Greece Buying Guide Monthly Newsletter
March 2010

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In This Month's Issue You'll Find:

Message from Carol

Take a healthy interest in the Medical System in Greece!

Recommended Resource – A new blog that concerns the cost of your overseas property (or cost to emigrate)

OGC Resource Centres March Top Tip: Always Use a Solicitor

Renting your holiday home out for some extra cash?

Protection for you and your Overseas Property

Come and collect your Full Version FREE Emigration Guide

All Greek to me

Securing an EOT licence.

I hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day!

Hi there - and how are you faring with your property plans? 

It is weather such as we have been having in the UK recently that make dreams of Greece so appealing. What I find so strange about English weather is how unpredictable it is:  the morning starts off sunny, and then…snowflakes are falling past my disbelieving eyes! I really have to give myself a real push to go out in the evenings: this week my plans include a play about Palestine, a jazz night in the bar of the Sports Club at Charing Cross Hospital and a cinematic double bill at the Riverside Studios - will I actually make it – shiver…?  Watch this space…

I must say that I was very heartened to hear of Prime Minister George Papandreou announcement on February 2 that he will be introducing a tougher array of measures to boost fiscal revenue and cut expenses. The truly great aspect of this is that he has the consent of conservative opposition party leaders to forge ahead with “painful but necessary fiscal reforms”.

The new austerity package included a hike on fuel consumption taxes. He also outlined a host of measures to control public sector expenditures, including a generalised freeze on basic public sector wages and new hiring. In the past, both measures were qualified by excluding wages below 2,000 euros from the pay freeze, and the ministries of health and education from the freeze in new hiring.

In a nutshell he will be: 

1. Crosschecking people’s income to assets to uncover the true size of wealth and income 
2. Increasing the excise tax on fuel
3. Making 10 percent budget cut in all ministries and suspension of recruitment for this year
4. Freezing increases in basic civil servants’ pay
5. Applying an average reduction of wage supplements by 10 percent, applied to the central government as well as to local governments and the wider public sector

All very welcome and very positive – my fingers are crossed that all goes well.

So…what’s been happening in Greece? They have had a wonderful carnival celebration in Athens – note to self: perhaps try and make this next year – it looks lots of fun.   I went to http://www.breathtakingathens.com/node/5000846 and they really had a fabulous line up. Something I have missed again is the annual celebration in Ioannina – I remember passing through there when I hitch-hiked around Greece years ago and I keep meaning to return.

Around the 20th February they remember the liberation of Ioannina, marking the time when Ottoman rule ended in 1913. This is a charming city in the Epirus region of Greece, where some say the first Greek settlements were founded. If you visit, be sure to go to the ruins of Dodona, where an ancient oracle once stood – it is somewhere I have never been – have you? I would love to see it.

On March 8th it’s International Women's Day and, in Athens and Thessaloniki, all women can ride public transport for free. This also applies to some inter-city buses and trains. Other events honouring women will also be going on - check locally to see what's happening in your area of interest.

Then the big one - on March 25th, Independence Day is celebrated with military parades all over the country. Major and minor archaeological sites will be closed, along with banks, public offices, and many businesses. The parade routes may interrupt traffic in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other major cities, but no doubt the paraded will be worth watching. Most towns and islands will commemorate the day with a celebration of some sort, either for Independence Day or for the Festival of the Annunciation, which also falls on March 25th. The island of Hydra, which was very active in the War for Independence, has a wonderful celebration with a re-enactment of a naval battle. Have you been to Hydra? It is really lovely – no traffic makes for a really tranquil and unspoilt waterfront with some lovely places to visit – give it a try.

And while you are there, why not kill two birds with one trip and have a look at that property you have been promising yourself? You may find that prices are particularly good now…If we can help at all, with recommendations of reputable property people for instance, you have just to phone 0207 898 0549 or fill in the short form at:
http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com/property.htm

Right – what does this month’s newsletter have for you? There is an article on Health Services in Greece – an important topic if you are thinking of visiting or moving there. Then something on your currency concerns and some top tips on renting your home abroad (should you want to do this). There is a bit about how the OGC has helped others, something about our Property Guide and I address your insurance concerns before signing off for another month.

Kindest regards,

Karolina!

Carol Dunning
Greece Buying Guide Advisor
The Overseas Guides Company Limited.
mailto:greece@OverseasGuidesCompany.com
Phone 0207 898 0549
1, Lyric Square,
London W6 0NB

Take a healthy interest in the Medical System in Greece!

