Moving to North Cyprus from Australia

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 08:46

We are considering moving to North Cyprus once I get my age pension at 64.5, early 2012, as our family lives in the UK but we can't afford the cost of living or take the climate after 40-odd years in Oz. My husband lived in Cyprus as a kid and loves the island. We'll have our Australian pensions plus part-pensions from the UK. We don't want modern accommodation, simply a small, 2-3 bedroom, local-type villa where we can be part of the North Cypriot community. We'd appreciate any advice in this regard, as all the estate agents we've looked at only seem to offer apartments in gated-type communities which we're not in the least interested in. Thanks for any help you can offer.

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 09:10

Surely oz can't be that bad that you would want to swop it for here !!!!

ruggy


Joined: 02/05/2009
Posts: 757

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 09:11

Is it to buy or rent? Good luck for when you do get here, im sure you will love it as we have for the last 5 years.

Rottolover



Joined: 21/06/2009
Posts: 519

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 09:19

G'day MoBry,



You're coming in to a very volatile property market situation here, and you're going to need to talk to an awful lot of people about the many pitfalls into which you can so easily stumble. Initially, though, it will depend largely on how much you have to spend, but once that's decided you will then have to do a great deal of due diligence.



Let me put my two bob's worth in, though, by saying that in my opinion, it is possible to find an inexpensive, lovely-looking and superbly-situated home in TRNC if you do the necessary investigation. There are some genuine and professional estate agents, as there are some genuine and professional advocates...you just have to find them.



Although there are quite a lot of people who have fallen foul of what must still be considered a third world administration, there are I believe some very good buys here. It isn't all doom and gloom.



Check out, for example, the villa on offer at the moment by "going back"...

Doola3


Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 234

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 09:23

Hi Mo and welcome to the forum. My family and I moved to North Cyprus just over a year ago and love it here. The lifestyle, the weather, the community, what else could you ask for!!

Would you be looking to rent or but if you come over?

My business partner and I own Wise Property. A small family run estate agents based in Alsancak. We would be more than happy to help you find what you are looking for over here.

We offer a wide range of properties from small one bedroom apartments in quiet complexes to large private villas in town and village areas.

If you would like any help please contact me at kelly@cypruswiseproperty.com.

Good luck with you plans.

Kelly

Hoylemiller



Joined: 03/09/2010
Posts: 240

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 09:44

Hi Mo, after we put a deposite on the place we wanted, we used Dervishe G. Cherkez (Advocate) and found them excellent, we gave them power of attorney and they took care of everything.

If you decide to use them speak to Heather, their details are below.

Good look with your villa hunting.





Tel: +90 392 815 4818

Fax: +90 392 8151 686

Address: Saermuder Is Merkezi

No. 6B Namik Kemal Caddesi,

Girne,

Mersin 10,

Turkey

Hoylemiller



Joined: 03/09/2010
Posts: 240

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 09:46

Their e-mail is: dervishe@superonline.com

shrimp


Joined: 01/09/2010
Posts: 939

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 09:49

We too are going to retire too to N Cyprus in the next couple of years, and are having to do with a couple of holidays in N Cyprus each year until we can realize our dream......I like your husband was a child here in the late 50's, as my father was in the RAF, I wonder if your husband's family were in the RAF - where he was based and if our families may have known each other?? Cant wait to make TKNC Cyprus our home.......

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:23

No, Bryan's family wasn't in the RAF, he was an army kid - lived in Cyprus when his father was serving in Egypt, then served in Cyprus himself during the Eoka troubles and has driven me bonkers raving on about Cyprus ever since I met him here in Australia!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:23

Nah, it's not that bad. But all our family is in the UK, that's the drawcard - daughter, grandkids and great-grandkids. We had considered returning to the UK but found it hugely expensive when we lived there in 2002-4, plus the weather... well, least said soonest forgotten, lol.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:23

We are looking to buy, and how much we'll have will depend on the exchange rate, of course. But we don't want a huge place, just something big enough for the two of us.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:24

Thanks for that information, and nice to see a Rottolover, good old Rottnest, we lived in Freo for 12 years and Perth for 20-odd years in all. We're on the East Coast now, north of Sydney. Thanks for your info. We intend to fly to Cyprus and have a stooge around, so all the info on this forum is really, really handy.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:24

