How to plan an NCI Property Inspection Trip

You can also listen to this article.

How to plan a North Cyprus Property Inspection Trip

Buying your new home should be FUN.  NCI has been arranging successful inspection trips, property viewing trips to North Cyprus for overseas buyers from all over the world since 2004.  

Our NCI staff pride ourselves in 

* Hand-picking the most suitable properties for your needs (including property finding)

* Saving your time during the visit by avoiding wasted viewings

* Making your visit really enjoyable.  Read our TESTIMONIALS!

We offer courtesy airport transfers and hotel refunds for qualified clients (more below).  We can also help with hotel and flight recommendations and car hire advice/booking.

Just complete our PROPERTY QUESTIONNAIRE, arrange a telephone/online consultation – and let us take care of the details!  

For more information or to discuss your visit please email us on help@northcyprusinternational.com or call us on +44 207 112 8086 (UK) or +90 548 861 0600 (TRNC).

Your North Cyprus Property Viewing Visit – FAQs

How should I choose which North Cyprus property agency to use for an inspection trip?

It’s important to choose a North Cyprus property agency which has been long established and which therefore offers clients the benefit of genuine independent advice and experience both before and during their viewing visit. North Cyprus International (NCI) has been in business since 2004 and has helped many 100s of overseas buyers achieve their dream home. 

NCI also aims to check the paperwork of all the properties which are sold, making sure that our clients have a truly a hassle-free buying experience.  

How can I best prepare for my North Cyprus Viewing Visit, Inspection Trip?

The best way to prepare is to do background research on subjects like:  North Cyprus areas, North Cyprus Villages, North Cyprus property buying costs, North Cyprus Investment etc.  Use the NCI website NEWS section to read through our latest articles.  This can be far more useful than spending hours on Rightmove or websites trying to choose in advance which property to purchase, particularly during periods of property boom where listings may go out of date very quickly.

Should I create a “favourites” property viewing list before I travel to North Cyprus?

The chances that you will end up buying one of your pre trip “favourites” is statistically very low!  Our experience tells us that clients who try to choose exactly which properties to view before they arrive in Cyprus, very rarely end up buying one from their selection.

The reasons are multiple:  everything looks different in real life, properties are selling very fast at present and may sell prior to arrival, new property options may arise which you prefer, OR you may decide you like the property but not the areas or facilities around it and choose a different area.

How does North Cyprus International find me the best properties to view?

We believe your property agency should use their experience to do the leg work for you.   At NCI after we receive the completed PROPERTY QUESTIONNAIRE and interview a client on the phone, we usually have a very strong idea prior to the visit, what may be best for the clients to purchase.  If you are viewing exclusively with NCI, we also spend a lot of time on pre-trip property finding.

In this way, choosing a North Cyprus property is very different to choosing a property in your own country.  In your country you have far more background information about the country, the areas, the locations, property types etc and can therefore find it much easier to search online for the right property.  In a foreign country this is something you need experts to help you with, making it much harder to choose the property before you are physically in the country.

Will my North Cyprus property agency help me with flight bookings?

We don’t book your flights, but we can offer help if you need it.

Flight bookings are the responsibility of the visitor as we are not a travel agency, but we can certainly give you some tips.  Please check your dates with us, before booking your flights, so we can ensure our diary is free for you.  We recommend using Skyscanner website to check flights (though book directly with the airline) – and you can sometimes save money by travelling with different airlines on the outward and return flight.  You may wish to use a travel agency like Cyprus Paradise.

Will my North Cyprus property agency help with my accommodation?

North Cyprus International has good knowledge of and contacts with North Cyprus hotels and will be happy to make recommendations for the best hotels or self-catering options on booking.com. We do have an arrangement with one 3-star family run Kyrenia hotel where we can get price discounts and do the booking for you and where you can pay on arrival.  We recommend our clients to stay in the Kyrenia area unless you are specifically coming to purchase an East Coast property.

Into which airport should I fly for a North Cyprus property visit?

When travelling to North Cyprus to view property, you should ideally arrive into Ercan (ECN) in the North via Turkey or Larnaca (LCA) in the South.

Flying into Paphos is possible but the taxi fare is much higher so not recommended.  It’s important that your departing flight is from the same side of the island as you arrived into – or you may have immigration issues in the future.

If I fly to South Cyprus, how do I get over the border to North Cyprus?

Property viewing, inspection trip visitors arriving into South Cyprus will need to get a taxi over the border to the north of the island.  As the two halves of the island operate as different countries, there are no buses which go over the border.

