The strong growth in Cyprus property sales continued in January and February 2018 with the number of properties sold rising in all districts (with the exception of Larnaca) according to official figures.
The Department of Lands and Surveys reports that the number of property sales contracts deposited at Land Registry offices across Cyprus in January 2018 rose 64 per cent compared to January 2017. This rise follows a rise of 39% in November, an 18% rise in October and an 8% rise in September. During January a total of 695 contracts or the sale of residential and commercial properties and land (building plots and fields) were deposited at Land Registry offices across Cyprus, compared with the 423 deposited in January 2017. This is the highest number of contracts deposited during January since 2012 when 697 contracts were deposited. Sales rose in all districts. In percentage terms Famagusta headed the field with sales rising 129% followed by Nicosia, where sales rose by 103%. Sales in Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca rose by 71%, 70% and 10% respectively.
The contracts deposited in February 2018 rose 46 per cent compared to February 2017. This rise follows a rise of 64% in January, 36% in December, 39% in November and an 18% rise in October. During February a total of 666 contracts or the sale of residential and commercial properties and land (building plots and fields) were deposited at Land Registry offices across Cyprus, compared with the 456 deposited in February 2017. This is the highest number of contracts deposited during February since 2010 when 704 contracts were deposited. Although sales in Larnaca fell by 1%, they rose in all the other districts. In percentage terms Famagusta led the way with sales rising by 174% followed by Paphos, where sales rose by 87%. Meanwhile sales in Limassol and Nicosia rose by 45% and 32% respectively.
During the first two months of 2018 the number of contracts for the sale of property deposited at Land Registry offices has risen 55% to 1,361 compared to the same period last year. The highest rise of 150%, was recorded in Famagusta, followed by Paphos with a 79% increase. Significant increases were also recorded in Nicosia (67%) and Limassol (56%), while the smallest increase (4%) was recorded in Larnaca.