Cyprus - Limassol Escape to the Continent

Over 800 years ago, this famous city was the site

of a very rare event - the marriage of an English king abroad.

Find out what happened, and which country I'm in, in just a moment.

Today's house-hunters want to turn their regular holiday destination

into their permanent home, and it is all about having a room with a view.

It is a very light room and the views are absolutely amazing!

Welcome to Escape To The Continent.

Today, I am in the city of Limassol, the largest port

in southern Cyprus and capital of the Limassol region.

Now, in 1191, a ship carrying Richard the Lionheart's fiancee

crashed ashore during a violent storm just off this coastline.

The local ruler threatened to take her hostage, and soon felt the wrath

of King Richard when he attacked Cyprus to rescue his bride-to-be.

After conquering the island in battle, they were married here.

And at the same time, he declared himself King of Cyprus.

Now, over the centuries, this island has endured many such invasions.

But the Cypriot spirit, with its unique culture, has survived

and is still as strong as ever today.

The island of Cyprus lies in the Eastern Mediterranean,

tucked in between Turkey and Syria.

On the island's southern coast, is the Limassol district,

which sits on Akrotiri Bay.

Limassol, also known as Lemesos, is the capital of the district

and the second-largest city in Cyprus.

The backdrop to the city is the Troodos mountain range,

where the Cypriot sweet wine industry is based.

With a wealth of cultural and historic landmarks,

as well as a coastline that enjoys ten months of sunshine a year,

it is easy to see why Limassol is an appealing destination to escape to.

So let's meet today's buyers and find out why

they want to relocate to this particular part of the continent.

Cornish-based retirees David and Yola have been married

for 16 happy years,

and it was their jobs that they credit with bringing them together.

David and I first met through our careers in banking.

David was my boss.

After that particular job had finished,

we continued to keep in touch,

and then eventually decided we'd get married,

which we then did in Mauritius.

And it is their love of hot climates that is driving this move.

No longer tied to work, they are desperate to make

the sunny Mediterranean island of Cyprus their new home.

And it is a place that is well known to them.

Yola has been visiting Cyprus for about 30 years,

so we have been going out almost every year once or twice since

we have been married, and it seems almost an ideal place to move to.

I fell in love with Cyprus when I first visited

and walked down the steps of the aircraft.

They are keen to make steps towards integrating into local society.

Yola is already learning the language,

and she isn't shy of cooking up a Cypriot storm in the kitchen.

When I come home, I do try out what I've eaten in Cyprus.

I love cooking local dishes - stifatho, moussaka.

-I've tried kleftiko.

-My interests largely surround the garden.

I love pottering around the garden.

I think getting out to Cyprus, it's going to be

a completely new climate, try something completely different.

Also I have got a latent interest in astronomy.

Cyprus is a much clearer atmosphere and it's wonderful to be able

to get out and actually look through and see the planets.

It's not only stargazing that makes them starry eyed.

David and Yola are keen animal lovers,

and one of the key considerations in this move is making sure

their brood of three dogs and a cat are sufficiently catered for.

As part of the move, they are selling their existing home -

a large Cornish farmhouse that David bought a year before he tied

the knot with Yola.

This will be the first property we'll have bought together.

Yep, it will be indeed. So it could throw up some interesting things.

Though there is one thing they are already agreed on,

and that is how much they're going to spend.

The budget for this move is going to be £450,000, absolute max.

Our buyers have decided to concentrate their property search

in the west of the Limassol district,

as it is a place they have often visited.

Now that they have jetted in, I'm meeting them to find out

how we can make their dream move to this warmer climate a reality.

David and Yola, I was going to say,

"Welcome to Cyprus," to the two of you, but in actual fact,

you two know this island far better than any of us, don't you?

-How many times have you been here?

-About 35 times.

Why do you need our help to find a property?

We've tried over the years to find something we like,

but we've never quite got the right location.

We're hoping a fresh pair of eyes will point us

-in the right direction.

-Cos you currently live in Cornwall, which is

a beautiful parts of the world. Cyprus is very different, isn't it?

Yes, it is very different,

and it will be a different culture, a total new way of life.

And it would be lovely to be able to speak the language as well.

So, do you think it is important that you make the effort?

Absolutely. We are looking to integrate with the Cypriot community.

Well, just remind us of the type of property that you are after.

We want a property with a minimum of two, possibly three bedrooms,

a lot of storage space,

room for the dogs, kitchen-diner.