Hi, Kelly - We're planning on buying and staying in North Cyprus, and just buying a small villa. We don't want anything in a big complex. But we're starting to look at the ins and outs as we've suddenly realised that my pension is due in just over 13 months. Time seems to be flying. We'll note your name and stay in touch as it's handy to know someone who's cluey about the property market. We are stuck here until I get my age pension as I'm on a disablity pension and can only stay away from Oz for 3 months. But it'll give us time to plan and put our home on the market.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:24

Thanks for this info, I can see us starting to build up a very helpful dossier of info and contacts! Just as a matter of curiosity, how long does it take for property settlement to occur on average? As when we leave Oz we'll be stateless, so to speak, ha-ha.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:24

Thank you all for your prompt and kind help, it's really appreciated. I'm saying this now as we're, I think, 9 hours ahead of Cyprus and I'm closing down on the internet for the night. Again, thank you all so much. All the replies have been so warm and welcoming, and helpful.

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:30

I personaly would stay where i was in Australia until this country sorts itself out.

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 11:45

We were in a similar positon and we bought a villa - that was five years ago and we are still nowhere near getting our house and the matter is in the courts.

We are renting a property and now realise that we should have done this in the first place and put our capital in high interest accounts - which are good over here.

I would recommend that you DO NOT buy off plan. If you buy, buy a re-sale where all the requirements are included: roads, electric, kocans etc.

I have rented a 3 bed villa at a reasonable rent and I now realise I could have rented for 30 years for the amount i paid for the non-existent villa.

Other than that it is a great place to retire to.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 12:11

Gidday 'Mobry' - You think the 'grass is greener' in TRNC?



By all means come and rent, but certainly don't buy!



Why?



Because 'esdeger'/exchange land has probably never been exchanged at all, even if a TRNC title deed has been issued. In the eyes of the rest of the world such land still belongs to the original owner - most likely a Greek Cypriot displaced by the Turkish army 'intervention' in 1974.



Since the TRNC government refuse to give PTP [Permission to Purchase] on any pre 1974 property owned by a Turkish Cypriot, this property cannot be owned freehold by any foreigner, even if fully paid for - this happened to us in 2005, despite all assurances to the contrary. There are, since 2005, a handful of expats, claiming they have PTP and Title Deed. Perhaps they have, but to buy such property, unless you are a TC, no way guarantees that you, as a foreigner, will be granted 'Permission to Purchase' - be seriously warned!



Be aware that a foreigner has no rights in TRNC!

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 13:48

There is a lot to think about before looking for somewhere to live, you say you are disabled so health facilities must be something to check out, from recent postings the cost of living there isn't cheap, I don't think it is something that can be rushed, you need to go there to look at things for yourself.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 14:09

Mobry



If you or your husband haven't visited Cyprus since the EOKA troubles then rest assured that there have been huge changes on the island since then. The sleepy idyll that your husband recollects is long gone although many beautiful parts of the island remain.

As for property, my advice would be to rent for at least 12 months to ensure that you have made the right decision and if possible do not immediately burn any bridges with the UK/Oz. You will be able to rent a small villa for somewhere in the region of £400-£500 per month. The money that you would have spent on a villa invested in a high interest account here would more than likely cover your rent and some of your living expenses. The beauty of this is that if you find that you don't like it here you can upsticks without the drama of having to sell your property in a very depressed market. If you find you like it here then by all means take the plunge and buy, but be very careful about what and where you buy.



Paul

Railroad


Joined: 29/06/2010
Posts: 43

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 14:12

MOBRY.



Please take note when people have said, dont buy rent.

Come here rent a property, talk to locals and find out the points both good and bad.

I purchased here, and i would have to say i am one of the lucky one,s, i have my house.

But if you buy off plan, no one tells you that electricity nay not be connected, the same with water.

There are lots of little problems.

Come here, but take your time.



