First off, authorised real estate agents in Cyprus need to be both licensed and registered. However, not speaking the same language as you do, and having their fees paid for by the seller, may give you serious cause to wonder whether they have your best interests at heart or the seller’s! If this is the case, then your first port-of-call should be the Cyprus Real Estate Agents Association (“Association”). While the Association may not be able to give you conclusive evidence that your chosen real estate agent is either the best or worst in the business, they should speak English and should be able to give you some reassurance towards calming your worries. Also, with the European Confederation of Real Estate Agents trying to harmonise the standards of real estate agents across Europe (which these days includes Cyprus), the Association should be able to give you the name of some reputable real estate agents in the area where you are looking.
Besides checking the details of any real estate agent with the Association, if you know anyone in Cyprus, you might also want to ask them if they have any recommendations. In fairness, there is rarely anything as good as a good recommendation given by word-of-mouth.
Finally, if you are still in the UK looking for property in Cyprus before you go, then the Internet has a wide selection of Cyprus real estate agents advertising their wares. In most cases, the sites also have a good selection of pictures of properties, which, if nothing else, will give you some idea of the types of property that the agent commonly deals with. But, keep in mind that although many Brits do use the services of English-speaking real estate agents they found on the Internet, the Internet itself is no assurance that the real estate agent is going to be good – so if you do find an agent this way, try to get testimony from someone who has used them before or ask for proof that they’re a member of the Association.
Tags: Real Estate, Real Estate Agent
When you agree to a rent to own contract you are essentially agreeing to live in a dwelling for the stated period of time. Part of the agreement includes the monthly rental payments that you must make to retain the rights to live in the dwelling. However, at the end of the contract the renter then has the option to actually purchase the dwelling from the owner. This part of the rent to own agreement is often referred to as a lease option because it grants you the option to buy the house when the term of the contract has run its course.
By structuring the legal relationship in this manner, the renter is able to live in an affordable rental which facilitates saving up for a down payment on the home in the future. This helps the renter live in a dwelling that offers ample space and fits their needs as well as buys them time to turn around their financial instability so that they can eventually buy the house. As the renter is improving his financial position they will also be able to improve their credit rating which will help them secure financing for the house in the future.
The rent to own option can also prove beneficial because it allows you ample time to decide if you really like the house or not. There is no substitute for actually living in and experiencing the advantages and disadvantages that a house presents. Think of it like a trial period that allows you to try before you buy.
As you live in a rent to own property you will also find the extra space that rent to own dwellings offer extremely beneficial. As you well know, short term housing is often too cozy and cramped so the extra space will be welcomed by your family.
So before you move into the next short term housing dwelling that is bound to lose its appeal and result in yet another move, consider the rent to own option. Even if you have bad credit or your financials are not as strong as you would like them to be, living in a rent to own dwelling might be just the solution you have been looking for.
Tags: Real Estate, Rental Services