So You Want to Live on a Greek Island?
So you want to live on an island in Greece...
Who wouldn't? You get off the ferry with the
rest of the tourists and suddenly you are home, in a place that is magical,
where the sun shines every day and the sea is a color you have only seen
on indian jewelery. The nights are spent at restaurants where all the tables
are outdoors overlooking the sea and the conversation flows like water
from one of the mountain springs you drank from on your trek through the
hills. Certainly if there is a paradise on earth the Greek islands are
it and if you could give up the chaos of your life at home to live here
you would be eternally happy.
Maybe......Ten things to remember though:
1. You
are on vacation and so is everyone you meet with the exception of the people
who are making money on you being on vacation so the mood is certainly
a little different from what it will be in January and February when...
2....a
Greek island can be a lonely place. Unless you are a self motivated person
who can get deeply into his art or meditation you may find yourself going
to the harbor in desperation, hoping that someone gets off the boat whom
you can talk to.
3. There
is not much to do on a Greek island in the winter besides chores and hobbies
you dream up for yourself and/or going to the cafeneons which can lead
to a slight drinking problem.
4. Many
of the people you see happily living their idealic life on the small Greek
island where you spend your summer, will board the ferry not long after
you and go back to their homes in Athens where they ride the bus to work
just like you and because of that....
5.....many
of your favorite places will be closed until a few weeks before the tourists
arrive again
6. In
some islands where there is a strong year round foreign population (Mykonos,
Skiathos, Hydra) spending the winter on a Greek island is not like a prison
sentence and can be very enjoyable, but buying a house is expensive. The
smaller islands you will probably feel like an outsider and you may develop
some of the habits of alienation.
7. You
can't swim in Greece in the winter. If you could there would be year-round
tourism on the islands.
8. Land
and homes are expensive and depending on the island and your nationality
the legality of you buying a house will be questionable.
9. The
islands are damp and cold in the winter and the houses are too.
10.
And the final reason (there are more but I am only giving 10), is because
if you decide that you hate living on a Greek Island then you will have
to sell your house which you may find to be as difficult as buying one
or worse because you may have paid way too much.
However.....we
have a house on a Greek island and we love it so if you have your heart
set on buying a piece of heaven for yourself do this: Rent a house on the
island of your choice for a year. Renting by the year is cheap. You will
get to know the village and the villagers will get to know you and should
you decide to buy a house there is less chance you will be taken advantage
of or wind up in a place that you decide you don't like.
Greece is like heaven but unlike heaven it is not perfect and if it were actually heaven you could not buy it. And unlike heaven it's a great place to visit but you may not want to live there.
Return to Real Estate in Greece
