anyone live in greece?
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6
anyone live in greece?
would love to hear from anyone who lives in greece .. esp south east cyclades, thinking naxos, which we know quite well.
we have been considering taking the leap and leaving uk for some time: we are a family with a 6mth old baby, with a small independent income that should mean we don't have to work, as long as we are not extravagant. Really want to spend quality time with our little boy before he has to go to school.
we were planning to head to caribbean but figured as summer was coming; greece was a whole lot nearer and a much less scary first step in to the world of ex-pats.
would really value opinions & advice from people who have already been brave enough to do it.
we have been considering taking the leap and leaving uk for some time: we are a family with a 6mth old baby, with a small independent income that should mean we don't have to work, as long as we are not extravagant. Really want to spend quality time with our little boy before he has to go to school.
we were planning to head to caribbean but figured as summer was coming; greece was a whole lot nearer and a much less scary first step in to the world of ex-pats.
would really value opinions & advice from people who have already been brave enough to do it.
#2
Re: anyone live in greece?
Rent, don't buy immediately (if ever). Keep banking etc available in the UK. Have a great time!
We're in the US now, but loved every minute in Greece.
Search the forum here.. there are a very few posters who are currently living in Greece.
We're in the US now, but loved every minute in Greece.
Search the forum here.. there are a very few posters who are currently living in Greece.
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 31
Re: anyone live in greece?
Don.
#4
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
Re: anyone live in greece?
Hello everyone.
Why is it recommended to rent in greece, is there no benefit to sell on increase in value of a property?
How do rental prices compare to uk and what type of rental agreements do they have?
Anything like council tax etc,
Roughly what is overall comparative cost of living away from expensive areas to uk and which are the main expenses?
Need a house with couple of bedrooms, couple of downstairs rooms & kitchen
and a decent garden - definitely with shade - somewhere quiet but not too isolated, doesn't need to be fancy. lived in rather than new.
Is there any location that balances out the extremes of summer/winter
variables. I don't want to be half way up a mountain to escape summer extreme then get frozen in winter.
If this shows my ignorance of greece - I am
Nearly forgot - How available is the internet outside of major towns?
Thanks
Why is it recommended to rent in greece, is there no benefit to sell on increase in value of a property?
How do rental prices compare to uk and what type of rental agreements do they have?
Anything like council tax etc,
Roughly what is overall comparative cost of living away from expensive areas to uk and which are the main expenses?
Need a house with couple of bedrooms, couple of downstairs rooms & kitchen
and a decent garden - definitely with shade - somewhere quiet but not too isolated, doesn't need to be fancy. lived in rather than new.
Is there any location that balances out the extremes of summer/winter
variables. I don't want to be half way up a mountain to escape summer extreme then get frozen in winter.
If this shows my ignorance of greece - I am
Nearly forgot - How available is the internet outside of major towns?
Thanks
Last edited by WilliamM; Mar 1st 2008 at 4:26 am.
#5
Re: anyone live in greece?
On the other hand, my husband lived in a great apartment with a sea view, was there for 9 years and when we moved the rent had just increased to $150 euros/month. When we wanted to walk away, we did. If we took off for an extended period, we didn't mind paying the rent when we weren't there.
Since it has been + 2 years since we were there, I'll modify my comment to use EXTREME caution with the urge to buy. Yes, it's our natural train of thought for where we have lived and our economies.. it is not the same there.
I think you need to narrow down your list.. the country is huge and culture varies from end to end. Island vs mainland, village vs city, are you going to work vs not etc etc.
It's not like Spain.. there is not a long history of infrastructure for foreigners. Until about 15 years ago, non Greeks couldn't even immigrate into Greece. There is generally not a huge pool of expats to draw on and there isn't yet a huge pool of properties like you describe up on the resale market.
Think about your motivations for going, what is important to you etc and start a list of possible places to explore.
#6
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2
Re: anyone live in greece?
Tanks
We aren't in any hurry, we are happy to keep on here and spend 6 mths or a year renting somewhere before making any longterm decisions.
We don't care for Spain and we no longer enjoy Portugal as much we used to.
Nature and a bit of space at an affordable price is mostly what we need but in considering Greece we would prefer a location that takes the edge off the summer heat extremes without being too cold in winter.
Low humidity essential - I can take dry heat but not muggy!
That's it in a nutshell, the rest is completely secondary.
save for satellite and internet. Satellite is easy, that I can diy, internet availablity and costs there I don't know about.
We are used to extended periods away from uk/western culture.
We aren't in any hurry, we are happy to keep on here and spend 6 mths or a year renting somewhere before making any longterm decisions.
We don't care for Spain and we no longer enjoy Portugal as much we used to.
Nature and a bit of space at an affordable price is mostly what we need but in considering Greece we would prefer a location that takes the edge off the summer heat extremes without being too cold in winter.
Low humidity essential - I can take dry heat but not muggy!
That's it in a nutshell, the rest is completely secondary.
save for satellite and internet. Satellite is easy, that I can diy, internet availablity and costs there I don't know about.
We are used to extended periods away from uk/western culture.
Last edited by WilliamM; Mar 2nd 2008 at 4:53 am.