Selling an apartment in South Cyprus is a process that requires careful preparation, compliance with local laws, and taking into account the peculiarities of the real estate market. In this article, we will describe in detail the step-by-step algorithm for selling an apartment in the Republic of Cyprus if you are an individual. Our guide includes legal, financial, and practical aspects of the issue — everything so that you can carry out the transaction safely and efficiently.

Contents:

  1. Preparing for Sale
    1. Market Value Assessment of an Apartment
    2. Preparing an Apartment for Sale
    3. Legal Due Diligence Check
  2. Find a buyer
    1. Listing on Realting.com for a Fast and Efficient Sale
    2. Creating an Attractive Ad
    3. Negotiations with Buyers
  3. Preparation of documents and legal support
    1. The Role of a Lawyer
    2. Preliminary Agreement
  4. Financial Stage
    1. Taxes and Fees
  5. Concluding the Deal and Registration
  6. Additional Recommendations
    1. Distance Selling
    2. Working with Illiquid Real Estate
  7. Let’s Sum It Up

Preparing for Sale

Before putting an apartment up for sale, it is necessary to determine its market value. In Cyprus, real estate prices depend on many factors: location (Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca, Nicosia), proximity to the sea, the condition of the property, infrastructure and current demand.

Market Value Assessment of an Apartment

In 2025, the average cost of apartments in Southern Cyprus is around €250,000—€330,000, with Limassol as the most expensive region (up to €4,330 per m² in the centre) and Paphos or Larnaca as more affordable (around €2,000—€2,600 per m²).

What needs to be done:

  • Consult a professional real estate appraiser or realtor to obtain an accurate valuation.
  • Research the market: look at similar properties on the websites of local agencies and aggregators.
  • Consider the unique characteristics of your apartment (sea view, floor, presence of a swimming pool, new building or secondary housing).

Preparing an Apartment for Sale

To increase the attractiveness of the property, pay attention to its condition:

  • Carry out cosmetic repairs if necessary (for example, painting walls, eliminating minor defects).
  • Take professional photographs with good lighting, highlighting the advantages of the apartment (view from the window, spacious rooms, terrace).
  • Remove personal items so the buyer can imagine themselves in the space.
  • If the apartment is considered “illiquid” (for example, on the ground floor or without a sea view), think about how to highlight its advantages: convenience for families with children, coolness in the summer or a unique layout.

Legal purity of the property is a key link in a successful sale. Buyers in Cyprus, especially foreign ones, carefully check the documents.

What to check:

  • Title Deed: make sure you have a Title Deed. If the apartment was purchased from a developer and the Title Deed has not yet been issued, this may complicate the transaction.
  • No encumbrances: check if there are any mortgages, liens or other restrictions on the property. A lawyer can do this.
  • Utility payments: pay off all outstanding utility bills and obtain a certificate of no debt from the management company.
  • Construction permits: make sure the developer has all the necessary permits, especially if it is a new building.

Recommendation: hire a lawyer who specializes in real estate. In Cyprus, lawyers play an important role in transactions, checking documents and protecting your interests.

Find a buyer

An individual can sell an apartment independently or through a real estate agency. Each option has its pros and cons:

Independent sale:

  • Pros: savings on realtor commission (usually 3–5% of the property value).
  • Disadvantages: requires more time and market knowledge, more difficult to attract foreign buyers.

Sales through an agency:

  • Pros: access to a wide base of buyers, including foreigners (40% of transactions in Cyprus are made with foreigners), professional advertising and support.
  • Cons: agency commission.
  • It is better to choose a licensed agency registered with the Cyprus Realtors Association.

Listing on Realting.com for a Fast and Efficient Sale

One of the most effective ways to sell an apartment in South Cyprus on your own is to use the international platform Realting.com. This platform, which ranks first in overseas real estate, allows individuals (FSBO — For Sale By Owner) to post ads for the sale of real estate, attracting buyers from at least 85 countries.

Realting.com offers convenient tools and flexible rates for effective selling. You can place your ads for a month for only €10. You can also take advantage of various options for promoting and raising your ads. You can read more about the terms on the official page with advertising opportunities.

Recommendations:

  • Use “TOP” (€20—€60) or “Feed” (€15—€50) for the mid-price category, banner, or advertising articles for the elite ones.
  • Update your ad via “UP” (€10—€30) for constant visibility.

Why choose Realting.com? Realting.com is a leader in the foreign real estate sector with 293,396 properties and an audience from 85 countries. Flexible rates allow individuals to effectively promote an apartment without intermediaries. Reviews from clients such as MD Realty (Montenegro) and Keller Williams (Poland) confirm the success of sales through the platform, especially for international transactions. For example, MD Realty attracted clients from Germany and Poland, and Duna House (Hungary) successfully closes deals with buyers from the CIS without their personal presence.

Creating an Attractive Ad

Please indicate key characteristics: area, number of bedrooms, distance to the sea, availability of infrastructure (swimming pool, parking).