Definitely an en suite and the utility would be lovely.

Remind us of your budget for this move to Cyprus.

It is 450,000 max for the right property.

-Well, we've got some splendid properties lined up.

-Excellent.

-Shall we start with the first one? Are you ready to go?

-I can't wait.

For David and Yola's maximum budget of £450,000,

they're after a property with a minimum of three bedrooms,

a kitchen-diner,

ample storage and plenty of outside space for the dogs.

Good views are key, and they would like this

all located in or near a mainly Cypriot-speaking village.

Cyprus's housing market has suffered in recent years

so our buyers are in a strong position.

We have got three great properties lined up.

The last of these is the mystery house,

which could really challenge their canine considerations.

Our first port of call is the village of Pissouri,

which is located 40 kilometres to the west of Limassol.

This stretch of coastline is filled

with remains of Greco-Roman civilisations.

Pissouri offers its own bay and wide, sandy beach,

but the village itself is five kilometres inland.

And we're kicking off the house hunt on the outskirts of the village,

where we find our first property.

So, here we have our very first property in Cyprus.

-It has a very attractive exterior.

-Well, that's a good start.

-I like that. David?

-It looks a solid house,

and I like the little garden at the front there.

Yeah. It's gated. And I'm thinking of animals, dogs.

-It looks secure.

-Yeah.

Now, you said location is so important,

do you know this area well?

-Very well.

-I thought so. And do you like this area?

-Very much.

Shall we go on with the tour? That's a pretty good start.

This six-year-old villa is in a great location that really

appeals to David and Yola.

I just hope the inside will make as much of an impression.

So, I brought you in the side entrance

because that is the one the owners always use.

And lead us straight into this dining-kitchen area.

It's all quite modern.

It's nice and light.

-I like the open plan, but it looks a bit small to me.

-Does it?

-Yeah.

OK, well, we've got more to show you.

So, here's your sitting room.

I know next door we slightly struggled with the lack of space.

This side is actually probably of little bit smaller.

It is too small, but it is a very light room

and the views out there, well, what can I say?

It's absolutely amazing.

Also, you have got the patio doors.

How do you feel?

-Disappointingly small but beautifully presented.

-Yes.

-It is.

-And fantastic location.

-Yeah. We're getting close.

All right, let's continue cos I've still got more to show you.

The ground floor dimensions may be smaller than

they were expecting, but this house extends vertically,

with four bedrooms set out over three levels.

In the basement, there is a double bedroom

and an en suite shower room,

but we are making our way up to the first floor,

where a family bathroom and three double bedrooms are situated,

two of which have balconies with sea views.

And it is one of these we are proposing for them.

This is the master. It has got an en suite just beside it.

-OK, and I think it is a bit on the small side.

-Yeah.

That seems to be the theme right through.

The rooms are a bit too small, but immaculately done.

You like the house, don't you?

Yeah, I do, but it's much, much, much smaller than what we have at home.

The internal footprints of 186 square metres might be less

than our buyers are used to, but as the land is so important to them for

their dogs and cat, I'm interested to see how the garden sizes up.

As you can see, there is quite a lot of garden here, isn't there?

Yes, it's lovely. Lovely pool area

and the garden is Japanese, the way it has been set out.

It's very, very nice, very neat.

We are very much boxed into how we live our lives in the UK.

You know, you come to a warm climate and... It's a

hot day today, it's going to be like this the majority of the year.

You're going to spend a lot of it outside.

If not in the sun, in the shade, but still outside.

Everything here is absolutely immaculate, but I just feel

that the size of the inside is just not big enough for our lifestyle.

Well, let's talk about the price of the house

because sometimes that can change people's minds.

How much do you think this property is on the market for?

-I'd probably put a figure of 380.

-OK.

Pissouri is a premium area and, with a view like this, I think it is more.

I'm going to say 450.

Interesting. The asking price is...

just over £368,000.

-Oh...

-Quite shocked at that.

£80,000 below budget,

this modern hillside villa laid out over three floors

offers a kitchen-diner, separate sitting room and four bedrooms,

two with sea views.

Outside, there is a swimming pool, barbecue area

and a well-kept garden, with unrestricted views of the shoreline.

-Have you seen enough, you two?

-Yes.

-Yes?

-That's our first property done and dusted.

-Immaculate property.

-It's just a shame it's just that little bit too small inside.

-OK.

I don't know what else you've got in mind,

-but you've got a job to beat those views.

