Hi All

We are buying in block 4 Anarita valley and were told from the beginning (April 2008) that it would be ready at the end of January 2009.

The question I have is does anyone know the location of Anarita Valley on Google Earth. I think it is in or around 34 degrees 44' 17.86 N by 32 degrees 31' 45.95 E.

If anyone can either confirm or correct me I would be grateful.

Also if anyone has Photos of Block 4 Number 1 I would also be grateful to see them as I can't see us getting out there until March 2009.

Regards Kelvin

Hello Andrew

I too took out a swiss franc (CHF) mortgage from the Bank of Cyprus. Although the interest rate is low, you do need to have a look at the CHF rate to British Pound which has dropped a lot over the last six months! However, that said, I would on balance do it again (we have now paid our loan off in full). Quite a lot of paperwork to do in terms of signing and dating and I would very strongly recommend that you do it with them at their office in London or Paphos because I can guarantee that there will one small thing that you miss which means they will post it all back to you! This takes weeks!!!!! Overall though with the state of the euro it may be your best route..

There is a guy called Yiannakis Komodromos at The Bank of Cyprus in Paphos (like a personal banker) and he is pretty good. Let me know if you need any more info and I will be happy to assist! Good luck.

Hi Andrew

Why don't you get a mortgage in Cyprus, Bank of Greece or Bank of Cyprus, mortgages are available in any type of currency.

I've got one from the Bank of Greece, in Swiss Francs, interest rate is very low (3.5%).

Hi All. I know its a bit late in the day but I'm thinking f getting a Euro mortgage to pay the last instalment of my property. I have the cash but the current excange rate is truly spectacularly awful and I'm going to be paying thousands over the odds. I don't think for one moment it'll stay that way so I'm thinking of borrowing in the short term.

Can anyone recommend a good mortgage company/broker for an overseas mortgage? feel free to PM me if its more discreet for you. I've just started looking but they are trying to sting me for all sorts of extras such as compulsory house insurance, spurious valuations and up front fees of over £1000. Surely there must be a reasonable way of borrowing approx 35000 euros without all these charges? In mortgage terms its a piddling sum!

Is anyone here buying at the delayed Anarita Chorio? If so i'd be very interested to hear from you to swap experiences and moan about the delays! Just send me a private message to get in touch.

Thanks!

I have just updated the progress pics of Hesperides Gardens. Unfortunately I've managed to post a dozen pics of Hesperides in the Anarita photos.

Apologies for any confusion

Interesting stuff about Parador. I understood them to be owned by Tui (Thomson). Obviously not any more.

I'm guessing like everyone else, but I reckon the walls you refer to will be painted concrete. Firstly because they have been smoothed off perfectly. Would they do this just to cover them up again? Secondly because they've already mixed stone and painted concrete on the outer wall at Hesperides gardens. Although it was stone on the CG images, I'm personally not averse to painted concrete. I just hope they get the colours right.

Good intimation barneyowl.  I visited Parador's office in Pafos this am.  They say that Parador UK is being closed and UK business will be handled from Spain.

Parador in Cyprus is a separate company but the Pafos office will close on 5 Sept 2008 and will relocate to the Ayia Napa area.  All of this is said to be a reduction in business from the UK in particular.

The owners club will continue and will meet obligations.  The staff will work from home.  Those who received incentives from Parador on purchasing property would be well advised to check the situation.  I have received assurances from Paula that my own situation is secure and as contracted altho I am not a member of the owners club.  The only name and phone number I have is Paula and if anyone would like the contact details please let me know.

It was said that Parador in Cyprus may close sometime in the future and a new company may be formed.  It pays to stay alert on this one, so well done barneyowl on bring this promptly to our attention.

Hi Paul

Yes, I am also of the opinion that they will face the walls with stone; let's hope so anyway!! It would look much nice than painted concrete....when I said the front of the houses I was really meaning the back i.e. pool side! Sorry about that!! 

Wow! What a great set of comprehensive photos! Well done!

Just wondered one thing. Regarding the big boulders that intersperce the walls to the front of the houses... Does this mean that in front of the solid concrete wall they will put small blocks of the same stone to make the walls look like a 100% 'stone -wall' effect? Or do people think they will just paint the concrete which would make these walls look a bit odd!? i.e. a big stone boulder followed by a flat concrete wall then another boulder etc etc. Anyone got any views or indeed know how they intend to finish these walls to the fronts of the properties?? If they ended up looking like stone walls it would finish the development off really well but this look may be too expensive a finish for them (and also take too long?)?

