June saw Cyprus property sales slump

Cyprus property sales slump in JuneHISTORICALLY June has been one of the better months for Cyprus property sales, but not June this year, which saw sales fall by 17 per cent compared with June 2017. Is this an omen of things to come?

According to the official figures published by the Department of Lands & Surveys, the number of property sale contracts deposited at Land Registry offices in the island’s five districts during June 2019 stood at 714 compared to the 858 deposited in June 2018.

As the Department has yet to publish a breakdown of sales, we cannot say whether the fall is due to reduction in sales to the local market or the overseas market (or both).

However, it’s possible that the tougher criteria introduced by the Cyprus Government on 15th May for those seeking to obtain Cypriot passports under the Cyprus Investment Programme have reduced the number of property sales to non-EU nationals.

As we reported on 23rd June in the article Cypriot passport Investment applications are falling, Costas Hadjipanayiotou, director of the Environment Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, said that “there are several applications under scrutiny, but added that no new applications have been received so far.” (This conflicts with the South China Morning Post article 3 days later stating that “Chinese investors are thronging the sunny shores of Cyprus in search of property and passports that will allow them to work, travel and live in the European Union.”)

Cyprus property sales – June 2019

With the exception of Paphos, where sales increased by 14% compared to June 2018, they fell in the remaining four districts.

Although more properties (219) were sold in Limassol that in any other district during June, the district experienced the highest fall (35%) in sales. Sales in Famagusta fell 30%, while sales in Larnaca and Nicosia fell by 23% and 1% respectively.

Total Property Sale Contracts – 2018/2019 Comparison

District Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Nicosia 2018 146 96 126 117 153 146 176 91 118 145 161 131
2019 161 194 131 169 213 145
Famagusta 2018 48 52 40 52 79 61 61 50 45 57 47 48
2019 53 48 45 96 87 43
Larnaca 2018 112 99 116 83 113 133 112 94 121 116 143 103
2019 114 125 118 140 173 102
Limassol 2018 225 256 314 246 282 338 314 262 251 289 344 290
2019 251 256 287 428 546 219
Paphos 2018 164 163 172 157 201 180 233 156 152 204 230 230
2019 187 211 185 224 404 205
Totals 2018 695 666 768 655 828 858 896 653 687 811 925 800
2019 766 834 766 1057 1423 714

Property sales – year to date

Despite the fall of sales in June, the total number of Cyprus property sales in the first half of 2019 is 24% higher than the first half of last year.

In percentage terms, Paphos is leading the way with half year sales up 37% compared to last year. Sales in Nicosia are up 29%, while sales in Limassol, Larnaca and Famagusta are up 20%, 18% and 12% respectively. However, in terms of the total number of sales Limassol leads the way.

© © Copyright - Cyprus Property News 2005 - 2026
Exit mobile version