where abouts to live

barney111 · Post by **barney111** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 1:52 pm

Hi i am interested in moving to Northern Cyprus but was wondering if some one could tell which they consider the best area to live and why. Thanks in advance

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 2:44 pm

I am sure you will get a few responses to this request. However it really is about personal choice and what you really want out of the location.

For example the Girne area is probably the most well known and the choice up to you. Do you ant to be near the coast/beach, in town or out of town or up in the hills? Can you drive or not? Do you want to live on a complex, large estate/development, in a village house? So many choices to be made.

West of Girne is probably the first area that was really developed and saw the growth in people buying property in the early days. Nowadays the east of Girne is also very popular. Further out from Girne to the east is Esentepe, Tatlisu etc and whilst they were more isolated in terms of shops etc, many prefer to be away from the bustle of Girne. There are many more shops and services being established out this way. Then of course there is Gazimagusa area and the much more remote and very pretty as you head to Dipkarpaz. Lefkosia os located in the centre of the island, if you want city life - but it can be very very hot in the summer. Then of course there is Guzelyurt, the orange growing area which is slowly becoming more developed and popular.

For us we decided to purchase a small place east of Girne, approximately 5 miles out of town and a mile or so up into the hills. No bars/shops really close by, but you could walk to the village if needed - so you need a car. However we like our spot because it is quiet, has great views but is only 5 mins down to the coast and all the shops and restaurants we could want.

People can give you a general idea of where they consider to be the best area, probably based on where they live but to really be able to answer your question you would need to provide a little more detail of what your preferences are.

ttoli · Post by **ttoli** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 3:05 pm

Personally I prefer it up in the hills/Lower mountain ( Buffavento) It's peaceful with no thru traffic and not as humid in the summer no shops within walking distance though but only a ten minute drive away and Central Kyrenia 20 - 25 mins drive .
I spent the first 8 Years here on what has know become a very busy and noisy road and whilst It was convenient for Kyrenia town and local shops. it was also very humid in July/August

kaiserphil · Post by **kaiserphil** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 3:28 pm

I lived just outside Ozanköy, a village just East of Girne.

I wanted to be outside the town, but near enough for shops, restaurants etc. From there, I could walk into Girne if necessary.

Another thing to consider is the possible need for access to doctors, dentists, hospitals etc.

And if you have children then you need to think of schooling.

Lottidotti · Post by **Lottidotti** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 4:06 pm

Barney 111, without knowing more details it is difficult to give advise,However what I would say is if you need to work and or you have children think very carefully.In the twelve years I have been here I have lost count of how many people have had to return to their home country because they can't afford to continue to live in the TRNC and not just people with children.A lot of people come here with very little in savings and no pension or they have a small pension which in the long term is not adequate because of high inflation.
Most people don't realise that to be comfortable you need at least £1200 per month to live on as an average,although there will be others who need more or less,but remember £1200 per month equals £14400 per annum then allow 10% per annum after that.Also if you do have children it will cost a fortune in school fees and thinking to the future what will they do when they leave school.

DieHard · Post by **DieHard** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 4:23 pm

I would disagree with Lottidotti as to how much you need to live on. We have a Villa, car, cat and dog and can live on approx 900 a month, which includes a trip back to the UK once a year. We are not extravagant but certainly not frugal.

barney111 · Post by **barney111** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 4:29 pm

Hi and thankyou for your advice.
I am going to be by myself and i am ok financially. Yes i can drive.
I am looking for somewhere where there are a few bars and restaurants but not in my face and not to far to the beach

Lottidotti · Post by **Lottidotti** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 4:36 pm

Diehard,that's why I said 'average' and 'others will need more or less'.Every situation is different £ 300 per month is not a big difference per month some people will spend that on drink.

Dalartokat · Post by **Dalartokat** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 4:51 pm

and again no one has mentioned healthcare, which has to be paid for. So before you leave investigate health insurance or enough money to see you through, especially the unexpected.

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 5:06 pm

Barney: I assume you have already paid several visits to the Country on holiday and have read up about it and its history. If not, that is the first thing to do.

Secondly if you are considering buying and living permanently I suggest you remember (and its easy not to) that no one gets any younger, and as you age you will be less mobile, and need closer access to medical facilities etc. as well as shops. In any case I recommend renting for ayear or two so you can learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of life here, and the various areas. There are other reasons for renting first which I am sure others can cover better than I.

Also remember no NHS or Social Services available to expats here. You need to thinkabout how you are going to cope with and fundhealth care.

Personally if I were young, fit and had supportive family I would go to the Karpas, but practicalities mean the more expat orientated areas near Girne.