Thanks again for all the photos!

Hi All. I've posted loads of pics taken on 18 and 25 August. All are listed as 25 August as it was hard to sort out so many pics.

Those in block 1, 9 and 11 who asked for pics should have them here, but they will be grouped near the bottom of those dated 25 August because I uploaded them first. Block 9 and 11 showed significant rogress over the week and the pics don't reflect this but it was so hard to get near the areas with the most activity. There's loads still to do but there must be 100 staff on site and the work being done is of a very high standard and well organised.

The colours are bright at first glance but I've come to really like them. They remind me of some Riviera Marina without the million Dollar yachts. What does anyone else think?

There are lots of other pleasant surprises too, like the quality of the surrounding wall, the mature palms and the standard of the paving. The back of building 1 isn't the nicest site looking down from Anarita but hopefully it will be softened with planting.

If anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer. We spent two hours on site each time and have lots of pics. Finally, I'll post some pics of Anarita Chorio too in case anyone has bought there.

Has anyone purchased a property on Anarita valley through Parador? I have been informed that they are about to close due to the directors falling out. The offices will close in Cyprus on the 5th September. The administrators are due in very soon. Any one who has joined the owners club with them will no longer be taken care of by the staff. So now it looks like those who joined in the hope that they had someone to take care of the electric, water installation etc. Will have to take care of it themselves. Does any one have any further news? 

LA.

More Information

Our earlier message did not mention the builder or other companies associated with the Orange Grove they were Lisadies Group based at Mesoyi Avenue  95B, Pafos also known as Y.Liasides Developers Ltd based at 5 Stillis Aylou Pavlou, Pafos.

Kind Regards Brian & Chris

Dear All

I hope you can help my wife and I, in 2006 we paid a deposit followed by several stage payments for our dream retirement home in Anarita at the Orange Grove. Despite having invested over £40k (pounds) the site was never touched we have been given excuse after excuse by the developer, estate agent and solicitor we still have seen none of our money returned, this was devasting and we have now had to return to the UK and start over with potenially substantial losses. We are now being told that the site is being sold again 'off plan' possibly under a new company name. We still own legally a main plot on the site and are very concerned that it may be being sold twice over. If anyones got any news or information or have any contact with anyone who have had problems with the Orange Grove. We would be very pleased to hear from anyone who can help. We truly hope your Cyprus dream doesn't become a nightmare. Regards Brian & Chris

I'm off to Cyprus tomorrow. If anyone wants pics of their own place, I can oblige.  Just send me a private message and I'll do my best. I might not be back until the end of the month though.

I'll post some pics again anyway when I get back.

Nice one guys! Thanks Paulh and Freer for the update photos! We are out week one of November to collect our keys, so fingers crossed. Will take a few photos of both areas and post on our return......

It's taking shape and looking good!!

Re Photo 1, looking closely, it may just be concrete blocks sitting there before being used elsewhere, but not sure though!

Graham and Doug

Thanks for the update Freer. Still some work to do though before completion!

Does anyone know what the construction on the left of Photo 1 is? There is nothing shown on the Pafilia plans.

Graham and Doug

Hi there,

Thanks for your input / clarification on the gym. My understanding is that the gym will be on the ground floor of the block where the apartments are....

Can anyone tell us where the Gym will actually be located, as we've never seen it in any plans? We are not doubting it will be in the development somewhere!

Graham and Doug

Hello paulh,

Is it possible to post the photos on this site that you were sent by Parador Property as it would be interesting to see the progress if possible? Thanks a lot. 

Hi.  I should have mentioned the obvious.  It helps to read the Cyprus Mail (daily publication) and the Cyprus Weekly.  Both are in English.  The Mail edition of 24/7/08 has the lead story on the water shortage and how the water from Greece cannot yet be transferred ashore as the pipeline ship to onshore pipeline has failed due to air blockages.  This is said to be due to a second hand lining for the transfer line being used!  Water availability is a big problem and there is little point in saying that there is sufficient when the emphasis is to be VERY ECONOMICAL in every way when there is a supply available.

Hope this helps.

Lo all.  I visited Anarita yesterday on return from holiday in UK.  Scaffolding around most of Block 9 readying it for outside painting.  Ground floor apts are tiled and ready for interior work.  1 & 2 floors still at rough plaster stage.  However, I saw about a dozen men at work in the block - this is more than before.

