Is property cheap in North Cyprus

mountbatten


Joined: 12/04/2008
Posts: 102

Message Posted:
16/09/2008 18:51

After looking at a few properties in North Cyprus,are they really that cheap.

When you consider the amount of materials used,no cavity walls (i hear some new homes are being built with cavity )very little timber if any,no damp protection,poured concrete.

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
16/09/2008 18:57

Hi mountbatten dont know where you get the idea that there is no damp proof protection.

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
16/09/2008 19:50

Mountbatten,

Dont know where you have been looking.But i am very happy with the spec on ours,

Regards,

Paul.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
16/09/2008 20:00

that are built the same throughout the med, compare the prices i think they are very cheap

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
16/09/2008 20:50

I am very pleased with my property, and so are all my family& friends who

have seen it. Most impressive. Only problems are with external pipes, leakages etc.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
17/09/2008 01:24

mountbatten,



there was a very full and frank posting elsewhere from a UK-trained chartered surveyer about build quality, foundations, lack of planning and building control etc in the TRNC. Before committing to anything make sure you get a good surveyor to give their professional opinion.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
17/09/2008 08:17

And don't buy off-plan until the specific performance law is changed...



Then if you want a house built to UK specs you will have to pay approx 50% more on building materials..

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
17/09/2008 10:55

Is property cheap in North Cyprus?



Compared to where? If you are comparing it to Europe then I would say generally yes.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
17/09/2008 15:31

you only get what you pay for.



we have done renervations in the uk and are here now doing one at the moment.

the damp membrane here, even the top quality one is nothing like the uk quality. in fact we have been using 4 sheets per area as comparied to one in the uk because of the poor quality. glass and windows again, where is "k "glass. low windows or windows in or next to doors and porches should have it in. under uk buiding regs. ask a cypriot and they don't know what you are talking about. metal paint, last year we painted our railings with trnc paint. this year they were all needing doing again, this time we went south and purchased hammerite, saves time and money for next year.

metal in the uk we use galvanised, they just use rusty. the bricks here, we call them terracotta crumble! hence we are building with breeze blocks and natural stone.

rosie123


Joined: 26/05/2008
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
17/09/2008 21:24

Fire starter

I know what you mean about damp,we have looked at new and old houses in North Cyprus,and you can see the damp creeping up the walls,you say,you get what you pay for,but we saw this damp and other bad work on houses that were not cheap,my husband pointed out the amount of times that gypsum plaster (i just nodded and made out i understood what he was talking about ) was used on the outside of houses and stapled to the walls.

As you say,terracotta blocks covered in sand and cement,no more then a uk garage tarted up.

Saying that,we love cyprus and the people

rosie

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
18/09/2008 01:03

msg 10,



You listed all that is bad about the shoddy and dangerous way new-build properties are being built in the TRNC, only to end with: "Saying that,we love cyprus and the people"



As long as expats keep bending over and taking it from the locals they will continue to be conned on a vast scale.

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
18/09/2008 01:07

I am very happy with my build (at this point in time)



Is the jingle in your pocket, worth the jangle in your head. Pikey pass the asprins!



wyn

wireless


Joined: 10/08/2008
Posts: 157

Message Posted:
18/09/2008 01:46

I think you will find that any property is priced according to 3 main points location, location, and location.



From this read that the land value is what you are actually paying for. As to build quality in general most construction is based on RC frames with block work cladding - the steel is tied on site and the damp proof course runs through the cladding alone. To describe the cladding as crumbly or poor quality is simply silly as it is only cladding - you can clad with straw - brick - stone - whatever you please - it is not a structural part of the building.



Where they all fall down is 'finishing', quality of the tiling, quality of the fittings used - quality of the windows and doors - (by the way pilkington K glass was developed to cope with Scandinavian climates and does not suit the med at all - what you need to check for is toughened or safety glass and most windows come with this.



What they have not cottoned on to as yet is colored/reflective glass to shield from the sun as the majority of internal heat you get is from the windows - and the heating by the sun of the concrete frame



the other thing to check on is that some construction methods use tiled wooden roofs, others actually construct the roof from concrete - I am not sure what is best though I favour a wooden construction though this needs far more quality or workmanship to make it water proof (not a huge problem in cyprus - I jest)



I recently bought my house in NC and am pleased with the location - I've had issues with the builder and the house but it is done now and we use it as Holiday Home

mickey rourke


Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 157

Message Posted:
18/09/2008 04:31

Mountbatten, pike neglected to say that the build quality is no better or worse than than the build quality in the south or in fact any other part of the Med and I for one do not bother too much about dampness as in 'most' cases it is the walls having been emulsioned too quickly after the plaster has been applied thus the damp has to come through,

Wireless they have cottoned on to tinted glass and if you specifically ask for it when doing your deal it will be fitted 'at a price'

Holly


Joined: 27/05/2008
Posts: 67

Message Posted:
01/10/2008 15:56

Cheap as compared to.............