Chatting to people who are planning to either visit or relocate to Greece I am frequently asked about the medical system there and how Greece compares to the NHS.

Comparisons, they say, are odious, but what I do recommend is that you look very carefully into the level of medical care when you are buying in Greece. Medical standards have improved considerably in recent years, but they may not be up to the standard we take for granted in the UK. Nursing care and post-hospital assistance are below what you may be used to, especially on the smaller islands and in rural areas, and people have told me that they have sometimes needed to trek all the way to Athens or Thessaloniki for expert hospital treatment.

Don’t fall hopelessly in love with a property BEFORE you have made sure that there are certain necessary medical requirements that the area can provide you with. If you have small children it’s also rather comforting to have medical help relatively close by, even if there just on holiday regularly. It is also very difficult to form a trusting relationship with your doctor if they don’t speak a word of English. Find out if there are expats living nearby and perhaps have a chat to them and find out what they think of the local medical facilities – or maybe your estate agent can help here?

Greece has a national health care system that provides free or low cost health care to residents and, as a EU member country resident, you will be treated on the same basis as a resident of Greece.  Non-EU citizens should arrange private health insurance before they leave their home country; however, emergency care is provided free of charge in public hospitals to anyone, regardless of nationality.

You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK – you have to present this to get free treatment – more about this later.  The EHIC is available free of charge through most UK post offices or through the UK Department of Health via their website at:  www.dh.gov.uk You can contact them on 0800 555 7777. 

Just a note here: I took this information off the EHIC website: when I went to my Post Office they no longer offer this facility and when I applied online I had to pay a fee of £9.95.
In case of need you can always contact the British Embassy in Greece.

In urgent situations, but not an emergency case, the patient may see a private specialist and will be reimbursed up to a maximum of 85% of the fee later by Idrima Kinonikon Asfalisseon (IKA). IKA is the government body that operating Greece’s National Health Care System. Waiting lists are long for non-urgent operations.

Dental and eye treatment is also free but non-essential medicines and health-related accessories such as dentures, dental crowns and spectacles are substantially charged. . Members are charged 25 per cent of the actual cost of prescriptions, although there are higher charges for non-essential medicines plus substantial contributions for many services, including spectacles, dentures and other treatment. Essential dental treatment is largely free.
Medicines are also highly subsidized and only 25% of the actual cost of the prescriptions is charged.

Phone 184 when the IKA facility is required, and make an appointment to see a doctor or a specialist at an IKA Centre. 

Remember, the 'European Health Insurance Card' (EHIC) must be shown if you wish free treatment.  If you choose to approach Greek practitioners/hospitals direct for private treatment, the EU Community arrangements will not apply and you will be responsible for the full cost of any treatment received. 

If a patient cannot get to an IKA office before going to a hospital or first aid station, he/she should ask the authorities at the hospital or station for free treatment under the IKA scheme. The EHIC must be shown, so do keep this on you at all times.

In Greece you may have to make a patient contribution to the cost of your care, as do the Greeks themselves. You may be able to seek reimbursement for this cost when you are back in the UK if you are there as a visitor. It is important that you ensure that you are treated by a state healthcare provider as you will not be covered for private healthcare. You should be particularly careful if the healthcare arrangements have been made by a hotel or travel representative as they may refer you to a non-heath care doctor.

If you are going to be working permanently in Greece or are going there to retire you need to get hold of a medical booklet (or ‘iatrico vivliario’) from your local IKA office. This must be shown each time you visit a doctor or hospital. You will be charged 25 per cent of the cost of prescriptions (pensioners pay ten per cent). Most foreign residents also subscribe to a complementary health insurance fund that pays the portion of medical bills not covered by social security.

If you live in a remote area of Greece that isn’t covered by a local IKA office, you’ll have to pay the cost of any medical treatment in advance and re-claim it from the nearest IKA office. However, the refund will be only a proportion of the cost (up to around 85 per cent) and you will be responsible for the balance. If you receive treatment under these circumstances, it’s necessary to obtain receipts and documentation in order to make a claim.

