Guide to Rhodes

Introduction

Greece is something of an enigma in the overseas property industry – while it is one of the most popular holiday destinations for British tourists and has been for at least three decades, at the same time the number of British overseas property buyers doesn’t seem to reflect it’s status.

The only reason for this discrepancy seems to be a lack of promotion of the islands as a property destination. All of the elements for successful property buying are in place – a great climate, low property prices, friendly people and easy access. In fact, Rhodes itself has over 300 days of sunshine per year, enough to make sure that expats are thoroughly pleased with life there, and holiday home owners are unlikely to have a bad week in the area.

With an established history of property belonging to British buyers, Rhodes is perfectly placed to take advantage of the improvement in the year-round access to Greek resort destinations.

The region

The largest of the Dodecanese islands, Rhodes is situated in the southern Aegean Sea, and is just 11 miles west of the coast of Turkey. The island itself is around 50 miles long and 25 miles wide at its widest point, and has a population of around 120,000.

The eponymous capital city of Rhodes is at the far northern end of the island, and is a declared World Heritage Site housing the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Otherwise, the population is dotted around the island in the small villages and resorts that attract tourists from across Europe.

This is not to suggest that Rhodes is some kind of poor, rural island stuck in the past. The various towns, resorts and attractions bring in a cosmopolitan crowd of visitors, while places to stay vary from the quaint old towns to the bustle of modern holiday resort developments.

Lindos is the sophisticated major resort of the island, catering for families and young visitors alike, while Faliraki is one of the busiest and most popular nightlife destinations in Europe. To relax and wind down after a long night out, Rhodes is blessed with some beautiful long, sandy beaches.

Attractions of a more cultural variety are not limited to the Colossus of Rhodes either. Lindos has an impressive Acropolis, and more than 600,000 people every year visit the Valley of the Butterflies.

Climate

Rhodes is blessed with great weather all year round, and barely gets cold in the winter compared with the UK. Temperatures average nearly 20 degrees C across the whole year, while in July and August, the temperature is more like 27 degrees C. Rain is rare during the summer months, while in the winter there is more precipitation, though temperatures remain mild.

Getting there

Direct flights to Rhodes are available throughout the summer months, though at present the service is not continued through the winter. This may soon change with the recent acquisition of the route rights by easyJet, but for the moment, winter travellers can pass through Athens and get a connecting flight out to Rhodes.

Property

For a relatively small island, there is a huge variety of property available on the island of Rhodes. At one end of the market, you can find apartments in modern resort developments in the major tourist hubs which are what might be well-described as ‘standard’ southern-European holiday properties. Meanwhile, in the smaller towns and villages, there are townhouses, villas and family homes that are built in the traditional style and with local materials.

One thing you are unlikely to find in Rhodes are the huge developments of hundreds of apartments that are the norm in other parts of Europe. Greece as a whole tends towards smaller developments that are less-imposing on the landscape. Added to this is the fact that many of the developments also create low-density buildings that are based on the designs of traditional Greek houses. This is not somewhere you will find high-rise blocks of apartments taking over the skyline of any major town or resort.

The area in and around the town of Lindos attracts much of the property spotlight on Rhodes, popular as it is with families and couples. While property prices here are a little more expensive than you will find elsewhere on the island, the proximity of a wide range of amenities and good connections to the rest of the island makes Lindos an important property focus. A small newly-built apartment in the area can be found for under £70,000, while a two-bedroom detached villa on a small development of 20 houses will cost around £150,000 off-plan.

On the west coast of the island, buyers will more likely come by village houses to buy and renovate. A small restoration project in the village of Fanes can be yours for just under £40,000, while a traditional one-bedroom house overlooking the sea and with some work to be done also in Fanes will be around £85,000.

Another option which tempts some people in Greece is to buy a plot of land and build your own property. There are plots of land available, but consider the costs of getting building licences, architects, connecting services to the mains supply and access routes on top of the cost of actually building the property. You would also be well-advised to seek out quotes from local builders and construction firms. Not only do they have the local knowledge, but you will also form links in the local community and have a ready supply of other trades available to you for the ongoing maintenance of the property.

Local life

Family and community are very important to life in Greece, so it is a great idea to try to make links within the local town or village so that you can fully appreciate the warmth of the society. Of almost equal importance are the influence of food and drink, the vast majority of which are fresh and locally-sourced. Take advantage of visiting the country at different times of the year when you are buying to make sure you know what life in the area will be like off-season as well as in the middle of the tourist summer.

Conclusion

Rhodes is often overlooked by tourists looking for a cheap break in the Greek islands, and this can be a distinct advantage for those looking for a quiet and peaceful place to have a holiday home, or to move to on a more permanent basis. Rhodes also gets its fair share of tourists as it isn’t short on attractions, and with the combination of cultural pursuits and leisure, in the form of beaches, bars, restaurants and nightlife, makes it attractive to all ages and a good rental possibility.

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All circumstances vary. BuyAssociation provides general advice for guidance purposes only. It is strongly recommended that you seek professional advice before making any purchase.