The number of properties that changed hands in Nicosia rose last month 65% to 162, compared with the respective month of 2016, and those in Limassol increased 37% to 304, the department said.

Property transactions in Paphos and the Famagusta area rose 28% and 35% to 235 and 46 respectively, compared with the year before, while the number of properties that went to new owners fell 20% to 96, the land department said.

In the first six months of the year, the total number of transactions on the real estate market rose an annual 20%, the department said.

The January to June figures include also 456 properties sold to non-Cypriots compared to 442 in the respective six-month period of 2016, aided by the government’s schemes that allow investors to get a visa or citizenship, according to a separate statement.

Property transaction figures include also properties acquired by banks as part of loan restructuring agreements.

Source: Cyprus Mail