Cyprus, basking in the year round light of the Mediterranean sun, is a country that seamlessly marries modern European culture with ancient enchantment. 
The coast that stretches east from Pafos to Limassol has, like all of Southern Cyprus, experienced considerable interest from foreign buyers and tourists alike. This should be no great surprise given what this region has to offer: alluring beaches, vineyards studded with olive trees, quaint villages, ancient ruins and fragrant citrus groves basked in sunshine.

Access
Cyprus is served by 30 airlines and has two major international airports. One of these is located in Pafos, which makes access to the area relatively easy. A new motorway system linking Pafos and Limassol, means that it takes as little as one hour to drive from one town to the other. Flight prices vary depending upon the season. A Cyprus Airways return flight from Heathrow to Pafos in November costs around £170, while during the summer it will cost an average of £200 to £300. Package operators, such as Thomson, can offer some last-minute deals that are considerably cheaper. As Roger Bacon of Petrabuild Developers observes, "people who have purchased holiday homes in Cyprus are still waiting for the low-cost operators to open up direct flights to Cyprus."

Resorts
The town of Pafos, on the south west coast of the island, is, according to ancient Greek legend, the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Godess of Love. Pafos is a romantic resort town, its central focus being the ancient fishing harbour which is located next to the Pafos fort. This area has proved particularly popular with foreign buyers. As Pauline Gallagher of Halcyon Properties advises, "for the highest rental return you need to concentrate your search on the Pafos area as it has the highest number of tourists".

The area's popularity has caused considerable development to be undertaken in and around the town and nearby villages to satisfy the increasing demand for retirement, investment and holiday homes. Prices in Pafos have experienced the greatest rises, and properties there tend to be about 25 per cent more expensive than those in other regions. New developments are often modelled on traditional architectural styles and utilise local materials. For example, Buy Abroad has just brought Arodes Stone Villas in the Tremithousa area of Pafos onto the market. According to John Reilly, this development is "built with local stone to a traditional style". Prices start from £192,434. Coral Bay is a popular area with developers, tourists and foreign buyers.

Properties in the attractive coastal villages of Empa, between Pafos and Coral Bay, and Peyia, which lies in an elevated position overlooking the Bay, have recently come on the market with Petrabuild. Prices range from £92,000 for a two-bedroom apartment in Peyia to £186,000 for a three-bedroom luxury villa in Empa.

Cyprus Properties Unlimited is offering property in the new development of Elysian Fields. Again in the Coral Bay area, this development is ideally located only 11 kilometres away from Pafos. Prices start at £219,000 for a three-bedroom villa.  The village is located a mere 20-minute drive from the Tsada golf course, well-known for being a challenging 18 holes. There are another two golf courses in Cyprus, Aphrodite Hills and the Secret Valley. Both are situated in the Pafos area. The Cypriot government has announced plans for another two courses to be constructed in this area, with talks underway to develop courses near Limassol.  Litsa Chrysostomou of Antonis Loizou advises that "we are expecting a sharp increase in price when permits are finally issued to allow the development of the new golf courses. Shrewd investors looking for capital appreciation would be wise to buy at nearby developments." Further west, there is a proliferation of smaller villages, such as Yermasoyia and Pissouri. Such villages attract less attention from foreign buyers, retaining their Cypriot character. Pissouri is still very much a working village of farmers, some of whom have now turned to the tourist trade with varying degrees of success.  It is about half an hour's drive to either Pafos or Limassol, making access to the airport, nightlife and other attractions quick and easy.

There is some fear that rapid development of the area will cause another Agia Napa to spring up from the vineyards of Pissouri, but this seems unlikely for some time at least, as developers are making an effort to retain the area's Cypriot charm. For example, the Odysseus Bay development is a selection of villas and bungalows built in the traditional style with flat, domed and pitched roofs in keeping with local architecture, prices start at £176,500.
 
Limassol, on the south coast, is the island's second-largest city. It is the main port, the centre of the wine industry and a busy tourist destination.

The city has grown so much in recent years that it has split into sections. There is a definite tourist area, sprawling along the seafront, offering a wide variety of bars, restaurants and shops. In the summer Limassol buzzes with activity, and in the winter months there is a steady influx of visitors escaping the cold of more northerly climes. In the most touristy areas property prices are highest. Antonis Loizou is currently offering beach front properties in a gated development on Limassol's seafront. Prices for three-bedroom detached houses start from £384,000.

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For further information:
Buy Abroad
Halcyon Properties

Article first published in December 2005