Alfa Homes are property and investment specialists based in Chania, Crete, where beauty speaks for itself

There are many different restaurants that specialise in Greek cuisine that make every effort possible for people that come from outside of Greece, to enjoy. In the centre of Chania you will find different restaurants and cafes that are located on the Port of Chania, and are located down a long strip with a great view. You can also find great nightclubs that are located on the port. You can have dinner and then grab a drink at a great club and all nearby! To see the actual culture of Crete it’s best to go outside of Chania and visit the historic villages. Here you can discover first-hand how real Cretans live, the old style of the different homes, and the taverns with traditional food.

The climate in Crete, being closer to Africa than to mainland Greece, is very hot, up to 42ºC in August, with sunshine up to ten months of the year, bringing smiles all round of course, while the air is very clean due to being an island and the very few factories. It has also been quoted as ideal for people with breathing and long term ailment. Being also the largest Greek island, the scenery varies immensely, with long stretches of desolated beach, like Kavros, West Crete to tourist crammed locations like Platanias, West Crete. Beautiful scenic nature walks and E9 routes carve the island into a rambler’s paradise. Samaria Gorge – a 17km walk – is a must, taking approximately six hours at an easy pace; you emerge from the gorge at the ancient seaside village of Tarra, now called Agia Roumeli, and can cool your weary bones in the refreshing Mediterranean.

To see the different ruins of Crete a great archeological site to visit is in Knossos which is located a bit outside of Iraklion; it is quite far from Chania, about two hours, but worth the drive. Knossos is on the ruins of the Neolithic settlement and the first Minoan palace was built (1900BC) where the dynasty of Minos ruled. This was destroyed in 1700BC and a new palace built in its place.

The palace covered an area of 22,000 sq.m; it was multi- storeyed and had an intricate plan. Due to this fact the Palace is connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur. Between 1700-1450BC, the Minoan civilisation was at its peak and Knossos was the most important city-state. During these years the city was destroyed twice by earthquakes (1600BC, 1450BC) and rebuilt. The city of Knossos had 100,000 citizens and it continued to be an important city-state until the early Byzantine period. Knossos is a beautiful site to see and definitely a site worth while.

The economy in Greece is becoming stronger and stronger year by year and aims to become a nation with one of the best economies. For example, visitors coming from England may see Greece as inexpensive because of the strength of the English pound and the expensive economy in general. The euro is less than the pound which is a great advantage for the English because they receive more for their exchange rate. Greece is definitely less expensive than many other places in Europe, which is also a great benefit when purchasing property in Crete.

Alfa Homes has many different properties and land available on the market at the moment that are located near or outside the area of Chania. Hopefully people will be buying in north-west Crete which is the most beautiful and most accessible part of the island. Main areas of interest for buyers currently are beachside, the Apokoronas area which was the main place to buy has been left by the wayside with newer areas like Akrotiri and West Chania - Maleme, Tavronitis, Kolymbari being the up and coming investment locations, with better quality homes from more experienced developers and fewer properties to land size ratio. In these areas the land is not yet developed which is why it is a great investment because in a few years the property value will definitely double and hopefully triple! Village locations in the mountains with stunning views tend to come in second choice. Property is currently selling best in the Akrotiri area outside of Chania, due to close proximity to the airport and to beaches. Property in Crete is definitely a great investment with prices from €122,000 for a two bedroom home with shared pool, or from €200,000 for a three bed with private pool, a home in the sun couldn’t be more appealing as an investment, also the local Chania airport has this year broadened its horizons and accepted more charter flights from many countries throughout Europe. Various entrepreneurial companies have sprung up for home maintenance while the owner is away and also to aid in renting out your holiday home for you in your absence.

What mainly catches the eye of foreign buyers in Crete is the fact that many years ago the first property buyers in Greece bought for their love of the country. Today whether you buy in Greece for the 300 days of sunshine or for an investment you cannot miss and also come to love the Greeks laid back attitude to life, and start to wish to live the same way yourself. Greeks really do live life to the fullest. Manic socialites, from an early age they learn that drinking coffee by the sea with friends is an art form that should take no less than two hours out of your daily schedule. Eating out, or at home on the balcony with friends, especially in the summer months is a 3-4 hour affair that involves ordering as many different dishes as your table can hold and dining ‘buffet style’ accompanied by plentiful local wine, variable conversation and of course the infamous ‘raki’ to finish (to help digestion of course!) The beach is also a daily must – as is the nightlife for those that can stand it. A typical young Greek will fill his day from 9-2 with work, 2-4 coffee time, 4-6 beach, 6-9 work, 10-12 rest or dining out, 12-4 clubbing. The Greeks really do only work to live and not live to work!

Alfa Homes has been established with the aim of helping all potential property buyers enjoy a hassle free and trustworthy buying process here in Greece. Whether buying an apartment by the sea, a villa in the mountains, a holiday home or multiple properties for a larger investment they can help you. As a company, they have been accepted as a member of the AIPP and, in doing so, has voluntarily signed up to follow their code of conduct. This code was established to help and protect you, the buyer of overseas property by flagging where professional standards can be found. As official members of AIPP, you can rest assured that you are dealing with a ‘real’ Real Estate Agent.

From the moment you contact Alfa, you will be speaking directly with the owners, Vasilis Kompitsakis and Panagiotis Mathioudakis – who are experienced in the local market and bilingual – will answer all you questions and concerns regarding purchasing in Greece, giving you peace of mind and making you feel safe in the knowledge that you are speaking to an expert.