Railroad

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 14:18

Mobry



Sorry, but I also noticed in your first post that you were suffering in the Oz climate - I assume you are referring to the heat ? If that is the case, please be aware that temperatures here in the Summer (June - mid Sep) are very hot and range anywhere from the low 40'sC to in excess of 50C, the winters are damp and cold and the houses here are not built for the cold/damp weather. Living costs are also expensive, particularly electricity, gas and motor vehicles.



Sorry to appear negative, but I am sure that you would prefer a 'warts and all' perspective rather than a 'rose tinted specs' description.



Best of luck whatever you decide.



Regards



Paul

YFred


Joined: 06/05/2009
Posts: 1471

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 15:12

My fascist cousins in the south will not like this one bit. I just know they will get most upset. They hate not being considered when decisions are made.

So I though I'll give a head start. Tell your husband, he will feel at home here, especially as all the eoka sympathisers live in the south. He can relieve all his young life just taking part in another forum south of the border which is riddled with eoka men and enjoy his retirement spending time in the north where the better better ones live. Fortunately all the "skarta" lot are over there.

Tracer, just joking right?

tracer


Joined: 02/06/2010
Posts: 442

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 16:52

Yfred.......are you drinking again and seeing eoka ghosts all over .(me too my friend)



sovara twra steile ena e-mail.

aussiejock



Joined: 06/10/2010
Posts: 350

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 17:35

MoBry

we are in the same position as you but I'm now retired, and should be over at the end of the year, one thing that I read from your post is that you will receive an Australian pension, the Australian government will stop your pension after 6 month out of the country, and If you are relying on the pension then you will be in strife, unless you have a lot of savings, I have a UK pension of 65 pounds a week not very much, and the Oz pension, but will not rely on them to survive, look up some of the other posts and you will find that you need around 400,000 pound around $650,000 AU to live a comfortable life in the NC, I have done a lot of research for the past 4 years on moving to another country, Lived in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, as Tenakoutou said only rent first, our next trip will be 3 months in NC and 3 months in Spain, then we will decide, I have a friend who has an apartment in Burgas and we can use it rent free for as long as we want, but didn't like Bulgaria,



Robert

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 19:57

Hi MoBry, check out http://www.iansmithestate.com as they specialise in older style property.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 10:58

Thanks to everyone who replied, this is a really wonderful forum and we're pleased we've stumbled across it. The climate problem I mentioned in my first post was actually relating to the cold climate in the UK, we suffered mightily in winter and the summers to us were, well, more like the winters we're used to in Australia. Here is fine, but there are only the two of us & we would like to be closer to our friends and relatives in the UK, which is why we looked at North Cyprus as a possible solution to our dilemma. I guess we will make our decision nearer the time and also take into account developments in the Middle East. We're not, by the way, expecting the Cyprus of my husband's youth, we're quite aware that there have been many changes in the past decades. If we do decide to dip our toes in the waters of Cyprus, we will certainly take on board the overwhelming message from you all, that is, to rent and take our time before buying. Thank you all so much. You've been so helpful.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 11:00

Couldn't fit everything in in the above post. Thanks for the link to Ian Smith Estate, it is right up our alley. Thanks also to all the people who e-mailed us with help and really useful information. You're a great mob!

Lucie


Joined: 02/09/2010
Posts: 50

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 12:46

There is also a local estate agents who has original Cypriote houses on their books, and are involved in restoring old houses. http://www.aphroditebros.com





I have found them very honest and extremely helpful. Would recommend them to anyone.

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 13:56

Best of luck with your quest.Hope you strike lucky,as we did,

Paul.

jerryj


Joined: 25/10/2009
Posts: 56

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 16:04

Hi MoBry



Like you I grew up in Cyprus and later worked here, then retired here, and I find the life in the TRNC very similar to that of Cyprus in the 60s/70s, although obviously a bit more expensive, but still very slow.

Depending on what you are wanting to spend, I would suggest a resale property, where everything has been sorted out, including the surrounding area, which will avoid any further developments spoiling your peace.

IF you go direct to the seller, and do not go through an estate agent, then you can save yourselves a lot of money, as the agents generally add 5% to the selling price to take into account their commission.

To that end, if you are looking for a 3 bed bungalow, with pool, close to Kyrenia, then you can me email for details

Cheers. johnsons@sunnycyprus.net

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 16:43

mess 1



one word - bonkers..........



