The transfer of the title can be effective once the Council of Ministers’ permission is obtained along with confirmation of receipt of the foreign funds. Upon transfer and registration in the purchasers name the district Land Registry Office will charge transfer fees which are based on the market value of the property at the time of purchase - as follows: Value up to CY50,000 - 3% CY50,001 - CY100,000 - 5% CY100,000+ - 8%
The relatively low cost of living in Cyprus is definitely one of the advantages that appeals to the potential buyer. The island offers a full but comparatively inexpensive lifestyle. In fact, recent statistics pointed to Cyprus as being one of the most inexpensive countries in Europe. The local markets flaunt a wealth of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish locally grown and produced whilst the modern supermarkets are fully stocked with a large range of local and imported goods.
Compared with other international financial centres, Cyprus offers a distinct benefit in the form of double taxation treaties. Agreements with an increasing number of countries eliminate the double taxation of income earned in any one of these countries. In practice, the tax levied by one country is credited against the tax levied in the taxpayer’s country of residence. Where different tax rates apply, the tax payer will ultimately not pay more than the higher of the two rates of the respectively countries.
Development of land into villas in estates is now very common in the Paphos area, mainly on the hills between Paphos and Polis. Projects are developed to take the form of villages with the individual villas designed in traditional architecture. There are, of course, cases where the purchaser may have a good say in the design of his villa. The same type of projects are now being carried out in Limassol and to a lesser extent in the Larnaca area.
As an indication, one should have in mind that the average construction cost for a house is between C160 to C200 per square metre and the purchase cost of building sites offered for this purpose could range from C1 to C2 per square foot in resort areas, whereas in the towns this can reach C5 per sq. f t.Credit terms on villa/building site/land/cottage acquisitions are normally made and the generally acceptable payment terms are 50% on signing and the rest over a period of 1-2 years (at 9% interest on the reducing balance).