Crete Property – Where To Buy
Greece’s biggest and southernmost island, Crete has it all - climate, cultural heritage, amazing landscapes, beautiful beaches, and a lovely climate.
The temperature rarely falls below 13°C during its mild and short winters. It has a multitude of beaches for days by the sea and a vast array of historical sites for explorers. With a slow pace of life, affordable cost of living, and low upkeep costs, it is no wonder that the island has a large expat community throughout the island. Also, you can achieve good rental yields. Spoilt for choice, Crete is the biggest market for Brits buying in Greece.
Neither cheap nor outrageously priced property prices have fallen, but not as much as other parts of Greece, due to the popularity of the island. There is a considerable range of properties, so you should be able to find your dream home in Crete. They range from cosy apartments for €65,000 to luxurious villas for €4.5m.
Crete is comprised of four regions, Chania, Heraklion, Rethymno and Lassiti. Properties can be found in beautiful locations from snuggled beside ancient ruins to untouched landscapes.
Chania
Chania, pronounced “Hania”, covers the western part of the island. It is split into five provinces: Kydonia, Kissamos, Apokoronas, Selino, and Sfakia. The city of Chania is the capital of the region and its administrative, economic, commercial and transportation centre. The city has an airport receiving international flights.
A beautiful city, Chania has preserved its cultural heritage and traditional architecture and has long been characterised as the “Venice of the East”. The picturesque Venetian port with its promenades and picturesque streets attracts many visitors throughout the year. There are also many bars and restaurants by the seaside for every taste. And the area hosts a plethora of cultural events. Receiving the most rain, it is the greenest part of the island and with its endless sandy beaches, gorges, caves, mountain walks, huge olive and orange groves, it offers something for everyone.
You can find beautiful properties here, ranging from one-bedroom apartments/studios from €75,000 to ideally located €2.5m luxury villas.
Heraklion
This region has been popular with overseas buyers, particularly with those looking to rent out their property. Heraklion also has an airport, receiving international travellers. The area includes popular tourist destinations – Hersonissos, Malia, Stalida and Agia Pelayga.
The area has beautiful beaches, coves and bays. And a multitude of churches from the ages, including the world-famous Knossos Palace. Here you can find two-bedroom villas for around €300,000 and luxurious properties are also available for over a million euros if that’s your budget!
Rethymno
Fantastic beaches (16k sandy beach to the north), breath-taking views and picturesque towns, the area consist of the city of Rethymno, Agia Galini , Plakyas, Panormo, and Bali. Local architecture has a Venetian influence and property styles range from traditional old villas to exquisite new build designs from €1.9m. Properties close to the beaches command higher prices, but there are bargains, such as two bed properties as low as €75,000
Lassiti
Popular with celebrities and royalty the area is populated with luxury hotels, golf courses, and exclusive yacht clubs. Comprised of the cities Agios Nikolaos, Elounda, Sitya, Leroperta and Istron the region has beautiful spacious beaches. A detached mountainside villa with views over Elounda can be found for around €650,000. But bargains can be found if you look further afield from the main resorts, such as this one bed house, on the seafront for just €140,000, about 25mins away from Lerapetra.
We hope you have found the guide to the region helpful and remember when buying a property in Crete it is advisable to get the help of an established and licensed estate agent. They will have the essential knowledge of the area and regulations. You can check the agent is regulated by contacting the Hellenic Association of Realtors and the International Real Estate Federation in Greece. Also, we can put you in touch with recommended Agents. Call us on +44 330 0575 990 or email info@overseaspropertyforum.com.