-I know,

those views are to die for, but we do have more up our sleeve.

-Let's go.

-Excellent.

Our next property is in the village of Pachna.

This one lies ten minutes inland in the foothills

of the Troodos Mountains.

The 700-metre-plus altitude offering a cooler climate

has made this the largest wine producing village on the island.

The next house we are going to look at borders the village

and is built into the hills.

So, here we are in the village of Pachna.

And this is your second property.

-It looks lovely.

-Very promising.

-Yes?

-Very promising indeed.

The views, again, are amazing, absolutely amazing.

So you have got a substantial property here.

You can actually see, you've got a bar area. Look at the ovens there.

-You've got a bread oven, a pizza oven.

-Yeah, wonderful.

How much entertaining are you two going to be doing

when you move to Cyprus?

It's difficult to say,

but with things like that, it could be quite a bit, I should think.

-So are you keen to step inside?

-Yes, very keen.

Well, the exterior of this stone-covered house

certainly seems to appeal to our buyers.

It took the present owners three years to build

and it comes with a welcome swimming pool for Cyprus's scorching summers.

It was the lack of internal space that let the first

property down, so let's see how this one measures up.

Oh, wow, space!

-This is more like it.

-You can't get away from that fabulous view.

-That really appeals to me.

-So, come on then, what about the kitchen?

It's lovely. It's very spacious, nice island.

You can sit round, have breakfast round the island.

It really does work.

So, let's keep going. It's open plan. So down these steps.

You've got this huge living space.

It's lovely, absolutely wonderful.

-I love the exposed stone there.

-It feels like home.

-Does it?

Yeah. I could live here, easily.

-That has to be the highest compliment, doesn't it?

-Yes.

-It's a beautiful house and it has been very well thought.

-Yeah.

It just has that special feel.

I'm delighted with how David and Yola are responding to

this house, which is spread over four floors.

The basement houses a spacious snug, but I'm taking them upstairs,

where there is a large family bathroom,

shower room and five double bedrooms.

Three are on the top floor with two on the first floor,

one of which is the master.

So, here is your bedroom.

The view again is lovely.

-Nice and spacious as well. It's a good size.

-Good size. No storage.

Ah, no storage...yet.

Behind you, you've got your shower room, your en suite.

And behind me, there's a dressing room.

-That's not bad, is it?

-No, it's not.

-So do you think you could cope with this size bedroom?

-Yes.

-Not too much of a compromise?

-No.

-OK.

The tour of the inside has gone well, but the outside space is just

as important, especially with three dogs and a cat coming to live here.

But I think this garden has a feature that might be able

to accommodate them.

So let's talk a little bit more about the house and the land.

At the back of the property, the way it is set up at the moment,

cos they have a young family, they've got... I'm going to call it

a cage for want of a better word.

It has got a small football pitch on it, sort of a miniature one.

It is going to stay here.

That would make a wonderful kennel and run for the dogs.

What I haven't mentioned, David, your hobby - stargazing.

At home, I am restricted by very tall trees

and I get a very narrow field of view.

There is 180, 200 degree panorama, a wonderful view of the night sky,

which will be extremely clear on a large number of days in the year.

So, we have discussed the merits of the property and its location,

but now let's put a price on it.

We've got to take into account the view

and the wonderful downstairs to the property.

I don't think the upstairs has quite got the wow factor.

There is a lack of garden, but it has got to be

pretty near the top of our budget area, I would have thought.

I'll go for 430.

OK.

I'm going to say 420.

Well, the asking price is £486,000.

Now, the house has only just gone on the market.

It has gone on a month, but the owner is aware of your budget

and is happy to negotiate.

Although this property is a little over budget at £486,000,

in this market, there is room for negotiation.

It would give them a stunning open plan kitchen-diner,

a sitting room with wraparound views, five bedrooms,

a swimming pool, an outdoor bar and an enclosed sports pitch,

which could be converted into kennels for the dogs.

-You don't want to say goodbye to that view, do you?

-No.

-No.

But I'm going to have to drag you away, I'm afraid. Let's go.

Our buyers are keen to embrace Cypriot culture, and Yola

sees her passion for cooking local cuisine as one way to do this,

so we have arranged for her and David to meet ex-pat Tracy Dyer,

who manages her own cookery school here.

-Cooking today, yeah? I hear you love it.

-I do.

We're going to taste the results, hopefully,

-so enjoy, get the whole experience.

-Come on, then.

