THALASSA Beach Resort Bafra Northern Cyprus

[martin73]

Hi everyone
just back and am proceeding on a 3 bed with pool.
you need a bit of imagination as its just a large field next to the sea. The beach will need to be tidied and maybe even some sand brought in. its not golden white sand but pretty much virgin coastline. still i think its easier to improve than the northern coast as it is a nice sheltered bay.

Yes its quite isolated (at the moment) Not much to Bafra but Bogaz which is the next village along is nice with some little restaurants on the seafront. There also is alot going on here in terms of the big bazaar shopping complex and other developments but i would avoid this to buy as planning laws on this side of the coast are more relaxed so could get quite built up. In this respect it will be good for somewhere to go (for shops, bars etc) but could end up like the costas! The coastline here is around the headland from Thalassa so its far enough away.

There are six hotels being built, one is completed and open (the impressive Artemis) but these to some extent are resort type hotels so i dont know whether they will allow non guests to go there but i would think they probably would. I am not put off by these attracting potential renters to my apartment as they are 5 star quite expensive and will attract tourists from Turkey, Isreal and probably Russia. They all have big vegas style casinos attached and gamberlers are what they are wanting to attract. I´ll be surprised if many will target Brits.

The hotels are also close by but far enough away so you dont see them from Thalassa.

In summary i liked North Cyprus, i cant see the situation with land ownership, less than perfect access etc really getting worse only better and if you are prepared to look for the medium to long term prices will no doubt rise as where else can you buy a beach front property for less than 100k on the med?

Looked at quite a few other developments with 3 beds on the northern coastline and all were good - a little cheaper and a little bigger and some nice villas at not huge amounts more than 100k but for me the fact they are nearly all built on exchange land, you will have to pay for them in full within 18 months and the fact the developments wont have the sort of facilities or be "on the beach" put me off. I didnt see Sweetwater bay so cant really comment on that.

Happy to discuss anything else.

Martin

[Jeff Woodstock]

Re Thalassa, Someone has told me that it is not ALL on pre 74 title, does anyone know if that is true or just scare mongoring?

Any information appreciated as I am stuck between Thalassa and Melisas place.

[Journo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Woodstock

Re Thalassa, Someone has told me that it is not ALL on pre 74 title, does anyone know if that is true or just scare mongoring?

Any information appreciated as I am stuck between Thalassa and Melisas place.

Hi, to establish the exact position, not hearsay, you should be able to check with the Land Registry in the Republic of Cyprus (which holds copies of all the pre-1974 title deeds on the island).

If indeed the Title Deeds were held by Turkish Cypriots prior to 1974 they will be able to tell you and set your mind at rest. But to be certain about the specific 'plot' you are interested in (rather than the area of the whole development) you would need to give precise co-ordinates.

[sheilaskf]

Originally Posted by martin73

Hi everyone
just back and am proceeding on a 3 bed with pool.
you need a bit of imagination as its just a large field next to the sea. The beach will need to be tidied and maybe even some sand brought in. its not golden white sand but pretty much virgin coastline. still i think its easier to improve than the northern coast as it is a nice sheltered bay.

Yes its quite isolated (at the moment) Not much to Bafra but Bogaz which is the next village along is nice with some little restaurants on the seafront. There also is alot going on here in terms of the big bazaar shopping complex and other developments but i would avoid this to buy as planning laws on this side of the coast are more relaxed so could get quite built up. In this respect it will be good for somewhere to go (for shops, bars etc) but could end up like the costas! The coastline here is around the headland from Thalassa so its far enough away.

There are six hotels being built, one is completed and open (the impressive Artemis) but these to some extent are resort type hotels so i dont know whether they will allow non guests to go there but i would think they probably would. I am not put off by these attracting potential renters to my apartment as they are 5 star quite expensive and will attract tourists from Turkey, Isreal and probably Russia. They all have big vegas style casinos attached and gamberlers are what they are wanting to attract. I´ll be surprised if many will target Brits.

The hotels are also close by but far enough away so you dont see them from Thalassa.

In summary i liked North Cyprus, i cant see the situation with land ownership, less than perfect access etc really getting worse only better and if you are prepared to look for the medium to long term prices will no doubt rise as where else can you buy a beach front property for less than 100k on the med?

Looked at quite a few other developments with 3 beds on the northern coastline and all were good - a little cheaper and a little bigger and some nice villas at not huge amounts more than 100k but for me the fact they are nearly all built on exchange land, you will have to pay for them in full within 18 months and the fact the developments wont have the sort of facilities or be "on the beach" put me off. I didnt see Sweetwater bay so cant really comment on that.

Happy to discuss anything else.

Martin

Hi Martin
I have only just joined this site and was interested to read that you are buying an apartment at Thalassa beach. I have just begun the process of buying one of the large studios on the site. I am buying through Savills and haven't appointed a solicitor or anything yet, just paid my £1000 deposit and chosen the studio. Any tips you can offer before I proceed any further would be most welcome or for anyone else as this is my first venture in buying property abroad.
Sheila

[Lysos]

Sheila - get a solicitor (independent from the developer/agent). Common sense to have the contract checked before spending any more money.

[Journo]

I have just been approached by several Greek Cypriots who have, this August, visited land on the beautiful northern coastline which has been in their families for over 60 years.

I am sorry to say that, in each case, they have reported 'illegal' development on the land to which they continue to hold the original Title Deeds.

Some of these extensive plots are adjacent to developments being promoted by Savills; other land is in 'Bafra' or nearby villages or close to 'Bogaz'.

These legal owners are devastated to find that their land has been built on!

So before you buy anywhere on these stretches, you need to be VERY careful about legal ownership!

[Cornholio]

The only place you're likely to find any genuine pre-'74 Turkish-owned land in this area is in or near Bogaztepe/Monarga, which was approx. 75% Turkish before 1974. All other villages along the coastal stretch between Bogaz and Bafra/Vokolidha (except Avgolidha/Kurtulus) were exclusively Greek populated & as such, nearly all land here would legally still be Greek-owned.

In fact, the present inhabitants of Bafra/Vokolidha (and the neighbouring village of Pamuklu/Tavrou) are almost exclusively Turkish mainland settlers (whose presence is illegal under Article 49 of the Geneva Convention), who would have been given (yes, GIVEN!!!!) large areas of local Greek-owned land upon arrival in order to "encourage economic development", which is exactly what is happening now!!

And they are marketing this as pre-'74 Title?!?! I don't think so somehow!!!!

Cornholio