Property – Kalamata: Foreigners Buy Second Homes In Messinia, Greece

The desired area for the British to purchase second homes, on the Greek mainland is Kalamata in the Messinia region on the Peloponnese. There is an abundance of properties for sale to select from. Many British people are buying up property such as villas, town houses, village houses, farm houses and apartments either for holiday or permanent homes. Property remains one of the best long-term investments and property is certainly one of the most pleasurable. Buying a home in the Messinia region is a fabulous way to broaden horizons and revitalize life. It provides a welcome bolt-hold to recuperate form the stresses and strains of modern life.

The Peloponnese is the southern part of mainland Greece, now divided from the Greek mainland by the Corinth Canal. The Peloponnese peninsula hosts some of the most significant and impressive ancient sites in Greece. The climate is usually mild and green in the winter and it’s not too hot in the summer. Messinia alone has more than 100km of coastline, with some of the best and cleanest beaches in the whole of Greece. The Mani peninsular is situated to the east of Kalamata and has a mountain landscape that is simply stunning. Taygetos is one of the largest mountain ranges in the Peloponnese and dominates the city of Kalamata. Situated to the west of Kalamata is the Messinian peninsular which in contrast has rolling hills and fertile valleys. It’s considered to be the market garden and wine centre of Greece. The city of Kalamata with all its modern facilities nestles at the head of the Messini Bay. Kalamata is an ideal location for prospective second home owners to search for property for sale in the surrounding area of Messinia.

It’s not only the British that are showing an interest in purchasing second homes in the Messinia region. Each year thousands of foreigners are selecting Greece as their preferred destination to purchase property for permanent or second homes. These people are mostly Germans and Americans although there are growing numbers of other nationality appearing such as Canadians, Dutch, Czechoslovakians, Austrians and Scandinavians.

Despite property prices in the Kalamata area increasing by 30 per cent last year, foreigners are snapping up property for sales at bargain prices. There are plenty of old stones houses for sale. Such properties are full of charm and character, needing renovation or maintenance and can be purchased from as little as £30,000. New homes start from as little as £75,000 without swimming pool.

Most of the foreigners who are looking to purchase property have visited Greece previously as tourist holidaying on the Peloponnese peninsular. A large number of them are pensioners who have settled and brought homes to live in permanently when they retire. However, we are increasingly seeing younger couples and young families purchasing property, settling down and creating a new live for themselves.

According to the Greek National Land Registry, there are 1,750 properties and estates in Messinia that are owned by foreigners. Already many British and other foreign people have brought second homes on the Mani peninsular. Whereas there are relatively few that have purchased property on the Messinian peninsular. However, things look set to change. Interest has increased in this area largely because the Government is actively encouraging investment on the Messinian peninsular. It is aiming to stimulate local revenue and employment by developing tourism projects and local infrastructure.

It is hardly surprising that even through property prices are rising steadily, Kalamata and the Messinia region is proving to be a favourite destination with foreigner’s who are looking to purchase their dream property before price become to high.