-Thank you.

Tracy is teaching Yola how to make spanocopita,

a Cypriot dish made with anari cheese, which is similar to ricotta,

feta, dill, parsley, olive oil and spinach.

So what we need to do is crumble the two cheeses in.

So you need to get your hands stuck in, there's no other way.

So how long have you been in Cyprus?

-Well, I've been here 12 years now.

-You love living here?

I adore living in Cyprus. The fact that life here seems to be so easy.

The traffic is not too bad, the people are relaxed.

And it doesn't seem to matter what happens, we have another day.

-Do you enjoy Cypriot cooking?

-I love Cypriot cooking.

In fact, before we moved over here,

I was really into doing Cypriot food as well.

So, by moving over here and getting all the right ingredients

and the real feel of the place, this made it so much better.

Now that all these ingredients are mixed together, it's time to prepare

the filo pastry by brushing it with olive oil and butter.

So you can buy most things in the supermarkets here now?

Well, you can.

When I first came here, it wasn't like that. But now anything goes.

And is food expensive here now?

A lot of people have said that the cost of living in Cyprus is

really, really high. And yes, it can be if you buy the wrong ingredients.

Now, I always advocate that people buy local,

buy foods that are in season, readily available

and also get friends with your local greengrocers.

It is a very different way of shopping in Cyprus.

The mixture is then placed in a dish and covered with filo pastry.

And after half an hour in the oven, it is ready for us all to tuck in.

It gives our buyers the chance to discuss with Tracy

and her friend Adele, originally from Scotland who works with her,

the challenges they might face moving to Cyprus.

-Tracy, do you speak Greek?

-Unfortunately, no. Bad question.

I mean, I always meant to learn to speak Greek,

but the Cypriots are very, very good at speaking English.

The Cypriots really appreciate you being able to speak Greek.

Is there anything sort of socially that you miss, living in Cyprus?

Cos the merits of having sunshine for, what is that,

ten months of the year must outweigh everything.

But are there theatre groups or if you wanted to go to cinema

is that easy to do?

I think more so here than anywhere else I have been, actually.

There is a lot of energy here and a lot of cultural stuff going on.

And would you advise people if they have a passion for that

sort of thing to actually join them to make friends?

Absolutely.

-That's how you make friends.

-So, what do you think of Yola's cooking?

Delicious, well done to you.

Cheers, everyone. Thank you so much for making us so welcome.

ALL: Yeia mas.

Well, that has given David and Yola some food for thought,

but before they complete this move,

there are a few practical considerations worth noting.

It is strongly recommended to find independent legal advice

for any financial transactions undertaken.

Various additional costs will include legal,

transfer and agent's fees, which are calculated on a sliding scale

and can vary between 7% to 16% of the purchase property price.

Finally, as inheritance laws are different to those of the UK, it is

worth considering writing a separate will for any Cypriot-based assets.

So, now it's the turn of the mystery house.

We've decided to show them

something very different from the modern homes they've seen before.

This one's old, it's got character

and it's right in the centre of a Cypriot village.

Well, they did say they wanted to live with the locals.

Our final property location takes us to the village of Anogyra,

which lies just over 20 miles to the west of Limassol,

and our last offering is in the heart of this very pretty village.

As it's the mystery house, we're leaving contemporary behind,

and taking a step back in time.

-This is your mystery house.

-Very different, isn't it?

-Very different.

Through the wooden doors.

This doesn't have the same views as some of the previous properties

we've looked at, but what it does have is character and charm.

So is it enticing us in, the mystery house?

-It is a mystery.

-Open the doors.

-Thank you, I will.

DOOR CREAKS

So come on in.

It's like a little oasis.

-A secret garden.

-It is.

A beautifully kept secret garden.

That's the first thing that strikes you as you walk in, but also,

as you can see, there's a lot of shade here because it gets so hot.

It's lovely. Very pretty.

Looking at the garden, it looks quite interesting.

-It's more in line with what I think I want.

-Yes, it's very different.

My initial reaction is, where are the animals going to go?

A very good point.

Your beloved pets, but it's the mystery house,

so we might need to be a tad flexible.

-OK.

-Shall we start the tour?

-Yes.

I realise how important David and Yola's pets are to them,

but they are also making this continental move for themselves.

I think this traditional 200-year-old property

should challenge them.

So, step inside our mystery house,

cos it's very different from everything else we've seen.

-Very charming.

-Beautiful, isn't it?

