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This article will help an opportunist property investor decide which one is best depending on current situations, financial situations and preferences on location, type of building and proximity to amenities, restaurants and aiports.

The five investment property types are a holiday villa, an off plan property, a business franchise, leaseback and fractional property ownership.

A holiday villa can be bought for around €200,000 and the villa will be close to any amenities and within good distance to all the top restaurants, noted and voted on the website http://www.paphos-eating.com. Before investing in a villa, it is recommended to stay for a short while in Paphos to get the feel of living here. We have some villas for sale in our books that suit couples and families of all ranges. There are five key points to consider when purchasing a villa. They are:

Be clear about the purpose of the purchase and ensure the property meets your requirements. These will differ according to wheather you're going to live there permanently, use it for holidays or let it out.
Sort out your finances before viewing a property. It can be embarrassing - and potentially costly - to find out further down the line that, after close inspection you realise you cannot raise the finance.
There are good reasons why properties cost what they do. If you're considering buying a place that is much cheaper than others in the same area then ask yourself why the price is so low.
It is important to look beyond the property itself. The villa itself may be beautiful, the developer well established and the agent very professional - but if you know very little about the country, you may be ultimately disappointed.
Factor in your outgoings beyound the acutal purchase and the inital period. Find out any costs that you will be incurring in the future, such as maintenance, local taxes and management costs. (Property advice from Irini Tzortzogiou, Head of Retail Banking at Piraeus Bank UK)

An off plan property has its advantages; you can pay in installments, the value goes up while the property is being built and being at the start of a design or construction is cheaper than buying the property after construction is completed. While it is typical to buy off plan properties that are high rise or gated developemnts usually found in Dubai or Brazil, you can buy off plan properties here. We have a project in the quiet village of Nata which is 10 minutes away from busy Paphos and 5 minutes away from Timi beach and it is a plot of land with a stunning countryside and sea view waiting to be developed on. There is a choice of building one house on the entire plot with a swimming pool which is optional or building two houses to share a pool which is also optional. Any developement of close to Paphos or has a sea and countryside view has great potential. The five key points to consider when purchasing an off plan property are:

Make sure that you and the developer (i.e. Bettabilt) are in absolute agreement about the payment schedule on your off-plan purchase and it's clearly laid out in your contract. Your contract should also include a clause protecting you against late completion.
All staged payments should be paid into an escrow account, so the developer cannot access it until your property is complete but can see you are paying the due amounts. This way you are safe against developers losing your money by going bankrupt before completing the development.
If you intend to sell your property before it is completed, ensure you have reserve funds to be able to cover mortgage payments if you cannot find a buyer. It is not unknown for buyers to be stuck with an off plan properties, they never intended to have the keys to.
If you intend to rent out your off-plan property, check how busy the area's rental market is and have a clear target market in your mind. Speak to local rental agents about average yields and the type of clients they get. If the area is awash with off-plan sites, ask yourself if it could become saturated, making your property difficult to let.
Off-plan developements are usually built in a number of phases. If buying for pure investment, get a piece of the action as early as possible - for taking the plunge and being the first to commit to a project you will usually be rewarded with discount prices. (A Place In The Sun, 2008)

Investing in a franchise - we do not offer franchise businesses however we will be able to assist you, to find an empty property for your franchise or a property available for rental. Recently in the summer, we assisted a company "tag outlet ", to find a rental property within the busy financial and business district of Paphos. We have Starbucks and McDonalds at downtown Paphos, and Mothercare, Marks & Spencers, Debenhams, Next, Mango and Stradivarius in Old Town of Paphos. The five key points for setting up a franchise are:

Research is key. What evidence do you have that the franchise works? Read any literature that is provided an think carefully about what the long-term demand is for the product or service.
Spend time with the franchisor and learn about the pitfalls as well as the successes of the brand you will be involved with. You will develop a good working relatinship with the franchisor.
Running a franchise means that you are running your business with help and support. Be absolutely certain that you are suited to this type of business arrangment and that you are able to multi-task.
Ask yourself why you are buying this particular franchise and be realistic about whether you have the skills and sufficient capital to make it work. Ensure you have some spare capital in case the franchise takes longer than planned to take off.
Think very carefully about wheather you and your family will be comfortable with the particular demands of the sector you are choosing to work in, and the country you will be living in. Remember that the new language and different regulations will pose a challenge for all involved.(Advice from Phillip Evans, MD of Thomas Green's)

Investing in a leaseback property - this involves looking for a property to buy and then rent out to the public. We have some properties available which suit the buy-to-let investment. We have some maisonettes or town houses in Central Paphos; and flats and apartments based mostly along the Tombs Of The Kings road which is almost at the outskirts of Paphos by the sea. We have Helleniki, Emporiki, Laiki and Alpha Bank that can easily give you a bank account as long as you have a minimum personal income of €20,500 and you do not require to set up a company of any kind for leaseback laws here. The banks' administration system are up to date. Most of the documentations can be written in English upon request and many people in the adminstration and bureaucracy speak English; therefore there is minimum requirement for a translator. There is also no need to be concerned about Cyprus being affected by global warming as the Alps would be in France. Cyprus is located in a good geographical position and is warm all year round with an occasional rain.

Investing in a fractional ownership - We do not offer fractional ownership on any of our resale properties or our projects. There are five key points to consider which are:

Research the economic and political stability of a country before you invest in a fractional ownership scheme. You need to be confident that your investment will be secure and your asset value will increase.
Check the location of the property. Visit the area and explore the facilities. If you are looking to receive a high rental return, check the area's popularity and accessibility.
If you want to rent out your property, check whether your resort offers a management service and look into the costs.
Do all the usual legal checks and be clear on your rights and responsibilities.Check that there are rules and regulations for the administration of the property. If you are buying with friends, don't leave the legalities to somebody else. Do it yourself.
Check when you would be eligable to sell your share and that you are not tied into a lengthy ownership contract. Apart from a clause for co-owners to be offered the share first, make sure there are no barriers to selling your share on the open market - and remember that a resale may take time. (Property advice from Brigitte Urbano, Fractional Sales Manager, Oceanico Group)

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