Pensioners who intend to take up residence in Greece and who are entitled to free medical treatment in the United Kingdom also enjoy this facility in Greece. They should produce their form E121, issued by their local Department of Health Office in the United Kingdom before moving to Greece, at their local IKA office 

Please remember, if we at the OGC can help you at all, it would be our pleasure. We talk to many people doing the same thing as you are planning to do so we pick up many personal recommendations as well as many very useful tips. Call the OGC Resource Team 0207 898 0549 - there is no cost or obligation to use our recommendations. You can also fill in this short form for an agent to help you with your property purchase or to find a professional for removals, legal services, finance or international payments: http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com/property.htm

Recommended Resource – A new blog that concerns the cost of your overseas property (or cost to emigrate)

I have exciting news about a new way that you can get current, updated educational articles about what the currency markets are doing.  Why should you care?  Well – if you’re going to emigrate or buy a property overseas you will most likely need to change your GBP into the local currency.  When doing this there are specific ways to save money and avoid risks…The new blog was specifically created to help educate people about how to go about those ‘ways’.

To view the recent monthly forecast on what the rates are doing and will be doing, check out:

http://smartcurrencyarticles.blogspot.com/2010/02/january-has-been-interesting-month-for.html

There you will find both a regular monthly newsletter and other articles that are aimed to educated the general public on avoiding exploitation by the banks. The information will give you a run down on what’s happening with the economy, both in the UK and worldwide, discussed in layman's terms that are both helpful and simple to understand. You will also find Charles Purdy’s conclusions as to whether now is a good time to buy, sell or hold tight on your euro or US dollar each month – Charles is the director of Smart Currency and has been dealing with currency, and indeed investing in property abroad himself, for many years.

Charles received a wonderful email from a gentleman named C. Scott recently.  It was in response to this monthly newsletter – that, and of course the wonderful service that Colin received when he actually used Smart to transfer his currency abroad.

Here’s what Colin had to say: 

Dear Charles,

Many thanks for your fact-full, monthly round-up of currency matters. After using SMART for my euro transfers during 2007, I can only reiterate my thanks to you and your professional colleagues, who not only saved me in excess of £14,000,(if converted via my bank!) but were absolutely spot in with the forward rates for the euro!!

I am now, after a few grey hairs and language barrier issues with Greek builders, the proud owner of a 4 bedroom monster stone house in a beautiful part of Crete! I cannot stress enough how safe and secure I felt with the knowledge that my hard earned savings were in such professional hands. I have just received a ticket to the exhibition "A Place in the Sun" at Earls Court, so if anyone asks me about currency transfer I shall be pointing them in Smart's direction!!

Many Thanks ...and kind regards

Colin.

If you haven't opened a Smart account yet it’s the number 1 recommendation that the OGC makes when it comes to saving money and avoiding unnecessary risks.  Call on freephone 0808 163 0102 (+44 0207 898 0541) or fill out the online Account Form at:
http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/applyOnline.aspx

OGC Resource Centres March Top Tip: Always Use a Solicitor

Speaking to our many readers on a regular basis as we at OGC do, it is not surprising that many of them eventually come to feel like close friends. I am in regular contact with one such couple and, over the years, I shared with them many of the highs and lows of buying a property abroad.

When I first spoke to them they had bought a home in Crete, with lovely views of the sea, and were excitedly planning regular visits accompanied by their grandchildren. You can imagine their horror when they visited their property as it neared completion only to discover that a block of flats had been erected in front of their home, totally obscuring their view. I must say I was utterly heartbroken on their behalf.

So…our recommended lawyer to the rescue! Sadly he found that the contract they had signed meant that they were locked into the purchase of the house – how I wished he had been able to look at this earlier…But he did check the rest of the contract to make sure all was well and then offered his services on an ongoing basis – they needed to use him for making out a Greek will for instance.

The story has a reasonably happy ending in that they have become accustomed to the house and plan to extend the patio – the grandchildren love it! The key point however is that it’s absolutely 100% necessary to get yourself a solicitor – no matter what country you’re buying in. Even if it’s not “normal procedure to use a solicitor”, you’ll want to make sure your money and assets are protected. If you need a recommendation, the OGC Resource Centre may have someone on our books in the area you plan to buy in.

The couple mentioned above sent this to me:

My wife and I would like to wish you all the very best in your venture into a new way of life with your family...I would also like to thank you and OGC for introducing me to Smart Currency who have been very helpful and as specially the lawyer who we can't thank enough for his invaluable professional help. We did ask him to accept payment for his advice but he politely refused so if you know of anything suitable as a gift his favourite tipple maybe!