If you are viewing only with North Cyprus International, we will pay for your arrival taxi (whether you purchase or not).  If you buy with us during your stay, we will also pay for your return taxi.  If you are viewing with multiple agencies, we can help you arrange but not pay for your transfer taxi.

We do not recommend trying to drive yourself across in a hire car, particularly on a first visit, if you are driving in the dark (signage is poor or non-existent) and most hire cars don’t have sat navs in Cyprus.  You will also have to deal with purchasing extra insurance at the border and some crossing points only sell insurance in daytime hours. 

Will I need a visa for a North Cyprus Property Viewing Visit?

Generally, no.  Please read the notes at the end of this article if you are not sure.

Does the North Cyprus property agency pay for my flight or accommodation?

NCI does not pay for flights or accommodation but fully qualified clients who buy during their visit may get hotel costs refunded – Please see the end of the FAQs for details.

In which area should I stay for a North Cyprus Property Viewing Visit?

We always recommend that those without a car stay within walking distance of the Kyrenia harbour so that you can enjoy yourself in the evenings in Kyrenia.  If you will hire a car, you can venture further afield!  

How many days do I need to view properties in North Cyprus?

For a property viewing visit to North Cyprus, if it’s your first visit, we recommend coming for at least 5-7 days and combining property viewings with exploration of the island and areas.  If you know the island well, then NCI recommends an absolute minimum of 2 full viewing days, inspection trip, and ideally 3 full days (two viewing days and a last day for lawyer visits etc).

Can I just come for a weekend to view North Cyprus property?

If at all possible, plan your property viewing visit for weekdays.

It’s not ideal to come just for a weekend to view North Cyprus property but if it’s the only time you have, we at NCI will try to work with you.  Many new build sites are closed on Sundays and some property owners don’t want to show their houses at the weekends if in residence.  Lawyer offices may open on Saturday mornings but are closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.

Can I view properties with multiple North Cyprus property agencies?

Viewing properties with multiple agencies in North Cyprus is not the ideal way to arrange your property inspection trip.  North Cyprus is bigger than you may think!

It can be tempting to plan a property viewing visit with multiple agencies, believing that this way you will see the best array of properties.  In practice viewing with multiple agencies can be confusing, lead to duplicate viewings and involve exhausting repeat drives to the same areas, often in hot weather, perhaps two days in a row.  

Most properties in North Cyprus are not sole agency properties and most agencies have a selection of new build and resale properties on the same sites.  Doing repeat visits to the same sites on different days can be exhausting.   The best plan is to choose ideally one, maximum two agents.  At NCI, if you send us the online links to the properties you wish to view, we can usually show you most online listed properties and if we can’t show you ourselves, we do the work of contacting the other agencies on your behalf and arranging joint viewings.

If you view exclusively with NCI, we also work much harder on the pre-visit personal property finding.  This is because we find that those booking with multiple agencies become exhausted and often cancel viewings – meaning that property finding for such clients is a waste of time.

Will I need to visit a North Cyprus lawyer?

North Cyprus property buyers are advised to always use a qualified North Cyprus lawyer for the property conveyancing.  Our NCI website has a section on SUGGESTED LAWYERS and will arrange free of charge initial meetings during your property inspection visit.

Will I be pressurised to buy a property on my first visit to North Cyprus?

At NCI we never pressure clients and our TESTIMONIALS show that our visitors do not feel pressurised.

Do I need to hire a car during a North Cyprus property viewing trip?

If you are coming on a North Cyprus property viewing trip you do not have to hire a car as our staff will drive you to all the properties and areas.  However, if it’s your first trip to Cyprus or a longer visit, you may wish to have a car to explore on your own.  The minimum hire period is 3 days.  Our NCI staff can book your car hire for you if you wish.

Should I reserve a property before I travel to Cyprus?

It’s not normal to reserve a property before travelling to view North Cyprus properties, as reservation deposits are generally non-refundable.

Sometimes clients are wishing to reserve on zoom tours and then come to Cyprus to see what they have reserved.  This is only recommended if you know the island and areas well or if the type of property which you are seeking is very rare and you find something exceptional online which is likely to sell before you can get to see it.

What if all my favourite properties are sold by the time I arrive?

If you are visiting North Cyprus during a period of property boom, then it’s very likely that some of your favourites will have sold before you can view, particularly if you are coming to view the lower priced properties.  However, our NCI staff will advise you before you visit whether or not your budget is practical and realistic to find what you need upon arrival.  We also work very hard to do property finding for you, which can take place even the day before you arrive.  We have never had a situation where inspection trip clients ended up with nothing to view or felt their visit was a waste of time.

