Cyprus-Forum.com

by **martinreid101** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:06 pm

Hello to everyone on this site and i hope you will be able to help me and my new wife.
we have had enough of the uk and the state of the country in general and have decided that as my parents now live in Cyprus that we will do our very best to move there this year maybe in august once my wife finishes her school year. she is a primary school teacher and is looking for work in Cyprus as i email, and has already had some return emails of possible work for September, however i am a fibreglasser and sprayer and at the moment am setting up a business making motorcycle parts to sell on eBay. we are both motor bike lovers and would like to bring our bikes and one car with us.
we would like to live in the emba area near paphos. However this will depend on where my wife can find teaching work but we hope to be around this area.
So any advice or info on what the main things we will need to arrange and put in place before we leave would be very much appreciated.

We are visiting my parents in Febuary for one week and for my wife to meet a local head master for a informal chat about teaching. As for me i will be going around the island viewing flats and homes to research info about the property market as we will be renting .

by **BigDutch** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:26 pm

Definitely rent first, and don't rush in to renting or buying as rental & sale market is saturated, certainly in/around your highlighted area.

by **martinreid101** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:31 pm

Thank you bigdutch for your reply.
my parents have said we can stay with them for a few months why we sort out the possible paper work and settle in to the way of life out in cyprus and we both feel this is the right thing to do as im sure as in the uk there will be those who try to steer us the wrong way and belive us to be rich brits.

by **Oracle** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:26 pm

Hello

Don't come with any preconceived ideas about what the "natives" will think (such as being viewed as "rich Brits" - most read the news! :lol:

). Come as fellow Europeans looking for work and a better life. Treat everyone with respect and obey the local laws and traditions, and you shall be fine!

by **martinreid101** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:01 pm

oracle thank you for your reply , both me and my wife have a very open respect for all people and the first thing we both intend to do is be as much a part of the local life style and community as we can be . i do know from some of the sites we have been on that some brits do seem to have a very dull view of the locals but i have been to cyprus many times and found them to be respectfull of new people to there island and at most times very happy and hospitable to the point of inviting you into there homes and sharing the lifes. this is one of the many reasons we have settled on cyprus .any help in the areas of what to do once we arrive will be greatfully recived.

by **Oracle** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:30 pm

martinreid101 wrote:oracle thank you for your reply , both me and my wife have a very open respect for all people and the first thing we both intend to do is be as much a part of the local life style and community as we can be . i do know from some of the sites we have been on that some brits do seem to have a very dull view of the locals but i have been to cyprus many times and found them to be respectfull of new people to there island and at most times very happy and hospitable to the point of inviting you into there homes and sharing the lifes. this is one of the many reasons we have settled on cyprus .any help in the areas of what to do once we arrive will be greatfully recived.

Wonderful!

Where your parents are probably dictates your initial stay; after that, you can spread your wings and fly. Keep posting as you discover.

Good luck and enjoy ...

by **supporttheunderdog** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:33 pm

I moved here ten years ago: Oracle's advise is sound. Once you find your feet it can be a lovely place to live.

Take the time to talk to as many people as you can about life in Cyprus, both British Immmirants to the Island, who have been through what youn are planning, and also Cypriots. If you have a hobby or interest, look at finding a Club or Society that has that hobby - you also find people there who will help you settle in, and give you advice.

On property aspects be careful buying - it is NOT like the English system. There are some big problems - check out http://www.news.cyprus-property-buyers.com. Look for buyers' action groups on the web, usually linked to particular developers, which may identify problems that some have faced in dealing with that developer.

The biggest problem is unredeemed mortgages taken out by developers on properties they are selling, so buyers cannot acquire clean title, and do not get the deeds. This is not seen as fraud by the authorities. In fact as many as 100,000 properties may not have tittle deeds: much of this is down to the owner, who owned the land and had the place built as his residence , not applying for them to avoid taxes and dues, or because the property as built does not meet the planning permission.

If you cannot see the deeds, walk away!

There are also various tax related scams, ie gross overcharging by developers.

Also be very careful who you use as a lawyer - there are some supposedly acting for the buyers but in reality they are hand in glove with the develorpe, and they will hide things from you, such as the outstanding developer's mortgage. The Cyprus law society seems unwilling to take Action, and trying to sue a lawyer for negligance is quite difficult, since they tend to close ranks. There are however many excellent honest lawyers - ask around.

That said, the best bet if you are buying might be to buy an established (second hand) property where the deeds are available.

On the Jobs front do not expect a teacher's wage to be as big as in the UK. Laws of supply and demand.
The Private schools tend to pay worse than state schools as due to the way the system operates there are teachers queing up for jobs in the state sector, who will take jobs at a low rate in Private Schools until they can jump on the state run gravy train. The Private schools therefore have plenty of choice.

Life is however generally more relaxed: usually safer for Children, and by and large, provided you accept this Cyprus not Britain, , where things are done differently, sometimes quicker, some times slower, and remember you are an immigrant, Cyprus is very pleasant place to live.

by **wyoming cowboy** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:21 am

And if you do need to find a good lawyer i would suggest visiting the American or British embassies, where they have a list of lawyers they can recommend.