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19th March 2024
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HomeSalesLack of overseas sales slowing market recovery

Lack of overseas sales slowing market recovery

Figures released by the Department of Lands and Surveys earlier today reveal that the lack of property sales to overseas buyers is slowing the recovery of the Cyprus property market.

The figures show that property sales to the domestic market during the first eight months of 2021 (4,089) are at their highest level for more than a decade. However, sales to the overseas market in the same period (2,000) have yet to recover to their pre-pandemic level in 2018 (2,884.)

We can speculate the reasons why overseas property sales have yet to recover:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic continues to make it more difficult for foreigners wishing to visit the island and return to their home countries.
  • The abrupt termination of the island’s disgraced Citizenship by Investment (a.k.a. Golden Passports) scheme, following the expose by undercover Al Jazeera reporters in August 2020, The Cyprus Papers, which also resulted in incalculable reputational damage to Cyprus.
  • The decision by the Cypriot authorities to impose restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles for Britons wishing to buy property post Brexit. At a stroke, this decision reduced Cyprus’ competitive advantage over countries such as Spain for Britons seeking holiday homes in the sun. (A few years ago, the majority of foreigners buying property in Cyprus hailed from the United Kingdom.)

Property sales figures for each of the market segments:

Domestic property sales

Sales to the domestic market in August maintained their strong growth, with sales up 32% compared to the same period last year, encouraged by the government’s interest subsidy scheme and low interest rates.

Cyprus: Domestic Property Sales Transactions – 2020/2021 Comparison
Domestic Property Sale Transactions – 2020/2021 Comparison

But as we’ve reported previously, these figures will include an unknown number of ‘non-sale’ agreements such as loan restructurings, recoveries and debt-to-asset swaps agreed between the banks and defaulting borrowers in efforts by the banks to reduce their non-performing loan portfolios. Unfortunately, the Department of Lands and Surveys does not publish these figures separately.

(However, we do know that the Bank of Cyprus Real Estate Management Unit (REMU) sold 387 properties with a contract value of €85 million during the first six months of 2021 – and during the same period, REMU acquired properties amounting to €21 million through debt for asset swaps and repossessions.)

Overseas property sales

Foreign sales also rose in August, up 24% compared to the same period last year. But for the reasons outlined above, it’s going to take sales a long time to recover to their pre-pandemic levels.

Cyprus Property Sale Transactions to Overseas investors – 2020/2021 Comparison
Foreign Property Sale Transactions – 2020/2021 Comparison

Overseas sales to EU citizens

Sales to EU citizens rose by 60% in August compared to the same period last year, with sales in all districts rising over the first eight months of 2021 compared to last year.

Cyprus Property Sale Transactions to EU citizens – 2020/2021 Comparison
Foreign (EU) Property Sale Transactions – 2020/2021 Comparison

Overseas ales to non-EU citizens

Sales to non-EU citizens (which include UK citizens) fell 1% in August compared to August 2020, with sales in Nicosia (the capital) and Larnaca bucking the trend. However, sales are still well below pre-pandemic levels.

Cyprus Property Sale Transactions to non-EU citizens – 2020/2021 Comparison
Foreign (non-EU) Property Sale Transactions – 2020/2021 Comparison

Analysis of property sales since 2000

Cyprus Property Sale Contracts 2000 – 2021

Year Domestic Sales Overseas Sales Total Sales Percentage
Overseas Sales
2000 12,214 450 12,664 3.6%
2001 12,849 1,207 14,056 8.6%
2002 14,111 2,548 16,659 15.3%
2003 15,294 3,981 19,275 20.7%
2004 11,947 5,384 17,331 31.1%
2005 10,106 6,485 16,591 39.1%
2006 8,598 8,355 16,953 49.3%
2007 9,964 11,281 21,245 53.1%
2008 8,031 6,636 14,667 45.2%
2009 6,409 1,761 8,170 21.6%
2010 6,568 2,030 8,598 23.6%
2011 5,366 1,652 7,018 23.5%
2012 4,793 1,476 6,269 23.5%
2013 2,750 1,017 3,767 27.0%
2014 3,334 1,193 4,527 26.4%
2015 3,603 1,349 4,952 27.2%
2016
5,250 1,813 7,063 25.7%
2017 6,328 2,406 8,734 27.5%
20181 4,875 4,367 9,242 47.3%
2019 5,884 4,482 10,366 43.2%
2020 4,983 2,985 7,968 37.5%
2021 (Aug) 4,089 2,000 6,089 32.8%
Totals 167,346 74,858 242,204 30.9%

1 The Department of Lands & Surveys has advised that overseas sales in 2018 and subsequent year should not be compared to sales in previous years due to changes in the methodology used to classify ‘Aliens’ (foreigners).

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