Also if you are relying on a pension and/or savings income, they have not kept up with the cost of living here: I spendat least three times more on just basic necessities than I did twenty years ago, and my income hasnt kept pace, and there are no signs this situation will change.

Owl Lady · Post by **Owl Lady** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 5:15 pm

I agree with Ragged Robin,who beat me to the posting. I would come and stay for a while and rent, before deciding on an area. Talk to people and ask these questions. Drive around and look at the villages and towns. All the previous posters have given good, valid advice, but it is always personal choice. I have lived in Ozankoy for nearly 10 years. I first came in 1972 so have seen endless changes through out the island, since then and in the past 10 years!!

PapaBravo · Post by **PapaBravo** » Sun 25 Jan 2015 5:47 pm

Without doubt, rent initially to give yourself time to find the area that suits you best. And while you rent, your capital can get you 9% interest, which helps to pay for your rental costs.

kiplet · Post by **kiplet** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 7:15 am

Rent rent rent an absolute must for any newcomer.
Rent in different areas to find out what suits your needs.

Art · Post by **Art** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 7:29 am

Esentepe-Esentepe-Esentepe.

Groucho · Post by **Groucho** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 8:02 am

Rent, then you can also find out which neighbours suit your life style aspirations.... Your home may suit but if the neighbours are a nightmare you can move on easily.

Munchkin · Post by **Munchkin** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 9:08 am

Listen very carefully to the advice given by mostly long term ex-pats on this forum barney111.

Why would you want to live in a place where you have ZERO rights ? the government actively encourages discrimination against ex-pats (by doing nothing to stop it), house ownership can be a huge and expensive millstone around your neck, the rules change every 5 minutes so you never have a clear direction, I could go on but BEWARE of this place barney111 Cyprus North and South is well known as a land of thieves and liars.

Lots of very nice places in the world barney111 that appreciate the ex-pat input but Cyprus is not one of them.

butterfly · Post by **butterfly** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 1:49 pm

Whoa, that's a bit harsh. We have lived here 12 years. Rent before buying. Reside legally. All will be finre. Make sure you have enough money to live on. Its still lovely here, but never forget you are a forgeiner here living at the governments discretion.

Owl Lady · Post by **Owl Lady** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 2:39 pm

Munchkin, not wanting to start WWW3, but where do you actually live here or in "nicer place"?

Hedge-fund · Post by **Hedge-fund** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 3:46 pm

Munchkin wrote:Listen very carefully to the advice given by mostly long term ex-pats on this forum barney111.

Why would you want to live in a place where you have ZERO rights ? the government actively encourages discrimination against ex-pats (by doing nothing to stop it), house ownership can be a huge and expensive millstone around your neck, the rules change every 5 minutes so you never have a clear direction, I could go on but BEWARE of this place barney111 Cyprus North and South is well known as a land of thieves and liars.

Lots of very nice places in the world barney111 that appreciate the ex-pat input but Cyprus is not one of them.

Owl Lady wrote:Munchkin, not wanting to start WWW3, but where do you actually live here or in "nicer place"?

Not sure where he lives but it sounds like ukip are running the country.

Hedge-fund · Post by **Hedge-fund** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 3:51 pm

barney111 wrote:Hi i am interested in moving to Northern Cyprus but was wondering if some one could tell which they consider the best area to live and why. Thanks in advance

Welcome to TRNC and to the board.

As has been said, try renting for a year or two preferably in a couple of places so you get a feel for the areas.

If you find an area you like, do extensive research - arm yourself with a recommended advocate - and only buy a place with 100% clean deeds.

Happy hunting.

barney111 · Post by **barney111** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 4:27 pm

Thanks to all that have posted I am coming out for a couple of weeks in Feb and just trying to figure out which hotel or where to stay. I am hoping this is for me as I have had enough of England and while my health is good and I am not to old do it now or I will live with the regret.

Hector · Post by **Hector** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 4:41 pm

And if anyone says 'Trust me I'm a .... lawyer / advocate / estate agent or enter whatever is said .. then run a mile!

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 5:00 pm

Plenty of good advice on his forum.

I would confirm most of what has been said. Renting is probably the best way to start, that way you can take some time to really search out the area you want to live and also the type of property you would like.

I would also take some time to understand the history and culture of the island as a whole and especially the TRNC,. Always remember this is not the UK and whilst some may not understand why and feel things are "not fair", just remember its a different state altogether. Its not our country, accept it for what it is - its not little Britain, Things take longer, there is lots of paperwork and seemingly at times a lot of running around to be done to get a simple piece of paper authorised.