-A cottage feeling.

-Yes.

A real village house.

Then you've got this exposed stone, local stone all the way round.

-Like that.

-Beautiful, isn't it?

This is a traditional Cypriot ceiling. It's actually reed.

No, I think that's very cosy.

How do we feel about the kitchen?

It's in keeping with the property, but it's very, very small.

-Shall we head upstairs?

-Yes.

The current British owners have lived here for 12 years

and have retained the original features,

including a stone staircase which leads us up

to the first floor, where there's a roomy bathroom with a corner tub

and two double bedrooms, one of which would be for them.

So, here's your master bedroom.

It's a nice room. With the ceiling, it gives it height and depth.

It's very nice, and there is storage.

Would this be big enough as a master bedroom?

-I would have thought so, yeah.

-Yeah.

On a clear day when you're sitting in bed,

-you could look out and see the sea.

-Yes, you can just see it.

-Yeah.

What you don't have, I know, in Cornwall, is a balcony like this.

How would you fancy sitting here

having your first morning cup of tea?

Already dreaming about it.

Isn't it charming?

-It's lovely.

-I think it works so well.

There's another very large double bedroom next door, plus storage.

As much storage as you need.

Plenty. But there is some additional space.

If you look to the end of the garden,

you can see there's an additional building.

That is a third bedroom. If you had guests coming to stay,

you could put them at the end of the garden. They'd be more than happy.

It's also got its own shower room down there as well.

It's very private.

So it means the two of you have the rest of the house -

with the animals, if there's enough space for them.

Perhaps the animals sleep down there. Perhaps that's the answer.

Exactly. A very grand kennel.

You're both very taken with this property though, aren't you?

It's charming.

This mystery house appears to be working its magic.

As we head to the courtyard garden,

will green-fingered David remain just as enthralled?

-So just standing here, you do get to see the Mediterranean garden.

-Ideal.

It's a nice little garden.

Got scope for doing quite a bit.

Also, it's a different type of planting than we're used to at home.

I think that's the attraction of it. I want to do something different.

The house is absolutely charming.

It has lack of space, especially with the animals,

but that does not distract what a lovely property it is.

It's very individual.

Go on, then, Yola.

Have a stab - what price would you put on this house?

315.

Interesting. David?

I'd go 350.

Would you be surprised if I said you were £100,000 out?

Which way?

You're above. It is on the market for £250,000.

Ooh.

I don't need to tell you that would save you £200,000 off your budget.

A useful £200,000.

It's just another way, perhaps, of living your lives over here.

Just gives you so many options, doesn't it?

My heart loves this house,

but it's not really practical for three animals on a permanent basis.

-That's the only downside I can see.

-It's absolutely charming.

So at just £250,000, this house would leave our buyers

with a significant amount of money to spare.

It comes with three bedrooms, one of which is in a separate cottage,

and three bathrooms.

It has an open-plan kitchen and living area,

and an enchanting paved courtyard garden.

David and Yola have now looked at all three of our properties,

so it's time to catch up with them to find out

their thoughts on our house-hunt here in Limassol.

So, the two of you, you've visited this island so many times.

This was the first time that you'd

actually looked at properties seriously, wasn't it?

-It was.

-How do you feel it's gone?

-It's gone very well.

It's given us an insight to a lot of different types of property.

So, did we get close?

If we didn't have the animals,

we would have put an offer in on the mystery house.

Oh! Really?

It's a beautiful, beautiful traditional village home.

Absolutely lovely.

I think the hillside house was the one that really struck me.

I still have in my mind's eye the ground floor and the view.

A little concerned about the animals,

but it did have the space behind to cage them,

but a little bit worried it's like imprisoning them for ever.

Yes.

I'd like to go and see around the hill house again just

to get a feel of the location,

but I need to rethink through a little bit more

about how the area would work for us, particularly with the animals.

Anything you think you might have learned over these last few days?

What our budget can buy out here.

Well, I'm delighted we've helped you a little bit along the way,

certainly to steer you in some direction of what you do

-and don't want. But let us know how you get on.

-Will do.

-Will do.

Thank you both very much indeed. It's been an absolute pleasure.

Well, thank you very much for helping us round the island

and producing a few surprises.

David and Yola know this island inside out

and are as committed as ever to starting a new life here.

Although we got close with two of our properties,

they've decided to continue the search for that Cypriot home

in the right locality with the perfect view.

I really hope it works our for them. See you again.

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