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In the far eastern Mediterranean is the spectacularly beautiful island of Cyprus. Ranking in size after Sicily and Sardinia, the 2 parts of the island of Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) together make up the third largest of all Mediterranean islands. North Cyprus is approximately one third of the total territory of the island.

The capital of North Cyprus is Nicosia (Lefkosa) which accommodates as the the main administrative and business center. Other major towns include Famagusta (Gazi Magusa) which is a flourishing tourist, industrial and commercial center, as well as being the country's principle port. Kyrenia (Girne) is a lovely harbour town and is popular with locals and holiday makers.

On July 20, 1974 after consultation with Britain, Turkey intervened military with peace keeping action to protect the Turkish Cypriot community. Since this time the island has remained divided with the the Turkish and Greek Cypriots looking to find a fair solution to reunite the island and negotiations are ongoing but slow process..On November 15, 1983 the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was founded as a territory fully independent of the Republic of Cyprus in the south.

North Cyprus is beautiful, sunny and still relatively unspoilt by commercialism. For a holiday retreat or a retirement home, prices are still relatively low. It will enchant you with its unspoiled nature and beautiful weather, friendliness of the local people and is virtually crime free. With a typically Mediterranean climate of long dry summers there is much to see and do in North Cyprus with mediaeval castles, walled cities, abbeys, Roman remains, music festivals, mountain tours, nature walks, sailing and scuba diving. North Cyprus enjoys rich diversity in fauna including birds, reptiles and animals. Because of its location , Cyprus was not affected by the last ice-age which wiped out many species from areas further north. It forms a natural resting and nesting ground for birds migrating between Africa and Eastern Europe.

European cuisine is widely available in North Cyprus, but there are many local and typical “middle eastern” specialties such as meze which can be enjoyed both in the hotels and in smaller restaurants and coffee houses.

Meze (appetizer) which is served on a collection of saucers can accompany one's sunset drink or even take the place of a main meal. It can consist of local cheeses such as halloumi or feta, made from mixed goat and sheep's milk; green or black olives; octopus; houmous (made from ground chickpeas), a variety of sliced meats, sliced fresh or pickled vegetables and yoghurt. Local wines and several local brands of brandy are becoming more popular. Raki is a favorite summer drink which is derived from the distillation of grapes together with aniseed.

On November 1983, the Parliament of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC, or simply North Cyprus). Unlike the more commercialised tourism in the southern region, tourism in North Cyprus has enjoyed a `nature' and `visit and shop' strategy. The strategy is, however has already begun to shift as new and diversified tourism facilities becomes more frequent and attracts holiday makers and investment.

Most of the tourist places are currently centered around Kyrenia and Famagusta, but the magnificent Karpas Peninsula is due to be developed. There are five, four and three star hotels in cities and tourist areas and inns.

Some experts say that buying property in North Cyprus offers the best value for money in the Mediterranean region with a high standard of living. Overall it can be significantly cheaper than in any other popular European destinations. Buying a property in North Cyprus now could be your opportunity to be at the right place at the right time, before the expected rise in property prices. Retired people settle in north part of Cyprus because they can enjoy higher standards of living compared to what their pension can buy in Spain, France, Germany, South Cyprus and especially in Britain.

It is becoming more attractive as North Cyprus remains a very cheap place to live without compromises on luxury. Investment in North Cyprus property not only appeals to retired people as a seasonal retreat from home that is accessible via frequent and major scheduled airlines, but is getting popular with younger generations are looking for alternatives of securing their future pensions and stock and shares become less reliable to secure future retirement. Families with children will have a choice of several English speaking schools. English is spoken widely in this part of Cyprus. The British Residents Society also provides a comprehensive telephone list of its members which is updated every six months.

Land in Northern Cyprus is measured in “donums”. 3 donums equals 1 acre. 1 donum equals 1388 square metres.

A critical factor in buying property in North Cyprus is to find a qualified lawyer at all times to advise on all contracts and Government applications.

There are various forms of title deeds in North Cyprus that a buyer should be aware of including:

1. Freehold – Foreign Title
This is property owned by other European residents and the title deed is internationally recognised. There are a number of checks to be carried out by the Council of Ministers which means the sale will take approximately 3-6 months to complete.

2. Freehold – Turkish Title
This is property Turkish Cypriot owned prior to 1974. Foreigners are limited to one donum per person (husband and wife count as one person unless they have different surnames). Again there are a number of checks to be carried out by the Council of Ministers which means the sale will take approx. 3-6 months to complete. Note that with this type of title, foreigners are restricted to 1 donum of land (1,388 sqm or 1/3 acre).

3. TRNC Title
A property with TRNC Title Deed (Kesin Tasarruf Belgesi - Absolute Possession Document) was previously Greek Cypriot owned, prior to 1974. When many Turkish Cypriot refugees came to the north after July 1974, they left all their possessions behind in the south and would sign over his properties to the TRNC government. The intention is that the North Cyprus government would hold the assets until a settlement is agreed between the north and south governments. Accordingly, the Government then assessed the value of the properties on a points basis, and with these points, the Turkish Cypriot refugee could take a relinquished Greek Cypriot house or land in compensation for his lost properties. The refugee would then be issued with a title deed for his newly recompensed property. It is recommended to consult with your legal advisor as to whether a TRNC title deed property can be considered safe to purchase. Note that with this type of title, foreigners are restricted to 1 donum of land (1,388 sqm or 1/3 acre). Be careful to avoid the temptation of cheap properties that may be without a title deed issued by the relevant authority.

4. Leasehold Title
This property is government owned with long-term leases granted for 49yrs. You can apply directly or via a solicitor to the Ministry of Tourism to transfer the lease.

The general process for buying a Freehold property is as follows:

1. Secure property and agree price - the validity of the title deed is checked and confirmed via Notary Public.
2. Contract drawn up by Notary Public or Solicitor, setting down the terms of sale, i.e. price, timescale, vendor, purchaser and any special conditions. If the purchaser needs to return home to another country, the chosen Power of Attorney may attend to the completion in the purchaser’s absence.
3. Vendor and purchaser sign.
4. Purchaser provides 10% deposit.
5. Solicitor applies for a Purchase Permit from the Council of Ministers (takes 3 to 6 months).
6. When purchase permit is received, remaining balance due from purchaser.
7. Purchaser pays balance and vendor signs title deed into name of purchaser.

Process for buying a Leasehold property is similar to a Freehold however, instead of an application going to the Ministry of Interior, the buyer must either apply directly or via a solicitor to the Ministry of Tourism who grants the lease.

At the time of application a deposit of 10% must be paid and held on behalf of the vendor. Once application is accepted the sale can proceed to a completion at a convenient time for vendor and purchaser and then the lease is transferred into name of the buyer.

Drive: Regular car-ferry services operate between Famagusta and Mersin (Turkey), and Kyrenia and Tasucu (Turkey). It is possible to drive from London to Cyprus in four days.

The sea temperature itself never falls below 16ºC (its lowest during January and February) while in August it can rise to 28 ºC. From mid-May to mid-September the sun shines on a daily average of around 11 hours and the coastal areas benefit from a balance to the hot, dry Mediterranean climate.

Most credit cards are valid in many places, but bank charges may apply in some places.