At NCI we want your property viewing trip to Cyprus to be stress-free, enjoyable and above all – successful!.
How does NCI prepare to help property inspection visitors?
Before our visitors arrive, we gather as much information in advance about each set of clients. This includes details on your lifestyle and what type of property you have in mind. This ensures your trip is stress free and your time is used efficiently. We want to make sure that unnecessary driving (often in the heat) is avoided and that every property you view is suitable for you! North Cyprus is bigger than you might think…
NCI Property Questionnaire – and follow up call.
If you have not yet completed the NCI Property Questionnaire, please do so as that’s the important first step. Once you have completed the questionnaire, if you are coming soon, we usually arrange a telephone call with one of our experts. In this call, we –
- Review your questionnaire responses
- Give you feedback on what we feel are the right property types for you.
- Help you plan your visit including recommendations/help with accommodation, airport transfer and if necessary, car hire.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions we get in our first phone calls. We hope that you will find reading this helpful as preparation and save time on any calls with us.
Do we make our own Property Viewing Shortlist?
The short answer is yes and no.
- Buying a property abroad – particularly for the first time – is a very different process from buying a property in your own country.
- It’s best to create the short list with the help of experts who know the country!
- Complete the questionnaire, send us your “favourites” and save yourself the work.
At home, you know exactly what you want and where you want to live. In a new country, you may have an idea in your mind which may not in fact be suitable for you as you don’t know all the factors required to make that decision. Perhaps the area you have in mind isn’t in fact suitable for your family as the facilities you need are in a different area. Or the type you want is not feasible with your budget etc. This is why it’s much better to let the local experts create your property viewing list for you.
NCI has over 20 years’ experience helping prepare viewing lists for our overseas buyers prior to their visit. Just complete the questionnaire and send us a few links of the properties you like the look of and let us do the rest.
So, should I try to choose what I will buy before I arrive?
The short answer is no.
- Properties always look very different “in the flesh”.
- You may like the property but not the area.
- You may like the look of an area, but it may not actually suit your lifestyle.
- The property you have chosen may be reserved by the time you arrive.
It’s quite rare in practice for visitors to purchase what they thought they would buy prior to the trip. Therefore, we encourage you NOT to get too attached to online property details prior to your arrival and keep an open mind! Please trust that our NCI experts will line up a good list for you to view and will also fine tune the list during your visit, based on your reactions to the first one or two viewings.
How many days do I need for a first property visit?
We always recommend at least 3 days, and if it’s your first visit to North Cyprus, at least 5 if not a whole week. If it’s a short visit, please try to include at least one weekday as the lawyer offices are closed at the weekend and if you see something you like you will need to consult a lawyer.
Do I need a visa to come to North Cyprus?
The good news is that you do not need to organise a visa in advance.
- Most nationalities get an automatic 30-day visa upon arrival at the border or Ercan Airport
- If you land at the Airport, we suggest asking the immigration officer NOT to stamp your passport. This can make problems in the future landing at Larnaca.
- Please note that the previous 90-day visa for North Cyprus has been reduced to 30 days.
For more details on visas click HERE.
Can NCI help me with finding accommodation for my visit?
On your pre visit phone call we can advise you on where best to stay.
- NCI cannot provide you with free accommodation.
- BUT we can make recommendations for you as to the best locations for you to stay – to include self-catering and hotel options.
- If it’s your first visit we suggest you stay in or around the Kyrenia area so that you can explore this fabulous town in the evenings if you have not been before.
It’s the Jewel of the Mediterranean!
Can I get help booking my flight to Cyprus?
- Our NCI advisors can point you in the right direction to finding the best flight.
- You need to pay for your own flight.
- Do not book for Paphos – only book to Larnaca or Ercan. If you land at Larnaca you must leave from Larnaca. The same for Ercan. You cannot mix airports on the same trip.
Our staff can point you in the right direction – contact us for help.
How will I travel from Larnaca or Ercan Airport to my accommodation?
- NCI will book a taxi for you (and refund your arrival taxi cost if you make a property reservation via our company.)
- You should bring pounds or euro cash to pay for the taxi.