I have recently returned from my first visit to NC & whilst there viewed some houses. Living as I do in one of the most expensive housing areas outside of London, yes, in my eyes cheap. We could buy a property twice as big for half the price there but there are other cost of living facts to consider. If relocating, you may need the savings you make to live on if work not available or if retiring to bolster a pension to enjoy a comparable standard of living.



I'm not put off but everything is relative & an individuals personal circumstances.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
01/10/2008 17:40

I'm afraid I have to agree with pike (msg 11).



For years I have been pressured into buying shoddy property in Cyprus.



I have been practically 'imprisoned' by developers on viewing days, almost forced into accepting their legal representatives and finance, lack of clear title, and taken to 'showhomes' showing all the signs of settlement, subsidence, damp, windows falling out etc. They always told me my 'off plan' purchase would be '100%' perfect!

Many of these 'International' Developers have dissappeared overnight with peoples deposits.



It's appalling!









The worst areas for property corruption have been Protaras, Ayia Napa, Paphos and Polis.





'Caveat Emptor'!



(Buyer Beware!)









Happy to be a property owner in TRNC now!





rob

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
01/10/2008 18:12

rob

Absolutely mate. John (Pikey) seems to ignore the fact that property scams are happening everywhere, Spain, Portugal, Greece, even France. And I am getting to hear of a few worrying scams that are emerging from some of the prominent East European countries especially to do with the selling on of bogus title deeds concerning vineyards.

AJ

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
01/10/2008 18:49

................ the selling on of bogus title deeds concerning vineyards.



That'll be sour grapes then!

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
02/10/2008 01:48

I am very pleased with my property. Even my son, who was dubious, had

to admit it was better than he thought. (He's been over twice playing golf)

scampy



Joined: 15/01/2008
Posts: 982

Message Posted:
02/10/2008 09:50

Mountbatten

I am selling my new Apt if your interested

cocos


Joined: 04/04/2008
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
02/10/2008 19:11

Do not buy off plan until they change the specific performance law!!! Property here is not cheap considering that the many people who have bought off plan have to pay money over and above what is included in the contract for water and electric connections which is becoming normal practise by rogue developers. Many people have to pay to have their own snagging done which could also run in to thousands because the rogues dont want to finish what they started. Coupled with the fact that the rogues dont want to pay their taxes or transfer their title deeds it could end up costing you your life savings. So is that cheap? I think not

rosie123


Joined: 26/05/2008
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
04/10/2008 20:06

Alsancackjack,message 17,i agree,scams all over the world,but these countrys do seem to have laws that mean something should things go wrong,when things go wrong in North Cyprus,people feel the only person who would give you help is HBPG,the advocates (lawyer ) suck you dry.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
05/10/2008 19:36

rosie,

garages in the uk are usually built from breeze block. a solid concrete block nothing like the terracotta crumble the used here.

in the uk we have planning permissions and building inspectors for a reason. if you want your house to fall over in 20 years thats ok, but for us we would rather build to uk standards so our house should be here for at least another 100 years. its all about investment.

rosie123


Joined: 26/05/2008
Posts: 70

Message Posted:
06/10/2008 10:42

fire starter,i agree with you 100%

I think that is what Mountbatten is saying when he started this post,people say cheap,but when you take in the building standards,the laws,will the property ever be mine,all the headaches that go with it.

We have decided to have our holidays in North Cyprus and rent,and maybe things will be sorted with the North,we will then buy,knowing that property will cost more,but hope it will all be legal and above board.

Rosie

stevemac


Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 99

Message Posted:
06/10/2008 18:39

You are spot on Cocos

WAZ-24-7



Joined: 18/10/2008
Posts: 695

Message Posted:
21/10/2008 01:56

Hi,

My view is that quality of build certainly does vary considerably.

Costs can also vary significantly.

Ther are several well organised development companies. Most sub contract out the design, conctrete skeleton, blockwork etc.

Even a novice can determine good from bad with a little help.

Stone cladding can be genuine OR painted concrete.

Marble is more expensive than ceramic and requires more skill to lay and finnish.

UPV windows..not very traditional but ther are some very good manufacturers on the island.. wood finnish is now very common.

Stone work walling and cladding is usually of very high standard.

Drainage of water from balconies and terraces needs to be good. Water must fall away from the building.

Kitchens are getting better but they all seem to fit 1970 s stainless steel sinks.

Swimming pools..alwayd best done by genuine proffessionals.

If you have a well, it may be dry soon as water table continues to fall as water demand rises.

tonyhickey



Joined: 13/06/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
21/10/2008 03:27

Standard Specifications Included



* Cavity walling and damp proof course

* Waterproof plastering

* Water heating system

* Double glazed windows

* All plumbing included - piping / taps / water pumps

* Fitted kitchen (choice of colors)

* Interior flooring - ceramic (choice of colors)

* Exterior flooring - non-slip ceramic

* Fitted wardrobes in all bedrooms (choice of colors)

* Air conditioning infrastructure in all rooms

* Garden Apartment - Private garden with large tiled terrace and wooden pergola

* terrace

* Five year structural Specifications seem ok to me