Yow'll learn..................

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 17:34

MoBry

You mentioned you are in receipt of a disability pension. Have you checked out the medical facilities available in the TRNC? They are probably not what are available in Oz.

Have you looked at the Home Buyers Pressure Group website http://www.hbpg-trnc.net which has useful info? If you do decide to visit and before you make any big decisions go and have an informal, friendly, unbiased, and free chat beside the pool at the Pia Bella hotel any Tuesday 12noon with members of the HBPG.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
09/02/2011 23:52

So much I would say to encourage you, but I think many others already have.

But could I just say that the weather here is the same as Perth (only upside down, if you know what I mean). YOu will find the pace very different to that of Sydney, but the crime rate is much lower!

Lots of good things. Many agents you can trust; people who are kind. Yes, there are probvlems, but there are worse ones in the world. And you won't get the disasters currently in Oz! Last year's rain was a bit nasty, and there was a forest fire about 15 years ago, and yes, property probs can be a headache,but if you want to be near U.K and have an otherwise pretty O.K. lifestyle better than Spain and cheaper than Greece. Italy great, but not a lot of Brits, so look on the bright side and come and try.

Medical facilities NOT the same as Oz. You need expensive insurance or money (or faith in God) , but that doesn't deter some of us. Good luck.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
10/02/2011 02:03

Thanks for the extra replies and info, I'm noting all this down. We don't actually live in Sydney, but on the mid-north coast, and have so far, luckily, escaped all the dramas with the weather. We enjoy quiet living in rural areas, not city types so we're not looking for heaps of entertainment or anything like that. And nothing can be decided until later this year and nearer to the time when my age pension comes due in March 2012. Someone mentioned that the Australian pension cuts out after six months. It doesn't. We lived in the UK from 2002-4 and Byran's pension continued, you just don't get additional Medicare or phone benefits. My disability pension would cut out after 3 months overseas though. It seems to us that if you treat people as you yourself expect to be treated, with respect, kindness and a friendly attitude, it's the best you can do.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
10/02/2011 02:06

As far as we're concerned, if we move to North Cyprus, we're guests in that country and you simply go with the flow and accept the people and country for who they are. We like to look on the bright side, makes life far less stressful, lol!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
10/02/2011 02:28

Hector - forgot to say, I have fibromyalgia and arthritis of the spin, there's nothing doctor's can do, and I've learned to manage. I don't take medication so I don't really require a lot of medical support. However, we will look into the medical coverage situation as obviously,as you're getting older, it's handy to be able to access medical care. We have also lived in quite a few countries and, I guess, we're gypsies, we like to travel and enjoy adventures. Life's too short to stay safe in one spot. Our friends usually ask if we're moving before they make plans to visit us, lolol.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
10/02/2011 04:20

Oops, well, I may well spin in different directions, bu the arthritis is in m spine, lol.

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
10/02/2011 07:24

will someone please give the OP a shake and hope he see's sense.........



australia to the trnc !





like swapping from an audi a6 to a 74 marina estate with a dodgy 2nd syncro..........

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
10/02/2011 23:34

MoBry you are a kindred soul. Follow your heart. You are obviously doing good homework, and with what you have said about your expectations and medical condition, I reckon this could be a good place. No such place as Paradise, or as someone said 'If you find it, don't go there, cos you will spoil it'. So come and join those who, like yourself, accept that this is Cyprus, and you will be a guest and can happily live the 'If you should find yourself at Rome then live as the Romans do'.



Just take Negative Nick fort what he sounds to be - negative. With your good positive attitude, I am sure you could be as happy here as many other places.



Look forward to another 'gypsy' coming to The Island of Love.



good in yer, mate!

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
10/02/2011 23:50

Re message 39.......Marinas always had a dodgy 3rd gear syncro...... Sorry to be off topic!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
11/02/2011 12:48

Thanks, Maz, good to hear some positive comment. No, we don't bother with negative stuff, life's too short. And like you say, Paradise is wherever you live and how you create it. No-one else is responsible for how you live, just yourself. So with any luck, these gypsies will be packing up our caravan next year and heading off to North Cyprus - depending on the exchange rate, of course - but certainly with a view to rent first. Been great to get such helpful advice, it's put our minds at rest, as we weren't terribly impressed with most of the real estate websites we'd come across previously.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
11/02/2011 13:04

msg37 "Life's to short to" stay "Safe" the TRNC is the perfect choice then Good Luck .

