Where to Start

As with any solution, you first need to define the requirements. Lets start by discussing the first question you need to ask, as it will shape how you will plan to continue. What type of property am I looking for?

A holiday vacation villa or a home for permanent living or retirement?

Of course your answer to that question greatly defines the type of property you are searching for. If the property is for a holiday home, then you may be looking for aspects such as a swimming pool, rentability, location, ease of maintenance. Whereas a property for permanent living, will have the emphasis on livability such as the kitchen, practicality, the location (in respect to others living nearby), access, amenities and local community. A house high up in the hills in a remote location, offering stunning panoramas may be a perfect choice for a two week summer vacation hideaway, but may prove too isolated and cut off for all year round living.
Once you have decided the type of property that you are looking for, there is another very important decision to be made, which is not as easy to answer at this stage.

Many immediately opt for the latter only to review their answer once they start searching. Purchasing an existing property, can further be broken down into: Buy an existing property that can be moved straight into; contract a ready built so called 'turn key' property; or renovate an older neglected building.

The romantic thoughts of converting an old beachside 'olive press' into a holiday home attracts many - but how realistic is that dream? Many imagine that there are numerous abandoned olive presses by the waters edge with a small private beach, an old disused press inside with huge stone wheels that will make a feature of the living room and all this with a budget of 20,000 Euros. The reality is they do not exist. Those properties that look abandoned on the waters edge often have generation long disputes over ownership. You may stumble across an empty abandoned property - its roof caving in making it seem unwanted, and yet it is very very much fought over by the owners.

The problem often goes back many years. Many parents simply did not have a legal will. The property would be left to the children. Those days the property had very little value - and anyway 'its right on the beach - who wants it!' Many locals after the harsh second world war, moved to America or Australia seeking a better life. In time they forgot about their family home. Gradually they have returned (often ironically seeking a better life!) Property values of course have greatly increased and the number of entitled owners grown. Often a family feud has started over who should now claim ownership of the property. Some houses have been divided but as time goes by and the generations get bigger, 10-20 people can easily become the 'owner' and yet it only takes one to disagree to what should be done and the deal is off. A lesson indeed to make sure that the property you intend to buy is in fact owned by the alleged seller.

A dream home on Corfu can be yours, but it may take a few years!