Mortgages in Cyprus
Convenient mortgages in Cyprus for non-residents at low interest rates are part of a government policy aimed at attracting foreign capital to the Republic of Cyprus. A Russian citizen, like a citizen of any third country, does not even need to have a residence permit in order to apply for a mortgage loan to a Cypriot bank.
Russians, like other third-country nationals, must obtain permission from the Cyprus authorities for the transaction. This takes a long time (up to a year), but you have the right to conduct a transaction before this permission is in your hands. If you have no problems with the law in your own country and abroad, then you can consider obtaining this permission as a formal procedure. To get a mortgage, the other thing is much more important - your developer has an agreement with a specific bank.
This has its advantages: firstly, the developer is interested in selling, so he acts as your guarantor, and secondly, when buying an unfinished object, you can get a loan deferment.
The Bank will provide a mortgage in Cyprus. It is easiest to get a loan approval if your down payment is at least 50% of the property value. However, existing mortgage lending programs allow you to get a loan in the amount of up to 70% of the value of the object - especially if you are dealing with a large reliable developer.
- The maximum loan amount is 300-500 thousand euros (or a similar amount in US dollars, pounds sterling, etc.).
- Standard loan terms - from 10 to 40 years, and at the time of payment of the last installment, the age of the borrower should not exceed 65–70 years
- Rates are usually floating, ranging from 4.7-7.2%. There is a tendency to decrease them
- The monthly loan repayment amount cannot exceed 30% of your total income
- Payments on the loan - monthly or quarterly (depending on the specific contract)
- Early repayment - perhaps, sometimes without a penalty - especially if the loan amount was small and the rate was floating.
The term for consideration of a mortgage application in Cyprus is 1-2 months. By default, a mortgage loan is provided in euros (this is the official currency of Cyprus), but in some cases it makes sense to consider a loan in dollars.
Additional costs of the loan are as follows: commission fee for providing a loan - 1% of its amount, paperwork - from 100 to 150 euros, life insurance of the borrower and property insurance - from 500 to 1800 euros per year (as the debt is paid these payments will be reduced). Stamp duties and valuation of the property being credited will also cost a certain amount.
The list of required documents differs little from that in many other countries. You need to confirm your identity, present a contract of sale, present proof of solvency - and in addition, open a personal account for at least 200 euros in the bank where you intend to get a mortgage.
- Mortgage Application
- Copy of passport and passport (for residents - copy of residence permit)
- Income statement for the last three months
- Bank statement for the last 6 months (if you have other loans, then for 12 months)
- Last tax return
- If you own a property, incl. Abroad - proof of ownership
- Sales contract signed and registered with the Department of Land Resources
When buying property in Cyprus under a mortgage program, be sure to use the services of a professional lawyer with experience in this field - this will not only minimize your risks, but also save time.
