Rethymnon, Rethymnon, Crete, Greece

The charming ''Elia villa'' (Elia, meaning olive tree) is located at the equally charming Prinos village, just 17 kl. from the Venetian charm Rethymnon city, by the sea and almost the same distance from Heraklion and its present airport or the new Kastelli airport, scheduled for 2027, further to the East of Heraklion. A major point is that Prinos or just 500 metres away from the wonderful, long and sandy Scaletta Beach.

The villa is relatively new, built in 2010 and therefore compliant to the latest anti-earthquake Greek regulations, which are amongst the more stringent in the world. The architecture is contemporary, but incorporates traditional features, such as the arches, ''partitioning'' visually the various section of the open-living, without interrupting the natural flow, but just giving its interior a feeling and a ''rustique'' look, offering, in the same time, all the modern fixtures and convenience of an open-plan layout.

There is an open-fire fireplace, worming the very few winter days, making indoor living very cosy. Some of the walls are rendered, but a few are exposed-stone walls, the floor is marble, of a travertino look, while its double glazed garden doors (one byfolding), open directly to the pergola patios, laid with ceramic tiles and the lawn and the swimming pool. The ideal surrounding for al fresco living and dining. The pergolas are shaded by canvas interlacing with the pergola rafters, but the can easily covered by more permanent materials.

The garden is entered from the street by a truly charming old-fashion laced iron garden door, surrounded by plants, bushes and bougainvilleas, while offering parking space for a car. The garden is laid to lawn, with bushes and plants at its edges, reached via terrazzo-like paved paths, easy to clean and maintain and it incorporates a traditional built BBQ. The 42 m2 pool in the middle of the garden, is easily accessed from the main patio of the villa. In all, a delightful surrounding to live and relax.

The open plan ground floor incorporates a modern fully equipped kitchen, a dinning table for up to six (6) diners, not too big, but in Crete, most of breakfast, lunches and dinners, one has al fresco. The living room is centred on the traditional open fire fireplace, the entire space opening directly to the garden, and its two pergolas, one for each, morning or afternoon catching the sun or sheltered from it.

One of the three bedrooms ( all double, with plenty of storage) is located on this ground floor, with direct access to the garden and the use of the shower room, next to it, also serving as the guests' rest room. The present showering space with a curtain, could of course be replaced with a proper shower cabin, easily installed.

On the first floor, accessed via an internal staircase, are the other two large bedrooms, both with natural wooden floors and both with access to their private balconies, with wonderful views. They are served by the large family bath tub bathroom, which is fully tiled. The roof of the villa, above these two bedrooms, is covered by traditional ceramic tiles, enhancing the coolness of the slipping quarters. Of course all bedrooms, as well as the open plan living, are air conditioned.

All in all, a modern, easily maintained and easy to clean home, ideal for relaxing and no-worries living, free to enjoy the beaches, the tavernas, the culture and the legendary warm friendliness of the Cretans, amid the lovely warm weather, pleasantly cooled by the Mediterranean breezes.

Renting your new Home In The Sun just for a few months each year - Crete having a 10-month season, as an AirBnB type rental, just for a few months each year - Crete having a 10-month full tourism season - you could able to repay your mortgage effortlessly while your property gains value every year passing.

All about the Greek Residency Visas

Relocating and residing in an EU country, bathed in sunlight and blessed with superb clean sea-beaches and worm climate, like Greece and being able to travel all over the EU unencumbered, is a wish of many, but it is not a free option of all who wish it. EU member countries' nationals can do just this, as well as engaging in any form of business activities, while residing in Greece.

For non-EU member countries' nationals, residing in Greece is less free, requiring a Residency Visa, such as;
* a Greek Golden Visa (GGV) of a 5-year duration, allowing access to the Schengen Area, obtained via an investment of a sum, from � 250K, to � 400K or � 800K - it is worth noting, that there are still, some - very few - remaining Greek Golden Visas, for � 250,000, in Athens, as well as, a few others for � 400,000, in very desirable country locations,
* a Greek FIPs (Financially Independent Person's) Visa, obtained by supplying proof of a monthly secure income (for example a pension of same amount) of at least � 3,500 per applicant, plus 15% for ones' spouse, of 3-year duration, allowing access to the Schengen Area,
* a Greek DM (Digital Migrants) Visa of 2-year duration, obtained by supplying information of ones' business or services derived income, allowing access to the Schengen Area.
Obtaining any of these three types of Greek Residency Visas, is perfectly possible and easily done, digitally by yourself or, as we strongly suggest, under expert guidance, provided locally by professionals, THALATTA.homes could introduce you to.

For Greek Residency Visas, please visit our site or go directly to the appropriate section,

Engaging in Businessing while a Greek Residency Visa holder

Having a Greek residency Visa does not automatically, enable one to engage in doing business in Greece (unless of course, one is a national of an EU member countries), but anyone, almost of any nationality, can do just that, through a Greek company, belonging to him personally or via a company of his, such as a UK registered LLC. Such a Greek company would be treated as any other Greek company, taxed at 22%, but equally so, being able to benefit from a multitude of EU and Greek Government support programs and subsidies.

For information regarding engaging in business in Greece, please visit our site or, even better, go directly to the appropriate section, businessing/

Mortgage of up to 65% of the value of this property,  at 2.4% per annum, on a typical duration, is available for non-Greek nationals and non-Greek residents, applicants to any of the systemic and members of the ECB (European Central Bank) EuroSystem. THALATTA.homes would be happy to introduce you to - Bank of Greece (ECB EuroSystem) - licenced Mortgage Brokers and facilitate your application, at no charge, as part of our standard service.

In Greece, it is common, unfortunate, practice that estate agents would attempt to receive commissions from both the seller and the buyer, something that most people and certainly TTUK, would consider a serious conflict of interest. Some may even often suggest that you use the same lawyer as the seller (''to save money and time'') and (even worst) to use the same Notary Public. TTUK, a UK company and its UK-bread directors act and will act exclusively as Buyer's Agents, i.e. would be looking after the interests of their clients - in this instance, the buyers.

All you would have to do, as it is your legal right, is to inform a seller's agent, that you intent to engage a buyer's agent and that your agent (TTUK, if you would so decide), would contact them to handle the process on your behalf. Alternatively, you could ask us to perform this task - and we would oblige readily. Most estate agents, would accept it and agree. A refusal would betray bad faith, in most people's opinion.

Please, connect to arrange a TEAMS meeting.