Skopelos gems
Skopelos island is a place where you will find lots of property gems, particularly in Glossa, the second largest town on the island. “Here you can find old houses oozing with character and full of traditional Greek features at reasonable prices,” says Roger Fox, of Glossa Houses. “If you are prepared to take on something a little out of the ordinary, you can create a home that will turn your visitors green with envy. “Depending on the level of renovation you are prepared to do, a traditional village house can be yours from between €80,000 to €150,000. “For a couple looking for a simple lock-up-andleave holiday home, Glossa has plenty of opportunities. Again, for those prepared to renovate, there are bargains to be had starting at €55,000, and ready to move into from around €80,000. “More modern houses, which still have a traditional look and feel, can be bought for €120,000 upwards – some fully furnished – while for around €200,000 you can buy a traditional village house with a pool.”
Summer flights
Low-cost airline, easyJet, recently announced it will be starting twice-weekly flights from London Gatwick to Mykonos. These commenced on May 1 and fly on Sundays and Thursdays. This is bound to benefit house prices on the island as well as boosting tourism – great news for anyone with a buy-to-let property here. The cosmopolitan atmosphere on Mykonos is already very popular with British holidaymakers. Although some parts of the island are famed for their hectic nightlife and it is often referred to as one of the trendiest places in Europe, parts of the island are ideal for those who want tranquillity, Mykonos town is full of designer shops and stylish restaurants but with its whitewashed houses, sandy beaches, beautiful harbour, hundreds of blue-domed churches, and traditional villages scattered across the hillsides, it appeals to a broad range of tastes Property prices here are not cheap, compared to many of the Greek islands, and they have risen sharply over the last few years, with many properties doubling in value. The start of the new low-cost flights could see them climb even more, so if you are looking for a property on Mykonos, you’ll need to act quickly!
Island of romance
Many people dismiss Symi as an overseas property destination, instead choosing nearby Rhodes, as it is much larger. However, Symi is also a beautiful island nestling in the Aegean, and has traditional Greek villages which are forced to stick to strict building regulations, so any developments here need to be in keeping with the characteristics of local buildings and the surrounding landscapes. With a summer season which spans from April to October, Symi attracts visitors from all over the world, and is becoming increasingly popular as a honeymoon destination. All these factors guarantee that property prices will continue to rise here. Again, as with Mykonos you won’t find the cheapest Greek properties here, but it offers great investment potential. Two-bed, restored old houses start from around €230,000, meanwhile you can expect to pay anything upwards from €450,000 for a brand new three-bedroom property with two bathrooms and views of the bay of Symi. For those looking to build a property of their own, you can buy a 250m2 plot for around €60,000.