Kindest Regards

Names withheld

Perhaps we can help you too?

Please contact the OGC Resources Team – you’ll get them on 0207 898 0549. You are under no obligation to use our recommendations and there is no cost involved.

Renting your holiday home out for some extra cash?

You may have bought a property abroad to stay yourself during holidays.  You may however from time to time consider renting it out. Here are a few vital tips to remember:

1. Think about employing someone to make sure the gardens and the pool are kept looking immaculate.  There is nothing more off-putting than a dirty pool and a messy garden.  You will need to factor in an extra cost for someone to keep on top of maintenance if you are not there to do it yourself.

2. It is essential that bathrooms and kitchens are clean and well stocked. Inexpensive and easy to replace cutlery, crockery and glassware are essential in the kitchen plus toilet paper and towels in the bathroom.

3. If your property is suitable for families, most now expect there to be a washing machine - and a dishwasher is necessary too. Would you want to spend half your time washing by hand or washing up after each meal when on holiday?

4. Get a decent kitchen stove. My preference is for an electric stove – people can’t leave the gas on and cause an explosion.

5. When renting out, remove all objects that are precious to you. Trust me, they will be the things that get broken first – sod’s law! Many people put a lock on a cupboard or a loft and put all valuables safely hidden away.

6. Furniture should be strong, solid and robust.  Ikea type is great, but ‘cheap as chips’ will probably turn out to be false economy.

7. You know how many people can stay in the house – in fact, when you rent it out you will no doubt specify this. Make sure there are enough chairs, crockery etc for the number of people that will be renting.

8. Spend a little extra on strong, firm yet comfortable mattresses. There is nothing like a really good, comfortable night’s sleep to make someone hasten to return or to recommend your property to friends and family.

9. Create an area and attractions guide. You’ll want to map out where the best pubs and restaurants are plus all the unmissable walks…This is just the sort of thing that makes people return time after time.

10. Throw in a welcome pack for each visitor; supply basic essentials like milk and bread together with some details of nearby shops, doctors, garages etc. Adding a bottle of the local wine cost very little but it will really endear you to your guest! (Letting agents will do this for you in you are not around)

11. You need to make sure that you are fully insured for visitors in your rental property. This is an absolute must.

12. Always ask for testimonials and feedback. That way you can correct any shortcomings and promote you property to prospective renters.

If you want a home with these qualities already built in, then I suggest you run them by your estate agent from the beginning of your search if you have not yet bought. And if you need any help – with estate agents, IFAs, insurance brokers or suchlike just call the OGC Resource Team 0207 898 0549 - there is no cost or obligation to use our recommendations.

Protection for you and your Overseas Property

Let’s face it, there has been a real backlash against having your money in the bank, and even pension schemes no longer give the security they once did. More and more people are turning to the tried and tested option of property – more specifically, property abroad. Property in the UK is an expensive commodity and, looking around, it becomes clear that you can get far more for value for money outside the UK.

So far so good, but buying abroad brings its own set of problems, and one of them is insurance. Good insurance is absolutely essential, both if you are living in your new home on a permanent basis or if you are only holidaying there. Add to the mix the fact that you may be renting it out and it has the potential of becoming a bit of a nightmare.

But you can relax…we have the name of an excellent UK company that specialises in insuring homes abroad. First recommended to us by one happy OGC reader and then another and another. I’m sure we’ve now received hundreds of recommendations to this same company. Not only that, but all policies, claims etc are in English – for me that is absolutely vital.

TO find out more information, simply follow the link below and fill out the short quote form. It will take 2 minutes and you are never under any obligation to use the service.

Come and collect your Full Version FREE Emigration Guide

We at the Overseas Guides Company would love to meet you personally – it’s great to put a face to the many people that we talk to on the phone every day. We will be at stand 94 of the Emigrate Show at Sandown Park in London on the 6-7 March – why not come and chat to us about your plans to emigrate or to buy a property abroad?

We will be handing out our newly published Emigration Guide for free (normally £12.97) to the first 100 lucky visitors to our stand. (For a full low down of what can be found in the new Guide go to: http://www.emigrationguide.com)

It is reckoned that last year over 200,000 skilled workers and professionals left the UK for pastures new and for years we have been working to ensure that such a move is a well researched, safe and happy one. Many are the pitfalls that await the unwary and that’s what we hope to save you from: unprofessional, less that trustworthy people who may not have your best interests at heart.