Be aware that not everything is perfect and yes in the past there have been many horror stories with regards to property purchase, so research and more research is the key. Do not buy any property where the deeds are not already in the current owners name and are good to transfer. Remember the house purchase system is different to the UK. You will need permission to purchase (PTP) which used to take forever, by the timescales to complete the paperwork and get authorisation has reduced substantially - ours took 16 months. Consider if you want to start the PTP process whilst renting. In our case we had previously lived on the island both north and south for over 10 years and knew the history, culture, people and way of life - always be as well prepared as you possibly can before purchasing.

Once you have found your place in the sun, employ a good advocate - again if you hunt around many will recommend a good one.

A few years ago a few people did get stung by unscrupulous builders, banks and sometimes advocates but I do believe the situation has improved greatly. When we decided to buy we always maintained that we would not throw all our eggs into the place in the sun....personal choice of course but one day you may need to return to the UK....health reasons if a prime example. Keep that in mind. We also decided that we would have a strict budget and amount put aside to purchase and would not be persuaded to look outside this amount, no matter how tempting. For us we decided to spend only what we thought we could write off as a very expensive mistake if it all went wrong - we were confident things would be OK but if not we would have learn't a lesson and would still be left with something.

Once you have purchased and are settled, try hard to relax and not to get to excitable when things do not always go to plan. If you start to moan about the way things happen in the TRNC then seriously consider if it is the place for you.

We bought 4 years ago, have no regrets and love the place and the people.

Enjoy!

dippersgirl · Post by **dippersgirl** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 5:39 pm

We live in Dipkarpaz, bought 14 years ago and have now retired permanently, but still kept a bolt hole in UK. We actually like to be away from the city and the expat scene. It's good to visit and good to see friends there, but we also like to mingle with the 'locals'. Dipkarpaz's population of about 3000 is mostly main land Turkish people and about 400 Greek people, being prepared to learn some Turkish is a must. Mine is not very good at all, but I manage shopping and extremely simple conversation etc. People are really friendly and very helpful and make an effort to communicate. There are enough shops here for every day living, the next village, Yenierenköy, has a weekly market and more shops still. Famagusta/Gazimagusa(75km) is just over an hours drive away. There you also find the nearest state hospital, expats still have to pay, but I believe not for emergencies. There is a health center in our village, but it's not manned daily, you have to go to Yenierenköy(16km). There is a daily bus at 7am and the last one returns at 7pm (leaves Famagusta at 5pm) The North and South beaches are about 3km away. We don't have a car and don't drive, but we manage, but then we lived in a village in England and it was just the same, a lot of people do deliver to the house!!!
But I'm sure it's not for everybody, it just suits us.

waddo · Post by **waddo** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 5:49 pm

In for a penny....... Don't ask where to live - First ask yourself why you would come here? What brings you, the sun, the beer, the cheap houses, the people, the country, etc, etc? How many times have you been here in the hight of summer with no air con, in the depths of winter with only a gas heater, in the heavy rain, in the fierce winds? I am not knocking your choice of place to live - we love it - I am asking you to question yourself about your motives for moving here in the first place.

Do not worry about where to live, you can live anywhere but who could say which place/area/house would be best for you - only you! Everyone who lives here on a full time basis has found the place (mainly) of their dreams, we had our dream built to our own design in a place of our dreams and then three years after we moved here, we moved house!!! We were then three years older and had found we had built too big in too much land and the days were spent maintaining or improving on a perfect dream! We down sized and are happy but that comes with experience of the country, the people and ourselves. We burnt all bridges when we left UK so have no worry's about property there or any reason to go back - visitors/family come here instead!

Before we retired we were advised to not take up any part time or voluntary work until we had settled in - best advice I could give to anybody retiring here. Retirement is not about propping up the bar and moaning at the way things work - it is a new life with endless possibilities and challenges that you can take or leave, its up to you.

So think about why first, then come stay for a few months - two weeks and a quick purchase is a disaster in the making! Good luck to you.

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 6:03 pm

waddo wrote:In for a penny....... Don't ask where to live - First ask yourself why you would come here? What brings you, the sun, the beer, the cheap houses, the people, the country, etc, etc? How many times have you been here in the hight of summer with no air con, in the depths of winter with only a gas heater, in the heavy rain, in the fierce winds? I am not knocking your choice of place to live - we love it - I am asking you to question yourself about your motives for moving here in the first place.