- We do not recommend driving a hire car from Larnaca up to North Cyprus.
We do not recommend hiring a car at Larnaca and attempting to cross the border by hire car, (unless you are an experienced visitor), particularly at night and if roads are unfamiliar.
Will I need to hire a car on my property viewing visit?
We would like to save you the car hire cost if possible! You will often NOT need a hire car on a viewing visit unless you are only viewing one or two properties.
- The minimum hire period is 3 days.
- If you are only coming for 3-4 days on a property buying trip you don’t really need to hire a car.
- Our staff will collect you from your hotel at around 10am and you may be out all day viewing properties for 2-3 days.
If you have accommodation walking distance to restaurants you also don’t need a car in the evenings. If you do hire a car, we recommend hiring from a north Cyprus car hire company (not south) due to insurance and breakdown cover issues.
If you are coming for a week, it can be a good idea to hire the car for the last few days, so that you can drive yourself to revisit the areas of the properties you have seen. We can recommend car hire and taxi companies – just contact us for this help.
What currency should I bring with me on a North Cyprus property viewing visit?
- You do not need to bring any Turkish Lira with you in advance.
- The reason is that all shops and restaurants accept cards and also British £10 and £20 notes or Euro 10 and 20 notes.
- If you are not from EU, bring a few euros, especially if arriving at Larnaca (for the airport)
If you are British, use British cash/cards. Otherwise, Euro cash/cards. Cash change will be given in Lira, depending upon the daily exchange rate.
Why are some of the North Cyprus properties you have suggested, not online?
We often sell customers properties which are not listed online or “off market”. Why is this?
- Some exclusive property owners do not wish their photographs listed online as they are in residence and wish to avoid potential purchasers turning up!
- At NCI we are being contacted every week by new sellers wanting us to market their property and we may simply not have had time to list it.
Please don’t worry if we are not always able to send you online links to all of the properties we plan to show you. We carry out personal property finding in the few days prior to your arrival.
Are there problems viewing with multiple North Cyprus property agents?
- Viewing with multiple agencies can exhaust you on a buying trip with duplicate journeys.
- NCI can organise the viewing of almost all North Cyprus properties listed online.
- Sole agency exclusive properties are not the norm in North Cyprus.
You may think that viewing with multiple agencies to give yourself the widest selection. However, this is not always the most ideal way to organise your visit.
Most properties in North Cyprus are multi agency. It’s actually quite rare to get a sole agency property. So many agents have access to the same properties for sale. Secondly, agencies in North Cyprus can co-operate with each other, so that if you have property options with one agency but wish to view that same property with another one, you can just let us know and we can arrange it.
But the main reason is that you may exhaust yourself viewing with multiple agencies. Each time you go out with a new agent you are most likely going to drive along the coast and visit different areas. Doing this two or three days running (the same roads, even the same complexes!) can be exhausting. It’s much better to send us the links to the properties you like, even if they are from different agents, and let us organise the most efficient use of your time. We can plan 2-3 days of viewings focussing on different areas each day.
If I buy a North Cyprus property, must I be able to drive or own a car?
The British love North Cyprus as the driving side is the same as the UK! However, we know that not all our clients wish to drive.
The fact is that most of the properties we sell are not walking distance to a supermarket. North Cyprus is not yet as developed as other more established European style property destinations. Most of the facilities (banks, hospitals, schools, shops, restaurants) are concentrated in the towns. Therefore –
- Unless you live in a North Cyprus town or on a good bus route you will need to buy or hire a car unless you visit for short periods and use taxis.
- Please advise our staff if you can not drive or really do not wish to drive and this will inform our selection process for you.
See also below about beach access.
What is the main difference between South and North Cyprus?
Some of our visitors have been to the South of Cyprus but not yet the North. The climate is of course the same. However, the geography is different. In South Cyprus towns like Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca there are often beaches within walking distance of the town and all facilities.
It’s important to know that there are quite a few differences between the geography, town layouts and also the culture. The North is fast catching up with the South in terms of medical/dental care and shopping.
- There are not generally beaches in the North Cyprus towns.