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
11/02/2011 23:28

Just make sure you let us all know when you arrive, cos I for one owuld love to meet you. Good luck with it all. I would have thought with a property to sell in the Sydney area, you can't go wrong, even if the exchange rate is a tad unkind. Property in Oz is now way in advance of here, and you can buy somewhere and have dollars in the bank. If converted to Turkish Lira the interest rate is extremely golod, giving you that extra couple (or more) lira for everyday spending.

walkerscott


Joined: 13/08/2009
Posts: 901

Message Posted:
12/02/2011 17:06

MoBry

take your time and have a read on:

http://www.no-deeds-no-money.moonfruit.com

Good Luck!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
14/02/2011 06:06

Thanks, Maz, will certainly get back in touch if and when we move to Cyprus. At present, the Australian dollar is on a high which is handy but things change rapidly so we'll also have to see how that is going next year. But certainly we'll be renting rather than buying. And checking this out, as walkerscott suggested.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
14/02/2011 12:58

Look forward to it, if it happens. But remember if you are ocming here for ever, then you need to be secure. O.K, the word 'secure' is a joke, but if you own it you are much safer than renting, especially if you have a few treasured possessions that you don't want to move around too much. On the other hand, rentings is great for gipsys. I am SURE you will find the right path through.



Silly isn't it how the grass is always greener. I can't think why you want to leave Australia. It is Perth Festival time now, and I have friends who wish they could be there, and I agree with them.



But good luck wiht it all. Come on over, put your toe in the water and then you can decide. And I would suggest you do that BEFORE you sell up in Aus. Come for three months or six months and try. YOu will not get a total picture,but it will help.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
14/02/2011 12:59

Forgot to mention it might be an idea to buy a small unit somewhere back in Oz - mkaybe back over West, so that if things go wrong here you can go back. Property values in Oz have gone up by the square, whereas here,they have gone DOWN by the square!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 04:52

I have to say, Maz, that we don't have that many treasured possessions any more. We have moved so many times since 1994 that we have pared our stuff back to the basics. The ultimate de-clutter, you might say. As Bryan got used to moving so many times as an army kid, he's a great one for not hanging on to stiff, ripping it out of my clutches with great determination, lol. We don't have a huge amount of money and if we did decide to move, we'd sell up & dive in the deep end. In actual fact, the cost of living here is sky-rocketing, & as we live on the smell of an oily rag here, I'm sure we can do the same in Cyprus. I think we've both been responsible for other people over the past decades, & now we're really footloose and fancy-free, we really do look forward to travelling once I get my age pension. Neither of us are really euro-centric people, really enjoy foreign places although I also add, hastily, that we don't live life through rose-coloured glasses, we're always practical!

Rottolover



Joined: 21/06/2009
Posts: 519

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 05:55

Hi Mobry,



I'm actually from Fremantle, as you guessed, and I'd much prefer to be able to live there still. But also as you said, the cost of living is enormous, and I just couldn't afford it.



It sounds as though you are both practical and well-grounded people, and that you may prefer the quieter, more isolated lifestyle away from big city hustle, so if/when you do come over to TRNC, check out the little village of Esentepe. It's away east of Kyrenia, but it's beautiful and the people are lovely.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 08:24

Thanks, Rottolover. Yes, Rottnest is lovely, I've spent some really happy, relaxed times there. And we used to live just outside of Freo, in Hilton. Trouble is, it got rezoned for higher density living and, as the price of houses went up, the rates shot up too. It's cheaper living on the East Coast, but the cost of living in Perth now is through the roof. We lived on the wheatbelt for 2 years after we got back from the UK and really noticed the high cost of food, and anything else that needed transported from east to west. It's also far more built-up in Perth now, and more humid which surprised us now end. Yes, we do prefer a quieter lifestyle, so we'll definitely keep in mind your recommendation of Esentpe. It's always good to get feedback from people who know what's going on. Thanks very much for that info.

