Kefalonia, the largest of the Greek Ionian Islands, is well known as a summer holiday desination which increased in popularity when the film adaption of Louis de Bernieres book Captain Corelli’s Madolin was released in 2001. Kefalonia is famous for its beautiful beaches, dramatic scenery, delicious Mediterranean food and the hospitality of its people.
However, there is a side to Kefalonia that most tourists do not see but those lucky enough to have made Kefalonia their home never fail to appreciate and that is the period covering the winter and spring months. During these months Kefalonia takes on a whole new dimension, wild flowers start to show in early November and gradually increase until early spring when the fields are a riot of colour; many of the flowers that grow wild on Kefalonia are sought after garden plants sold in nurseries throughout the UK. The days become shorter and cooler and are ideal for walking, cycling or gardening. Some people even continue to swim daily. It is most unusal to have snow anywhere on Kefalonia other than on the tops of the mountains; Mount Ainos at 1,628 metres is the highest of the kefalonian Mountains, the peak of which is covered by a vast conifer forest and looks magical after a snow fall.
Winter in Kefalonia is the perfect time to relax and reflect on what has already passed and to look forward to what is to come.
The winter and spring months are also a time when property sales on the island start to increase. After successful holidays the lure of the island is too much for some people to ignore and they choose this quiet, cooler period to return and inspect properties with a view to purchasing a holiday home for the coming summer, (an investment property which will bring in a good income as well as well as providing holiday accommodation) or if thinking more long term a retirement home.
The most successful of these visits are the ones which have been planned in advance. A budget is essential and this should include all the additional costs of buying a property and any possible renovations; if a mortgage if required, obtaining a mortgage in principle with a local bank will help to reduce the completion time of any future purchase. The banks in Greece operate in the same way as the banks in the UK providing mortgages based on the market value of the property in question and the annual income of the potential mortgagees. Once the budget has been set and a list of essential criterion has been drafted a portfolio of properties can be collated specific to the customer’s requirements. An inspection visit of at least three days should allow enough time for all properties to be visited (at least once) and the first steps of purchasing a property to be put into place.
Kefalonia is divided into seven municipalities, Argostoli, Ellios Pronnon, Erisou, Livathos, Paliki, Pylaros and Sami. Each municipality offers something different, the proximity of schools, medical care, shopping centres, new properties in the town, older properties in the villages, the list is endless. Discovering the perfect area is a very personal thing and many factors will influence the choice.
Contact with a reputable estate agent can help to ensure that your visit goes as planned and that if any questions or queries arise during the visit that there is someone local, fluent in both Greek and English there to help you every step of the way.
Mantas Real Estate are well known and respected agents in Kefalonia, they are based in the heart of the capital town Argostoli. To view some of the properties currently been offered for slae please visit the web site of Mantas Real Estate at http:www.propertyforsaleinkefalonia.com.