From years of chatting to people who have successfully done what you plan to do, and indeed in many cases having done the same thing ourselves, we are in a position to support you with recommendations and assistance. There is no cost and you are under no obligation to accept our recommendations but you never know – it may just prove the best decision you ever made.

Subject to final confirmation, on each day there are expected to be about 20 presentations given by migration experts on the various destinations, so it really should be very interesting.
Every visitor is entitled to a free copy of the Emigrate annual publication and Show Guide.

I have a number of tickets to give away – the tickets are usually priced at £12 so it’s quite a saving. They are available on a first come first served basis, with maximum 2 tickets per person. Give the OGC Resource Centre a call on 0207 89 80549 and I will post them to you.

All Greek to me

There is no doubt about it:  if you can speak a few words (or preferably more!) of Greek it really is the way to people’s hearts.  It’s not an easy language but if you are planning on spending time in the country the benefits are enormous.  I think you will agree that the most enchanting thing about Greece is the people:  their friendliness, their attitude to family and the way that you are immediately welcomes as a long lost friend…To repay this by answering in their own language would be a gift that they would really appreciate.

Did you know that you can actually get free Greek lessons if you come from an EU country? Yes, you read that correctly – free! The EU funds a scheme in Greece for immigrants to learn Greek. These classes are totally free, and from what I have seen, they would appear to be even better than a number that you actually have to pay for.  You also get free materials and study supplements with the course.

Have a look at http://livingingreece.gr/2007/05/13/free-greek-language-lessons/   where you will find a list of where these courses are offered.  There are a number of locations on the mainland and also on Crete, Corfu, Kefalonia, Rhodes…you name it.  The only problem seems to be that numbers are limited so you may need to put your name on a waiting list.

I would love to hear from you about this:  do call me or the OGC Resource Centre on 0207 898 0549 and let us know how you got on here…The team is always happy to chat about your plans in Greece too and may be able to help in some way.  Years of talking to people about moving to Greece means we have a number of really reliable folk who come highly recommended by other readers and who may be of assistance to you – estate agents, developers, lawyers, IFAs etc. Fill in this short form and we will call you:
http://www.GreeceBuyingGuide.com/resources.htm

Securing an EOT licence

This is an email I received from a Greece Buying Guide reader:

Hi, We are in the process of purchasing land in Corfu. Pre-contracts were signed about 12 weeks ago, we have not signed the final contracts yet. We made it clear from the beginning that we wanted to build a 3-bedroom villa that we HAD to rent out in order to cover some of our costs.

We were aware of the EOT licence required to rent out, but it was several weeks later that we discovered we would be unable to get this licence because in order to access our land we would have to cross the neighbours land & one of the EOT rules are that you cannot have shared access to your property.

My question is - do you think that the estate agent should have alerted us to this rule before we agreed to purchase, knowing that we wished to rent out & do you think the land was miss-sold to us? We are in the position now of maybe pulling out & possibly losing our 10% deposit plus cost to our lawyer.

Your guide is excellent – thank you.
Sara

What ever the outcome is here, it is a wake up call to look at exactly what the EOT licence requirements are if you want to rent your property out. It may perhaps have been possible to insert a clause that stated that the sale was dependent on an EOT licence being granted? Just an idea…

I hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day!

That’s it for another month. I hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day and that you showed the one you love how much you care! I know that these holidays sometimes seem purely commercial. Perhaps it’s the romantic in me, but I see them as an opportunity to show that you DO care…and why not I say! Here is a lovely email I received a short while ago – I end on this happy note:

 
'Hello - my name is Donna and I have been fortunate enough to be on your newsletter e-mail list for a short period of time. In my "subject" box up top, I put "You ROCK" and in the States that means you are super terrific!

At this point I am not sure how I found you but I am enjoying your supremely informative newsletters. I want you to know how wonderful your service is and to compliment you on presenting topics that many of us, who want to better ourselves and then others, can read and use to plant a "brain seed". Thank you and your entire staff for the hope and dreams you allow.'

 
Kindest regards,

Karolina!

Carol Dunning
Greece Buying Guide Advisor
The Overseas Guides Company Limited.

Phone 0207 898 0549
Greece@overseasguidescompany.com
1, Lyric Square,
LondonW6 0NB