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 08:44

MoBry,this may sound a bit negative but its the truth, have you checked into the cost of living in North Cyprus lately, super expensive, most appliances are inferior products from China and wont last long and expensive, food is very pricey as is eating out, the law changes daily.

Cyprus is not how you remember it, it has grown very quickly, once the bulldozers move in what used to be a nice piece of countryside will be a new estate which may or may not be finished, rubbish everywhere. Animal poisoning is strife.



Why would you want to leave similar climate and a nice way of life to start all over again??



Spend a few grand and have an extended holiday over summer and winter, big difference between the two seasons.

Try applying for a residents permit, if that doesn't put you off then go for it.

Its not the way you remember it , also look at how many people are leaving the island and returning to UK because they couldn't put up with all the bureaucracy.

Do your research.

Turbo


Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 833

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 08:48

Mobry, I forgot to add.

Start a new thread asking why people are leaving...that will give you a different perspective.

billybob


Joined: 29/03/2008
Posts: 576

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 09:10

MoBry

Check out http://www.glencoecyprus.com as well they have several places to rent on there web site and it has a good info chat room as well

Good luck it is a good place to live

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 13:23

MoBry - with regard to cost of living in NC, yes, it is going up all the time, but having recently returned from a trip to Australia (Perth/Freo) to visit our son, I don't honestly think you'll have any problems. We found WA to be absolutely wonderful but, although we had been told that it was much more expensive than the UK, I have to admit that we were gobsmacked at how much things cost! Of course, the strength of the Ossie dollar didn't help, but we were unprepared at how high the cost of living was. With the exception of petrol, everything costs much more than in the UK. from eathng out, a pint, books, food, etc. etc. For example, a trip to Rottnest from Perth jetty (a ferry trip which takes about 1 hour each way) was A$89.00 each. Having said that, we had a lovely holiday and, if I were 30 years younger, I'd certainly try to "give it a go" and make a life there. Beautiful place. Good luck in whatever you decide to do,



J

GBJohn


Joined: 11/04/2009
Posts: 105

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 20:26

Hi Mobry been here 2 year and the pricing is going up through the roof if you come here to stay, to live well come with a GOOD bank account if not then forget it stay where you are Good luck in what you chose

IbrahimAbi


Joined: 24/10/2010
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
16/02/2011 21:29

Horse for courses, sorry Turbo (msg 52) disagree with inferior Chinese products; you can buy anything here, from German brand names to good quality Turkish (Beko now best seller in Uk market) to chinese



As always, research well then decide.



some good posts here



Best of luck whatever you decide

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
17/02/2011 01:14

Ah, Hilton, Freo, Perth, etc, etc. You will haVE ME IN TEARS! When I knew those places they were cheaper than U.K and cheaper than N./Cyprus. Now I guess North Cyprus is the cheapest of the three. YOu sound really balanced and sensible. wbat is important here is that you don't have strata fees, or huge council fees to pay, so your money in your pocket can be spent as you choose. That is a huge bonus to life here.

As to Perth and humidity - it has crept up here too. Far more humid than years ago.

Also, one must remember that nowhere stays the same. Everything, everywhere increases some way or other.

But when you get here, take a good look at all the places. Essentepe now, for me, is too built up, but then so are most places. Lots of nice places to look at.

Hope the suggestions on here have helped you. Some of us think that N.Cyprus has a lot to offer, although give ma a Lotto win, and I am off to Cottesloe and the Blue Duck! Or Mackers on Freo beach side!

Rottolover



Joined: 21/06/2009
Posts: 519

Message Posted:
17/02/2011 07:51

Yeah, Maz, you've got that right....i'd be joining you!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
17/02/2011 10:57

I really like the American expression: "We didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday", which I guess sums up our approach. We did get badly burned once, lost $25,000 on a home in Qld when Bryan got Ross River fever and we had to leave our large block as he couldn't maintain it due to the severity of the fever, so we've been pretty cautious ever since and do examine things in great detail. Yes, Australia is a hell of a lot more expensive, and house much more unaffordable, and it's happened in the last six years or so. Real estate has gone through the roof. Electricity and water have shot up. Food costs have increased. I guess it's the same the world over, and the trick is not to expect Paradise but to realise each country has its own pros and cons.



