If you are purchasing a property on a new development, it will have been set by the developers/management company. Regardless of agent’s commissions, you should still pay the same price whoever you purchase through whether you go direct or through a third party. Resale properties are handled much the same way as in the UK with a valuation taking place and the agent’s fees agreed before the property is marketed.
Cyprus is registered on a land registry, similar to that on the United Kingdom. Therefore, the purchase process generally follows that of the United Kingdom but with differences. Use a Solicitor !!! It cannot be emphasised too strongly that anyone planning to buy land or property in Cyprus must take expert, independent legal advice.
Never sign anything or pay any money until you have sought legal advice in a language in which you are fluent from an experienced solicitor (ideally, someone who has been recommended).Under no circumstances should you use a solicitor who has been introduced or recommended to you by a vendor, agent or developer.
Accommodation: Avoid purchasing an one bedroom or studio type of accommodation (unless you are in a resort area) since you will have problems on resale. Prefer to get hired accommodation rather than think that you will sell your one bedroom unit and buy a larger one in the future.You may well find that selling the one bedroom flat is problematic. Flats most in demand are the three bedroom (around 120-130 sq.m.) and two bedroom (70-100 sq.m.) ones. This state of affairs is fluid however and changes from time to time and from location to location. In resort areas the most marketable accommodation are the compact one and two bedroom flats.
Upon signing a contract, the Purchaser is liable to pay stamp duty which amounts to 0.115% of a purchase price up to CY 100.000, and then at a rate of 0.2% on any purchase price in excess of CY100.000.Land registry fees are payable when the owner ship of the property is transferred. This is on a sliding scale, ranging from 5% to 8% depending upon the value of the property.