- The beaches are out of town – so it’s generally important to choose between town OR beach in your “property wish list”. You can’t really have both, certainly on the North Coast.
- The South of Cyprus is a Greek Cypriot area (in the EU, with euro currency). The North of Cyprus is Turkish Cypriot with Turkish Lira.
- All prices in the North of Cyprus are priced in pounds sterling.
See also below the difference in the residency process for Non-EU North Cyprus.
What are the residency benefits of North Cyprus compared to EU countries?
- It’s easy for an EU national to get residency in another EU country like Spain, however North Cyprus properties are cheaper.
- However, non-EU nationals including British find residency difficult/expensive in EU countries like Spain.
- Therefore, many are turning to North Cyprus with its easy and affordable residency process for property owners.
For more details on the residency process please click HERE. You can also contact The Foreign Residents (TFR) on their Facebook page for details.
Can I come on a one-way ticket and move into the property I am buying?
- In your home country you will sell a house and on the same day move into your new home, transferring the funds on the same day.
- It’s not possible to do this with buying a property abroad where funds have to be moved internationally.
- You will need to have temporary accommodation either in your home country OR in Cyprus, unless you can purchase your new home with separate funds prior to selling your first property.
Almost everyone comes on a buying trip, arranges the property purchase, returns ome and then moves into the new property once the sale is completed. However, sometimes people hope to move straight into the property they are buying once they have sold their own property at home. Some others are coming a long distance and do not wish to visit twice. In this latter case we can help you with a remote purchase.
We want you to avoid problems if there is a delay with completing on your new home. Talk to our experts about how best to organise your move.
I have a house to sell back home to raise funds – should I come on a buying trip?
If you still have a house to sell, we will be delighted to meet with you during your visit and show you a couple of suitable properties. However, we do not recommend you trying to choose what you will buy until you have sold your house. This can often lead to disappointment if your chosen property sells before you are read
- Almost all the properties NCI recommends currently are privately owned “resales”.
- Unless you are a Turkish Cypriot and have the Kimlik (nationality card) you will find it hard to get a mortgage for a resale purchase.
- Sellers are also not keen to sell to those needing to borrow funds (due to bank delays) hence will always favour a cash buyer.
Therefore, we usually only conduct property viewing tours with those who have cash available now to purchase.
I live alone – do I need a gated community in North Cyprus?
- North Cyprus is an extremely safe country with a low crime rate – and safer, for example than South Cyprus.
- Gated communities are not the norm in North Cyprus, although there are a few.
You don’t need to worry about the crime potential when choosing a property in North Cyprus.
I may wish to rent out my property when not using it – where best to buy?
- If you are planning to rent out your property when it’s not in use, our advice is to purchase as near as possible to the larger towns and facilities, particularly those on a bus route so that guests do not need a car.
- Larger properties (for example a 3 bedroom) will rent more than smaller ones.
- Most rental can be gained from holiday lets and from sites with “all year” facilities like indoor heated pools.
A few of our special resales are on sites with their own rental companies. Other site purchases may involve you in needing to run an Air bnb account. Talk to our experts about where best to purchase for rentals.
Why do I need a North Cyprus lawyer visit during my property trip?
You can’t buy a North Cyprus property using a lawyer in your home country.
- Unless you are a Turkish Cypriot national and fluent in Turkish you will definitely need a lawyer to help with your purchase.
- Most North Cyprus lawyers are fluent in English and Turkish and some speak other languages too.
- Our team will help take you to the lawyer of your choice and can recommend one if you need help choosing.
Please see our Recommended lawyer page for more information.
What extra cost of buying must I allow for in budgeting to buy a North Cyprus property?
- It is much cheaper for extra costs, to purchase a resale (preowned) furnished property with VAT Paid than a brand-new property.
- The costs of buying in North Cyprus include: legal fees, stamp duty of 0.5%, transfer of title fee and possibly VAT if not already paid or if buying a new property.
- Please see our Costs of Buying article for details.
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If you have any further questions to ask prior to your visit, please make a note of them and contact us to arrange your pre trip call. We look forward to seeing you soon!