And don't forget, Maz, that white pointer got someone swimming off North Cottesloe, so just stick to the Blue Duck or Mackers, and be careful of the water!

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
17/02/2011 23:26

Yes, thanks MoBry. Valid point. Personally, I watch the others in the water from the shore at Blue Duck. Sunday morning breakfast and the papers, and watch the others getting fried up or eaten up. Seriously, I knew a guy (personally) that was breakfast for a shark a few years back. Horrible. Fair puts one off. But the poor shark was hungry! Well, he didn't actually end up as breakfast,but the shark took a sample of his leg, and the poor guy bled to death on the beach before emergency services arrived.



One good thing about Cyprus - haven't heard of a case like that here!



Really looking forward to meeting you guys - IF you come.



As to prices in Oz, a friend of mine sold up before the boom and in just over a couple of years later their property had gone up 150%. Did they feel sick! But that is the trouble with property isn't it. You win a few and sadly can lose a few. But just being alive is the bonus and being healthy to fight another day.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
18/02/2011 07:18

Some poor sod has just got taken by two white pointers while abalone fishing in South Australia. Glad to hear that there are no sharks in the waters off Cyprus but from what we've read on posts, just need to keep our eyes open for sharks on land, lolol. We sold up in Freo just before the prices took off, but no regrets, you can't live your life looking back on what might have been. And we have had some great adventures and met some lovely people since then. Win some, lose some. Will certainly send in a post if and when we decide to move to Cyprus.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
18/02/2011 09:14

Meant to say, Maz, sorry to hear about your friend getting killed by a shark, what a bummer. We'd been swimming down near Margaret River once, climbed up the cliffs, looked down and saw a damned great shark toodling through the waters we'd just left. Talk about stomach-churning!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
18/02/2011 11:38

Had another query actually - is it better to buy a car in the UK and drive it to North Cyprus or buy one there? This is all preparatory stuff but we weren't sure if it would be cheaper to buy in the UK and then drive it overland. Can you license a car when you get to North Cyprus?

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
18/02/2011 18:37

Ouch. Of course you can buy a car in U.K but the import duty may well kill it stone dead. also there is an age limit on the vehicles. Mates of mine coming from Oz could not bring their very decent vehicle and had to sell it at a loss - because of rules. Vehicles from U.K can be subject to thousxands of pounds of duty. So, although cars a little cdearer here, m uch easier to buy here. You can buy an older vehicle that you could not otherwise bring in.

Hope that helps.

By the way, I forgot to say that just to make you feel at home there are now branches of Gloria Jeans Coffee here. Lefkosia, Kyrenia and I believe Famagusta. You could imagine you are back in the land of community caring and a civilisation that does not exist here. But this is different and has a lot of good points, especially now Gloria Jeans is here. As yet No Dome Coffee Bars, but that might be copied soon.

Any more quesitons? Always willing to try to help.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
20/02/2011 06:02

Thanks for your help, Maz. We currently have a Subaru Outback which is great for long distances but we'll be selling it when/if we move out of Australia, and we certainly hadn't considered taking it with us, not worth the cost. We don't actually use Gloria Jeans, there are so many good, local coffee shops on the East cost that we like to use them to support local businesspeople. There's a great cafe at the shopping centre we go to in Coffs Harbour which does really good coffee and terrific fish and chips - freshly cooked and freshly caught. Great seafood around this area but it costs a motza. I don't know about the land of the caring, people turned out to help in the Brisbane floods, but in other areas there's a complete lack of compassion. Things have changed. But then you can't keep any place stuck in in the past, can you?

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
20/02/2011 07:07

By the way, are there any snakes on Cyprus? I do have to say that I'd be very glad to put some distance between myself and snakes, had too many close encounters of the Hissing Sid kind.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
20/02/2011 13:17

Sorry about the lack of compassion where you are. Obviously my cousin lives in an old fahsioned community. Yes, places change. This place has changed. Nothing stays the same, but much good can always be found if you look for it.