Do not worry about where to live, you can live anywhere but who could say which place/area/house would be best for you - only you! Everyone who lives here on a full time basis has found the place (mainly) of their dreams, we had our dream built to our own design in a place of our dreams and then three years after we moved here, we moved house!!! We were then three years older and had found we had built too big in too much land and the days were spent maintaining or improving on a perfect dream! We down sized and are happy but that comes with experience of the country, the people and ourselves. We burnt all bridges when we left UK so have no worry's about property there or any reason to go back - visitors/family come here instead!

Before we retired we were advised to not take up any part time or voluntary work until we had settled in - best advice I could give to anybody retiring here. Retirement is not about propping up the bar and moaning at the way things work - it is a new life with endless possibilities and challenges that you can take or leave, its up to you.

So think about why first, then come stay for a few months - two weeks and a quick purchase is a disaster in the making! Good luck to you.

Very good post...asking the question WHY come to North Cyprus is probably the very best place to start. Having an understanding about the place, people and culture is also very important. As for best place to live and type of property thats a personal decision.

johnny1 · Post by **johnny1** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 6:55 pm

at least you dont intend to live in the south...probably the worse place in the whole world to live in.surrounded by liars.crooks.thieves and people that only care about their pockets.im not sure how it is in the north but for a holiday...i prefer north millions of times more than south..and im living in the south.......Unfortunatly!

Owl Lady · Post by **Owl Lady** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 9:13 pm

Johnny1, the first opportunity move up here, it's great!!! Only go to the south to buy dog food, 'cause it's cheaper, no other reason!!

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 9:37 pm

Barney: Most posters, including me, has assumed you are thinking of coming here on retirement , with a pension. If you are planning on working (even part time) it is a whole new ball game - and a very difficult one.

As for good health, if you are planning for the rest of your life, remember things can change as they did for me , and N. Cyprus is not a good place for the disabled.

Two weeks is not nearly enough to get the slightest idea of the flavour of the country - but if that is all you have I suggest two centre holiday - one week in Girne (Kyrenia) and one in say Famagusta and take day trips (including the Karpas) from there.

But you really need to get to know the people of the country: if you can't get on with them (well, most of them!) you are ************d from the start!

johnny1 · Post by **johnny1** » Mon 26 Jan 2015 9:41 pm

owl lady you make it sound so easy....
would need to work.....etc...
so what is it that you liek most about living in north?

Nuggets · Post by **Nuggets** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 9:06 am

Groucho wrote:Rent, then you can also find out which neighbours suit your life style aspirations.... Your home may suit but if the neighbours are a nightmare you can move on easily.

Very good advice methinks, good neighbours are a Godsend.

PapaBravo · Post by **PapaBravo** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 9:51 am

Make sure you are a good distance from large restaurants, hotels and nightclubs - the noise at night, particularly during the tourist season, is horrendous. Take care too, to keep a distance from mosques - from a distance, the calls to prayer (several times a day) are no problem, but up close the sound emanating from the speakers is disturbing. These are only my opinions of course.

Nuggets · Post by **Nuggets** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 11:15 am

I would rather live next door to a mosque than a nightclub.

lavender · Post by **lavender** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 12:00 pm

You must also take into consideration the current political situation. Look what is happening in Turkey !!! This will have implications for the TRNC
More reason to rent than commit to anything long term.

woodspeckie · Post by **woodspeckie** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 12:02 pm

He is moving to TRNC from Turkey.

Nuggets · Post by **Nuggets** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 2:02 pm

woodspeckie wrote:He is moving to TRNC from Turkey.

True, giving it very serious consideration, things are starting to look a bit scary over here now, sad because we have a good life here, my wife is Turkish and we have a lovely villa garden etc however, we must put our safety first. I don't wish to start up any debate about the situation suffice to say it looks like we must/will move. Hence the zillions of questions I will be asking, I just hope people don't get fed up of me asking

We will be looking to rent in a quiet spot, not out in the wilds but quiet, few neighbor's will be enough, we are home cats so night life doesn't bother but peace and quiet does. So any and all advice most welcome.

jofra · Post by **jofra** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 2:25 pm

As the original post was 18 months ago, I wonder whether the poster has now moved to the TRNC....?

Keithcaley · Post by **Keithcaley** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 4:00 pm

jofra wrote:As the original post was 18 months ago, I wonder whether the poster has now moved to the TRNC....?

...and he hasn't been seen on the Forum since!

PaulW · Post by **PaulW** » Thu 21 Jul 2016 4:08 pm

Just thinking the same thing, Keith!
J
X

Groucho · Post by **Groucho** » Fri 22 Jul 2016 6:30 am

Keithcaley wrote:
jofra wrote:As the original post was 18 months ago, I wonder whether the poster has now moved to the TRNC....?
...and he hasn't been seen on the Forum since!

Or has he? Oooooh!

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