Estate Living November 2016 Digital Issue | Page 72

ISLAND
Most things in life involve

offers citizenship in exchange for

a trade-off. For example, if

investment with no residence

you’re buying a car you have

requirements. That means you

to trade off fuel efficiency, size,

can buy a property for investment

load-carrying

purposes, and rent it out – either

capacity,

off-

road capability, style, cost and

long term or short term.

performance.
OK, this is where the trade-off
But sometimes you find an option

is: it’s not cheap. You will need

that just doesn’t seem to have

to invest € 2 million in either a

any negatives – and buying into a

single residential dwelling or

residential estate in Cyprus pretty

a portfolio of properties. The

much falls into that category.

choice is yours. You don’t have

Firstly, Cyprus is gorgeous –

to live in any of the properties

the blue Mediterranean, white

– and can choose to rent your

beaches, charming villages, great

investment out − but you have

food, fantastic cultural heritage,

to keep it for a minimum of

and a safe and secure lifestyle.

three years. After the three

And, possibly most attractive of

years, you can sell, and reinvest

all, Cyprus is part of the European

the money as you choose, as

Union, and a suitable investment

long as you retain one primary

can get you citizenship. Now

residential property, with a

that’s a really attractive option

minimum value of € 500 000.

– total freedom of movement
throughout the European Union

Of course, buying property sight

and Switzerland, and visa-free

unseen on an island on the other

travel to about 170 countries. And

side of the world can be a tad risky, so

you don’t have to give up your

you really do need to be sure you’re

existing citizenship.

dealing with a reputable company
that’s been in business for more

So what’s the catch? You’ll have

than a couple of weeks, and that the

to live in Cyprus, you think?

property you’re buying is not just

Aaah, it sounds very nice for a

any old house photoshopped onto a

holiday, but you can’t just up

pretty backdrop.

sticks. Wait, that’s the best part
− you don’t! Cyprus’s citizenship

Such a company is the Leptos

by

Property

investment

programme

Group,

who

is