Understand insurance is not compulsory with Pafilia but the buildings cover is strongly recommended as it allows one point of contact for any claim which may arise.  Contents can be insured as owners decide.

Postal code for area is 'Anarita 8502'.  I am informed you do not require to rent a mail box in Paphos - these are becoming scarce - none is available at the district PO.  Mail for Anarita is delivered to the local grocery where Angelica (?) keeps it for when you call in.  There is no house delivery at present.

Water cuts are 3 days a week at present with Timi on the alternate days.  Cuts are for 24 hours at a time but the roof tanks should, with great care and salvaging of e.g. shower water, see you thru.

Site work is continuing with much to be done yet.

Hi All. I iasked this question about completion of Nigel Howarth a long time ago. I'm pretty sure he said that we had to complete unless it was explicitly spelt out in our contracts that all communal areas had to completed and everything done including landscaping.

I supplied him with Pafilia's standard contract which most of us have and he didn't think this was spelled out so he figured we'd not have any real choice.

I must say though, from all the developments we've seen they get everything but the grass and planting done pretty quickly. I'd be surprised if anyone completing say, late November would have much to complain about. Thats not to say we shouldn't push very hard for things to be totally finished as quickly as possible.

I agree with Andrew L that Maria is giving us a pretty clear steer that we are best off waiting. a bit to complete. She also makes reference to the fact that we can go beyond the 3 months grace for completion with Pafilia's agreement. Anyone unduly concerned might want to do this. Might even get a better exchange rate!

As for the weather, we first viewed and bought in January 2006 and the weather was really good (18-20 and sunny the whole time). We've been twice in December and enjoyed similar weather, yet this April was awful. We may wel still get good weather anytime.

I don't know about whether we are obliged to take Pafilia's insurance but unless its a total rip off, I'd be tempted to opt for it anyway for convenience and security anyway.

Finally I'm sorry if I worried any of you. I have every faith that things will be finished pretty soon after the completion date. The houses themselves are so close to completion I've no doubts about September whatsoever.  

Brigette

We are not sure if we are required to take their insurance but as we see it, if everything is done through the same companies via Pafilia, particularly in the case of blocks of apartments, any future claim would be far easier dealt with. Pafilia say the rates are competitive so we will no doubt find out in due course.

It does make sense to us and any possible saving now with other companies may prove more hassle in the future.

Graham and Doug

Firstly thanks to Andrew for your update; it would seem that no progress has been made on communal areas at all. However, I agree totally that once done, the landscaping does tend to look pretty good.

We are definitely able to collect our keys but, as 'yeboahc' says, it may be that we are not obliged to unless everything is complete. Ideally we would like to go out when the weather is nice for a change as we always seem to be there when it is raining!! Hence why we are not too keen to be going out in November/December! To be fair to Mariah, she did recommend leaving it a few months until the development looked more pleasing on the eye! I think she is just saying that for those who need to, they can take delivery very soon....

hi guys,

I was under the understanding that unless the whole development (inc communal areas) is finished ie tools downed and workmen departed, then the development cannot be signed off to the customer/ or customer is not obliged to take delivery until all the work is done..?

I'd be suprised if Anarita Valley will be fully completed before Xmas at the earliest. Progress on the units but hell of a lot of work to do on the development itself and it's a big area.

Cheers

Hi Andrew.

My wife visited Anarita Valley on 10 July 2008. Unfortunately she is no expert with a camera and every photo has actually been shot as video, then the camera ends up pointing at the ground for 5 mins. I guess you get the picture (sorry)! I have a new laptop and don't have any software that would convert video to stills, so can't post, but the communal areas are basically not started. I'll give my best impressions below:

From the 10 July video footage, the pools are cast in concrete but not tiled or lined yet.  The tiling around the pools is just being started. No paths or paved areas have been started. No garden areas are started. Basically other than the concrete for the pools and the surrounding tiles the rest is still a dusty building site.

I personally expect Pafilia to basically complete all the houses on time but nothing else except hopefully the pools. It's really unlikely that they will be able to do outdoor work until September because of the heat. I will therefore be completing as late as possible to give Pafilia time to make inroads into the landscaping.