Snakes! Yes - some! Take a look on the internet (they are safer viewed there!). In the main the only critters that suffer are dogs who sniff around where they ought not to. And nothing like the ones in Oz - so fear not!

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
21/02/2011 11:09

Thanks, Maz. I looked up the snake situation and it's certainly better than here in Australia. We have had narrow escapes from taipans which are deadly and very aggressive, unlike most snakes which will scarper rather than bother you, to red-bellied blacks to brown snakes (which are actually black and look like elongated bicycle tyres). We also had a 12ft carpet python wandering around outside but that didn't bother us as it's non-venomous. It just bothers frogs, lol! We have decided to take a punt, put our home up for sale in October/November, get my age pension (we can stay with a friend if our house sells fast) and then head on to Cyprus to do a recce. If there are problems, we'll most likely mosey on over to the UK as all our family's there. Thanks for everybody's help, we've printed off everything and noted all the comments, so we'll get back once we know when we're quitting the fair shores of Oz.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
21/02/2011 20:01

Look forward to the next saga of the MoBry Move! Hope it all goes to plan and you know a lot of us here are ready to help from the day you land on these shores.



Go well.

bandieles


Joined: 30/10/2010
Posts: 16

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 13:10

Don't do it ,Oz to the TRNC I don't think so !!!

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
22/02/2011 20:51

Why not, message 71. Give them good reasons as to why not, cos they seem to have thought through the reasons as to why. I am sure they would love to hear.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 00:32

I'll be honest, people talk about moving to a third world country like North Cyprus. If you don't know a country and its customs, everything can seem difficult. When we moved to the UK in 2002, we felt we were in a third world country. The bureaucracy drove us nuts, everything went at a snail's pace, it was as if the UK was drowning in red tape and nanny state-ism. We felt like strangers in a strange land. All our friends tell us the situation has got worse. If you move to a new country, you simply have to accept that you will live differently. You're a guest, they aren't there to adapt to you, you're there to adapt to them. And we want adventure, not to live a safe, stultified life.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 06:18

I did the above post when I was half asleep and we were about to take off to Coffs Harbour to do some shopping. I realised when I thought about it later that talking of "strangers in a strange land" might have sounded as if we were dogwhistling on race and religion, which isn't the case at all. It's simply that we'd been away from the UK too long to fit in with the lifestyle (we're used to being outdoors so much and far less traffic congestion and pollution) and the dynamics of family relationships.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 08:01

MoBry: Coffs Harbour [the banana growing area] is one of the places I considered moving to when I'd left NZ and finished working a coupla years in Mackay. NQ.



No worries - TRNC will open up a whole new meaning of 'Banana Republic' for you.



Maz is painting a pic. of this [rubbish] dump as 'the dog's b*llocks' - you'll find out, if you come, which I strongly advise you not to!



What you are contemplating is such a retrograde step for anyone, including Oz resident Turkish Cypriots, that I'm beginning to wonder if your posting is a big 'wind-up'!

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 11:01

MoBry. What lifestyle are you on about? We have a wonderful family relationship, we have a Son and Daughter with 4 children between them, we have fun together at the weekend, one girl a gymnastic boy who plays rugby and goes kayaking 2 girls playing in brass bands, we join them wherever they go. We live in a village with a great atmosphere, a walking club, bowling, friendly people can always have a chat with someone. Depends on where you live in the UK wether you get congestion and pollution you are talking about, you get that in NC too, ask people who live near the power station you walk down the main street in Girne and you get choked with car fumes. Msg 75 I sort of agree with your last line.

MoBry



Joined: 08/02/2011
Posts: 78

Message Posted:
23/02/2011 11:19

Woodspeckie - I think it's fine if you've lived in the UK all your life, but we haven't. People were great, step-daughter lovely, friends terrific, but the rest of the family dysfunctional, and we discovered we're really not British any more, we'd been away too long. I can't describe it, simply that we didn't feel comfortable back in the UK.



And no, to both the last posts, of course it's not a wind-up. We wouldn't cause people to waste time replying to something frivolous. It's something we're seriously thinking about and we're investigating all aspects. We're really appreciated the constructive comments from so many.