, the property’s value could increase by up to 100%, as north/south prices equalize, either on re-unification of the island or, (more likely), outright recognition of the TRNC by the international community.