I think its important that we push for all landscaping to be finished quickly. Hesperides Gardens took about a year to my eyes and I think that is unacceptable. Mind you I think that one was unusual and am much more hopeful given that they will have 6 cool months in which to work. The good news is that when finished, the landscaping on Pafilia developments looks better than the competition.

You guys certainly seem to have your fingers on the Pafilia Development Pulse! Thanks for the extra info on hand-over timings....suspect I will not be going over at the end of September now!!

Hi Andrew.

From following other developments, the handovers usually take place a month or two after completion date.

Usually you'll get an email or letter inviting you to arrange an appointment date and time with your Pafilia rep. At east we get to hang onto our cash a little longer. Lets hope thats time enough for the exchange rate to improve!

That's great, thanks very much for the comprehensive update. Sounds like the 'end of September' hand-over date has now been pushed back. Rather they take a little longer and get it right than rush the closing phases through and compromise on the quality!!

Thanks again...

Hi, Andrew.

I did take some pics but only of block 1 and 2. I had intended to return to Anarita for a longer visit but the bus didn't show so I never made it. Because of this I left my camera in Cyprus with my wife. She's returning in a couple of weeks then we fly out again mid August.

I am convinced that all the houses/apartments can be finished by end of septemer. Pools and landscaping may not be though.

Block 1 still seems to be the one needing most work, but the ground floor is having windows fitted. Block 2 (ours) is also one of the least completed but we still had all our windows in, all tiles (wall and floor) completed, all internal walls painted, Back door fitted , kitchen and bedroom carcases fitted, balcony done and bathroom suites in the process of installation by 29 June. Our block still has no shutters and isn't painted but i could imagine them being able to finish the house with a couple of days work, so I'm really optimistic.

As ever, the build looks very smart and way ahead of other developers workmanship standards. We also went back to Pafilia Gardens (totaly stunning) and Hesperides Gardens and we were hugely impressed. Hesperides Gardens has been finished a while but they have only recently completed the landscaping and planting. It's a real transformation. We've spoken to owners in both developments and been invited in for a look round. The people we spoke to were full of praise for Pafilia and really happy with the finished results.

I'll be returning to the UK late August and 'll take pics of all blocks and post them. This should give a good indication of whether they will complete. As I understand it they are planning handovers to customers somewhat later, more likely November.

Hope this helps.

Message for AndrewMary

Did you manage to get any up to date photos of Anarita by any chance? If you did, would it be possible to post s few of them as I am keen to see how things are progressing as soon the building work will come to a halt for the summer period.  Does it still look good for an end of September completion from what you both could see?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Hiya Graham and Doug and everyone else.

I've just flown back from Paphos today. My wife's staying on awhile yet. We can vouch for the last 6 weeks if it helps.

Firstly, i've never seen a single empty swimming pool. Actually the one besdie the apartment we are renting in Universal area was overfilled because the maintenence crew forgot to turn off the taps when they left!

There has been a pattern of one day off, one day on for mains water but we have not been affected as the storage tanks on most properties hold more than enough until they refill next day. We both have baths every day too. The only restriction we found was that our automatic washer could only be used on days when mains water was on because it feeds directly from mains. Water quality and presure was also normal.

We were told by locals that the restrictions were about to end due to a big delivery from Greece. Also the English news featured a huge water pipeline that had been built to supply water from Greece. This is apparently due to be activated any day. This seemed really far fetched but they did show footage of this massive pipeline heading off into the sea. I suppose if they can do it for oil....

Hope this helps. Anyone else had different experiences?

Hi,

Can anyone tell us the situation regarding the water shortage in Cyprus? We have heard about the possibility of empty swimming pools etc via media reports but would like to hear from anyone in the Paphos area at the moment. Are things as 'bad' as sometimes reported?

Many thanks,

Graham and Doug 

Hi Sunburnt,

Yes, we thought Pafilia very expensive. 

We are having the electrical kitchen goods through Pafilia as they will fit it so more convenient for us.  As to all the other stuff, we heard an ad. on the radio when we were in Cyprus last about a furniture co. called Steptoes so went to have a look.  Their furniture is mostly solid wood and very reasonably priced.  We have decided to take two weeks when the house is ready and do the furnishing ourselves probably with Steptoes.  They will deliver very promptly as most of the stuff is in stock.  We aim to go there the first day and get a bed which they will deliver the same day and then take our time choosing other things.  They also have 'end of range' sales which may be worth looking at.  They costed us a package which was a few thousand euros cheaper than Pafilias.