Highlight the advantages of the area (for example, Limassol is a business center, Paphos is a quiet resort).

Specify that the apartment is suitable for investment (renting) or obtaining permanent residence (if the price is from €300,000).

Negotiations with Buyers

Be prepared to negotiate. In Cyprus, buyers often ask for a discount, especially if the apartment is for resale.

If a buyer is interested, agree to pay a deposit (usually €1,000—€5,000) to take the property off the market.

Our company’s news and insights
Subscribe

To sell an apartment in South Cyprus, you will need the following documents:

  • Title Deed: the main document confirming your right to sell.
  • Certificate of absence of debts: from the management company or the communal committee.
  • Seller’s passport: copy for identification.
  • Power of attorney (if necessary): if you cannot personally participate in the transaction, issue a notarized power of attorney to a lawyer. A power of attorney signed abroad must be apostilled.
  • Purchase and sale agreement: It will be prepared by a lawyer, indicating the cost, terms, and conditions of the transaction.

The Role of a Lawyer

In Cyprus, a lawyer is required to check the legal purity of the transaction and prepare the contract. He:

  • Checks for the absence of encumbrances and the legality of construction.
  • Draws up a sales contract in English and, if necessary, in Russian.
  • Accompanies the registration of the transaction in the Land Registry.

The cost of a lawyer’s services is approximately €1000—€2000, depending on the complexity of the transaction.

Preliminary Agreement

After the deposit has been made, the buyer signs a preliminary agreement, which specifies:

  • Cost of the apartment.
  • Payment terms (e.g., full payment or installment payment).
  • Terms of transfer of ownership rights.
  • Responsibility of the parties.

Financial Stage

Secure payment methods popular in Cyprus:

  • Escrow account: the buyer transfers the money to the account of a notary or lawyer, who freezes it until the transaction is completed. After the transfer of ownership is registered, the money is transferred to the seller.
  • Bank Letter of Credit: a non-cash account, which the seller receives access to after registering the transaction with the Land Department.
  • Cash payments: less common due to risks, but possible for small amounts. Money is checked for authenticity at the bank.

Taxes and Fees

As a seller, you are required to pay the following taxes:

  • Capital gains tax: 20% of the profit (the difference between the purchase and sale price minus the acquisition costs, renovation, and taxes). Example: bought an apartment for €200,000, sold it for €250,000, and renovation costs were €10,000. Profit = €250,000—€200,000 — €10,000 = €40,000. Tax = €40,000 × 20% = €8,000.
  • Stamp duty: paid by the buyer (0.15-0.2% of the property value), but the seller must ensure that this fee is taken into account.
  • Utility payments: make sure all invoices are paid to avoid claims from the buyer.

coast of Cyprus

Concluding the Deal and Registration

After all the terms have been agreed upon, the lawyer prepares the final purchase and sale agreement. The signing can take place:

  • At the office of a lawyer or notary.
  • At the bank, if secure payment services are used.
  • Remotely, using an enhanced electronic signature (UES), if the parties are located in different countries.

Next comes registration at the Land Department:

  • The lawyer submits documents to the Land Registry to register the transfer of ownership.
  • Once registered, the buyer becomes the new owner and the seller gains access to the money in the escrow account or letter of credit.

Once all formalities are completed and full payment has been made, you hand over the keys to the buyer. If the apartment was rented, make sure that the tenants are notified of the sale and their rights are respected.

Additional Recommendations

Around 40% of transactions in Cyprus are concluded with foreigners, who are often looking for property for permanent residence or investment. Emphasize that the purchase of your apartment can give the right to permanent residence at a cost of €300,000.

Demand for apartments under €250,000 is growing, especially in Limassol, Paphos, and Nicosia. If your apartment is in this price range, it will make selling easier.

If the apartment was purchased from a developer who went bankrupt or there are Title Deed disputes, this may scare off buyers. Make sure the documents are in order.

Distance Selling

If you are abroad, you can conduct the transaction remotely:

  • Issue a power of attorney to a lawyer to represent your interests.
  • Use an enhanced electronic signature to sign documents.
  • Money is transferred through an escrow account, which minimizes risks.

Working with Illiquid Real Estate

If the apartment is difficult to sell (for example, the first floor, distance from the sea), use the following life hacks:

  • Reduce your price by 5-10% below the market price.
  • Offer bonuses, such as including furniture or appliances in the price.
  • Highlight unique benefits (quiet, family-friendly).

Let’s Sum It Up

Selling an apartment in South Cyprus is a process that requires careful preparation, due diligence, and competent interaction with buyers. The main steps include valuation, document preparation, finding a buyer, signing the contract, and registering the transaction with the Land Department. Placing an ad on Realting.com using flexible rates allows individuals to effectively attract international buyers, minimizing costs and speeding up the sales process. Working with a lawyer and using secure payments (escrow or letter of credit) minimizes risks.