Mince Pies in Cyprus...

 

Mince Pies and Mulled Wine go together like bangers and mash, eggs and bacon, port and brandy and other such combinations.

If it’s a traditional English Christmas you want, then you can get it, even here in Cyprus.

So it came to pass, that the three wise men of property (well two men and one woman actually), aka the BuyCyprus team, invited all their followers to gather around the gas heater, on a cool but dry winters evening, to sample the best Mince Pies we could find in the local supermarket.

All of you traditionalists will have your own recipe no doubt for the perfect Mulled Wine. Ours consisted of 1ltr of local Sodap Wine to 1ltr of Orange Juice, wickedly concocted and stirred to perfection with Green Cuisine Mulled Wine Spices, and the piece de resistance, a healthy measure of Keo Brandy- Mulled Wine Cyprus style.

The local Mayor also turned out, as did a marching band, carol singers and half the village. To everyone’s amazement, later in the evening, Father Christmas made an appearance, accompanied by Mother Christmas and some very tall looking Elves. Word had spread about the Mulled Wine no doubt and also about the Christmas cheer that we were spreading. Rumors that Father Christmas was actually Costas the local Butcher in fancy dress, were quickly dismissed by everyone as village gossip.

So as Christmas fast approaches and as things start to wind down, we at BuyCyprus are busily preparing for what we hope will be a busy and prosperous New Year. As we move into 2011 let us know if we can help you to move too !

To all our friends and followers, Happy Christmas… and go easy on the wine.

Buy Cyprus at the 3rd Dhekelia Midnight Walk for Breast Cancer

Well deserved of a mention are Simon Jenkins and Maria Serghis from the Buy Cyprus team who took to the track and donned bra-style t-shirts (even Simon!) all in aid of some fantastic charity causes.

The 3rd Dhekelia Midnight Walk, benefiting Breast Cancer Care UK, Open Arms TPMH and The Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends, set out to beat their prior year's total of EUR 11,883 and walkers (including our very own Simon and Maria) walked laps of the Dhekelia army base track between 4pm and Midnight.

We're yet to find out the grand total of the charitable funds raised on the evening but judging by the great turn out and support on the night we're sure it beat the previous year's record. A huge pat on the back for all who made it down and supported this worthwhile event.

Cyprus Property Sales Improving...Officially!

Whilst we at the Buy Cyprus office in Larnaca already knew that the property market was improving (judging by the number of visitors and successes we have enjoyed since we launched Buy Cyprus in July!) we were pleased to read this morning that the Cypriot property market is 'officially' moving again.

Data just released from the Land Registry department stated that the number of foreign buyers purchasing property in Cyprus was infact slightly improved on the same period for 2009 - which is brilliant news! The Land Registry announced that all districts of Cyprus were increased in volume but the highest was infact Famagusta, home to the holiday destinations Agia Napa, Protaras and Paralimni in addition to some lovely traditional villages such as Liopetri and Sotira. Sales in this area were up 119 per cent compared to the previous year! However, Larnaca sales were DOUBLED on 2009 - including Oroklini - followed by Paphos, Limassol and finally the capital city, Nicosia.

Enouraging news for everyone in the property market and also those thinking about making the move - either permanently or securing a holiday home whilst the prices are considerably lower than before. There really never has been a better time to get a bargain home in the sun.

You know who to come to when you are ready... :) http://www.buycyprus.net/

Still BBQ weather in Lovely Larnaca...time to make the move?

If you've already made the move to the wonderful island of Cyprus you'll be well aware of the absolutely fantastic sunny weather we are still enjoying here right now. It's November yet still the sunshine starts at 7am and we enjoy cloudless skies until the dusky pink sunset just after 5pm. Come evening the smell of BBQ wafts through the air and Cypriots (and us ''adopted Cypriots'') congregate on terraces and outside favoured drinking establishments and while away the balmy evenings eating pork souvla - the Cypriot national dish. If you're yet to make the move over and are considering leaving cloudy grey skies behind then you could not hope for a more pleasant climate or a more relaxed Mediterranean island for your great escape!

The office at Buy Cyprus has been a hive of activity and our reputation for matching perfect rental properties to our clients is now bordering on infamous! Infact, although we've just completed the website for sales (you'll find our new site at http://www.buycyprus.net/) we are renting properties in Oroklini (see photo above) and Pyla the day they arrive on the market - hence you won't see any displayed on the website just yet!

If you're looking to rent in Cyprus and in particular these two lovely, traditional Cyprus villages then you've definitely found your ideal property partner in us. Pop in for a chat or call/email us anytime. We will give you honest and open advice about the lifestyle and what you can get for your budget - but as a guide price at the moment it's around EURO 350 for a one bed apartment and EURO 450 for a two bed and you can even get a 3 bedroom house with a private pool for EURO 800. Beats the prices overseas and the sun is shining!

With increasingly stressful lifestyles in the modern world, relocating to enjoy a life in new surroundings is becoming more and more tempting. We'll be using the BuyCyprus.net blog to let you see glimpses of the world that is waiting for you right here in lovely Larnaca.

Pic above: A traditional Cyprus Coffee - complimenting the laid back lifestyle and only 1 euro!

The Cyprus Dream...

It's amazing where an idea and a dream can take you; back of a beer mat, enjoying the last of the evening sun. That's what happened one day in July 2010 when the 'Big Chiefs' were talking about the world of property in Cyprus and how it could be improved.

Was it Ghandi who famously said ''You must be the change you wish to see in the world''? It was certainly someone clever and profound and that night, over those beers they decided they would follow this wise mans advice and be the change they wished to see in the world - of the Cypriot property market.

Fast-forward to today and we're well on the way to mission accomplished. After head-hunting the top property experts who were passionate, genuinely friendly and motivated by that feeling of satisfaction when they've matched a great home to the perfect people - we've now got a winning team together with proven track records.

What else sets us apart from the rest? Well, we're a fussy bunch who will only work with the best properties and we're totally honest with our descriptions. Put simply; if we wouldn't live there we wouldn't expect you to either. So, if you're looking to buy or rent a property in Cyprus (and especially Larnaca - where our expertise is unbeatable!) then we're confident we will be best placed to help you negotiate the property minefield.

We're so passionate about property and the fantastic island of Cyprus that we've launched this new blog for all the overspill news plus the low-down on living on the island of love. In the meantime, contact us on 00357 24 648628 for more details or, if you're in the area, pop into the Oroklini office for a frape and a biscuit. We're passionate about biscuits too...