What’s the process for reserving a property during a North Cyprus property visit?

During your NCi property viewing visit, you will be shown a selection of suitable properties.  You will usually narrow this down to one or two favourites and require second viewings on the 2^nd day.  If you then wish to reserve one, we advise visiting a lawyer at that stage and paying the reservation deposit to the lawyer.  This is part of the sale price. The lawyer will then do a few checks and if happy, will pass this on to the seller, at which point it becomes non-refundable.

We do not recommend paying a reservation deposit to a North Cyprus property agency.

Can I reserve a North Cyprus property with a credit card, or do I need cash?

If you wish to reserve a North Cyprus property and are paying the reservation deposit to your chosen lawyer, usually the lawyer will accept credit cards.  You can also pay in cash if you prefer.

Which currency of cash should I bring with me for a North Cyprus property visit?

We recommend bringing Euro or pound sterling cash.  Most shops and restaurants accept these notes but not coins.

Do I need to open a North Cyprus bank account to purchase a North Cyprus property?

It is not necessary to open a bank account to purchase a property.  Money can be sent to your North Cyprus lawyer client account.  Banks now usually require a permanent address in any case, prior to opening an account.

Should I pay a reservation deposit to a North Cyprus property agency, or my lawyer?

For reserving a North Cyprus property, it is far preferable to pay your reservation deposit to your lawyer and not to the agency.  Be careful of agencies who ask for deposits over the ‘phone.

How much is a North Cyprus property reservation deposit?

Reservation deposits range in price from £2,000 to £10,000 depending upon the type/price of the property and also the period for which the property is being held prior to contract.  This is something you should discuss with your agent.

Are North Cyprus property reservation deposits refundable?

Once the North Cyprus lawyer has passed the reservation deposit to the seller, they are non-refundable.

Can I make the North Cyprus property buying decision after I return home?

You can decide whenever you wish, when to purchase your chosen property.  However, if there is a chance you may decide after leaving Cyprus, it’s still extremely important to set up a Power of Attorney with a local lawyer during your property inspection trip.   

Once I have reserved a North Cyprus property, how long does it take until I can move in?

The period between the reservation deposit and the contract signing with a key ready property can vary from one month to 3 months but is not usually longer than this.  This can depend upon a variety of factors, which will change from time to time, including the local regulations and procedures (title deed offices, backlogs at Land Registry offices etc).  Please discuss this with your North Cyprus property agency.

Do North Cyprus property agencies charge a fee to the property buyer?

North Cyprus property agencies do not charge a fee to the buyer for their services.  The fees are paid by the property seller.

Does North Cyprus International also offer an after sales service?

One main reason for choosing North Cyprus International is that we pride ourselves on our hands on After Sales Service.  Your contact with us does not stop once you pay your deposit!

We also offer all those buying with us a FREE TWO MONTH Property management with our colleagues at CDS Property Maintenance Services, with whom we share an office.   We liaise regularly with your chosen lawyer to do all we can to expedite your purchase and make it as smooth as possible.  We can also refer you to other agencies for advice on all other aspects of your relocation whether it be importing your pet, arranging your residency, purchasing furniture packages, renting out your property and more.

If you have further queries or wish to book an NCI Property Viewing Trip, Inspection Trip – please contact us via email: help@northcyprusinternational.com or call us on +44 207 112 8086 or +90 548 861 0600.

We look forward to welcoming you!

FURTHER DETAILS ON ACCOMMDATION REFUNDS & VISAS

When you view with North Cyprus International, we prefer our clients to feel under no obligation to purchase and being an independent agency we are able to show you both new build and the more affordable resale properties.  This is unlike other “property tour” companies who will show you only the higher priced developer properties.  We therefore don’t pay for your hotel or self-catering accommodation in advance but qualified clients viewing only with our company on an inspection trip who do reserve a property, are eligible to get 3 nights’ accommodation fee refunded against the cost of their reservation IF booked and agreed in advance with our company.

NOTES ON VISAS

Almost all passport nationalities (especially European, British, from Commonwealth countries, Turkey, most of Middle East) are able to arrive directly into Ercan Airport via Turkey and receive an automatic 30 day visitor visa on arrival.  If your passport nationality is from the Indian or African sub continents, you may need an advance visa – please check with your travel agency.  Please note, we cannot write letters of invitation.    

If you are flying into the European South of Cyprus (Larnaca or Paphos) you should check you are able to enter the European or Schengen area (you can check with a Cypriot Embassy if you are not sure).  Again, an excellent travel agency in the UK is Cyprus Paradise.