A positive article about Greece for a change

I've shared this article from The Sunday Times for you to read:

Corfu offers a glorious and affordable Greek lifestyle

Diana

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Good news on mortgages to purchase your dream home

After the last few years of no loans being offered to foreigners, mortgages for foreign buyers will soon be available again in Greece. Today, we were invited to a meeting with representatives of one of the major Greek banks, at which they outlined mortgage schemes which they anticipate will shortly be available to foreign buyers. 

They will consist of up to 50% loan to value, at a variable rate, over periods of up to 15 years and with no early repayment penalties. They will consider most amounts, on most types of properties, each case being treated individually. They will also consider land purchase, and construction loans.

Other types of loans, unsecured, for repairs and renovations will also be on offer.

Buyers will be required to provide the usual proof of income, and credit worthiness.

The bank have promised to make full details available to us shortly - they had the schemes under way at the end of 2014 but shelved them temporarily because of the elections, and now arrangements are under way again. 

What is interesting is that they specifically requested to meet us, to promote the fact that they will be actively offering these facilities. In the past some of the banks used to say that ‘of course we will consider applications’ but after dragging out the process, the loans often didn’t materialise, so we are actually quite impressed.

Light at the end of the tunnel maybe?
Diana

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Current bargains on the market

There are some rather good value properties around at the moment, either reduced or recently on the market at low prices. The exchange rate is also helping out British buyers as well, making the bargains even bigger!  

Here are just a few of the smaller, ready to live in  houses.

The Studio, Ano Korakiana

Mulberry House, Agios Matheos

Fieldside House, Vatos

Joanna, Agios Georgios (South)

Geranium, Strinilas

You can find more on the Corfu Homefinders website.

Diana

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Alonaki Bay, Halikouna, in winter

In spite of our political upheavals, (and boy, do we specialise in those here in Greece) some things always go some way towards making up for it!
Diana

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We are not always in Corfu

Despite the rainy days we have here in Corfu, I think this photo taken from the Shard in London In January sums up the reasons people yearn to live in the Mediterranean! Grey, grey, grey!
Diana

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Just another day at the beach

We all think of a day at the beach as sunbeds and cocktails but in Corfu you can have a day at the beach even in the depths of winter. The two little blobs in the sky are the sails of kite surfers, braving February's high seas at St George's South.
Diana

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Corfu versus the Rest of Greece

Listening to the news and weather reports these days the constant repetition of "The whole of Greece is suffering from snow or otherwise extreme weather conditions" is beginning to be slightly annoying as we look out on day after day of brilliant sunshine and enjoy stunning sunrises and sunsets. The only thing "wrong" with our January weather in Corfu is that it schizophrenically changes from really quite cold (6C) to really quite warm (15C today as I was driving home at lunchtime) from day to day without warning.

I keep wondering why no-one from the local radio stations here in Corfu makes some sort of correction - it's amazing looking at the pictures of snow right up to the sea in Crete, and hearing stories of snowbound traffic in the northern Athens suburbs, but it would be only fair for someone to point out that Corfu - and presumably the other Ionian islands - are basking in sunlit brilliance.
Susan

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Happy New Year

The last of the decorations came down in our house on 12th Night, following the British tradition. Last to go was the garland on the door, to be replaced with the "Big Onion" - Scilla Maritima or Urginea Maritima is the scientific name for what most Greeks know as the squill bulb hung on to the front door on New Year’s Eve. The plant looking like a huge onion is what ancient Greeks used to worship the god Pan. Even uprooted this plant it will continue to grow layers and leaves, and this made people throughout the ages believe that it had some strong magical powers of regeneration. Traditionally the bulb is taken indoors for the rest of the year to ensure good health and good luck.
Susan

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Christmas in Corfu

One of the best parts of the Christmas holidays in Greece, for people like me who love the whole experience of decorating the house, cooking traditional specialities - both Greek and English - is that the atmosphere lasts right the way through to Epiphany on January 6th. Our village church was packed with people on that day, all of whom had brought jugs, bottles and jars to take away the holy water that had just been blessed by the priest.
Susan

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