The SaronicNet Insider's Guide to Real Estate in Hydra

The SaronicNet Insider's Guide to Real Estate in Hydra presents all the in's and out's of selling, buying, building and owning a home on Hydra, and goes into minute detail to help you to understand all aspects of property ownership.

Packed with useful information - must know facts, answers to frequently asked questions, contact details and directions for all organisations you might need and even references from the clients of builders and tradesmen - our Insider's Guide is printed and given by us EXCLUSIVELY to our own buyer clients. We even include sections for you to complete with your vital information and emergency contact names and numbers, so it's all handy in one convenient book. It is not available to the general public or on the internet.

The content is a distillation of years of observation and experience. Every house sale on Hydra has its little quirks, problems and differences - without naming names, pointing fingers or making slanderous statements, we have used our inside knowledge to compile our Insider's Guide for our clients which we hope will help them to avoid trouble, stress and disappointment and in the long run save them money.

Below is a small, random selection of some of the topics included;

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
What do people mean when they say "it's the normal thing to do in Hydra" instead of "it's the legal thing to do in Hydra"?
Rumours, myths, "how it used to be done" type of statements, scams and down-right untruths dispelled - understand what's what before you walk into a mess that as a home owner you'll end up being responsible for. It's no good crying that no one told you!
What do you need to have in order to buy a property in Greece? And what you must have in the future if you sell it.
The laws in Greece have changed/been updated a lot in recent years - going from what fifty years ago was basically a cash society to one that now complies to new Greek and EU laws has been a BIG change. Understanding where Greece has come from, will help you to understand some of the idiosyncrasies that might trip you up.
What is Black Money?
Getting a bank loan/mortgage to buy a property or pay for building work.
Know what declarations you are legally obliged to submit, and when, to avoid court appearances and fines.
What documents, statements, papers and receipts you absolutely must keep - FOREVER.
Proving where you got the money from to buy your property.
What's the real law about swimming pools in Hydra? When are they legal or not and how can you easily tell.
What should you do immediately after first taking possession of your new property?
What's the difference between Objective Value, Selling Price, Tax Value and Contract Value and which value are you supposed to pay tax on?
Does the seller have to pay capital gains tax?
Why do some properties have more living space than is shown on the plans?
What happens with rubbish collection? - where, when, what time - fines!
How come you have to use bins in WC and can't just flush even though you've got a new property.
Getting insurance - for both property and health.
Who enforces the law?
Why do some people say it costs €400 to change the electricity bill into your name but some people only pay €40?
What about home owners rights to vote in local municipal elections?
Who will protect your house if you're not on Hydra and there's a fire on the island?
How is community tax charged and paid for?
What happens if your electricity bill shows less square meters than the real square meters of your property?
Do you have to have planning permission to build?
Do you have to pay annual tax?
New building - Who is supposed to pay VAT (ΦΠΑ)?
New building - Who is supposed to pay EKA or TEBE - come to that what are they?
Why do some seller's get paid with two banker's drafts?
How do you tell whether the builder, electrician, plumber or workman is qualified and professional?
Why is it important that you get invoices and receipts in a timely manner?
The 50:50 ratio law within the town boundaries. How much can you build outside the town boundaries?
Reserved for forestry?
Why are there so many ramshackle, badly constructed and flimsy add-ons to properties and shelters for donkeys?
What's the role of the Poledomea?
How can you tell if the invoice or receipt you are given is correct and acceptable to the authorities?
Getting locks changed.
Earthquakes?
Getting phone line and internet connections.
Architects, surveyors and project managers - finding reliable ones and what to ask them for.
Water connection.
What are the declarations A1 and E9. When you should have them and who should you give them to.
What is an AFM (ΑΦΜ), how do you get one and what is it used for.
If you employ someone you are supposed to pay EKA for them.
Inheritance laws and when inheritance tax should be paid - what happens if the tax isn't paid.
Law of possession.
Squatters rights.
It's all Greek to me - do you need language lessons? Getting translations.
Why do some people just dump broken down fridges/freezers/cookers and waste building material in unsuitable/inconsiderate places?
Satellite dishes are illegal.
The island of Hydra is preserved as a national monument - What impact does this have on property owners?
What departments have to give their permission if you want a building permit - and what are the rules?
Can a property owner do the work themselves?
Getting supplies, household goods and deliveries to the island.
Getting your property cleared of rubbish.
Where does the rubbish go?
Making an income from your property.
What sort of crime is there on the island?
Paying tax on income from property.
Getting quotes or fixed prices for building.
Getting guarantees for building work.
Who can you complain to if something goes wrong?
Should you try to clean up municipal land near your property yourself?
Barking dogs and badly parked donkeys - what can you do if their a nuisance?
Hydra is a very small community, which can be a double-edged sword.
Everyone has a different opinion, point of view or personal preference, whose advice do you take?
Siesta time.
The pro's and con's of keeping a boat in Hydra.
Noise nuisance.
Solar panels are illegal.
Air-Conditioning units are supposed to be illegal so how come everyone's got them?
Looking after your property if you're not on Hydra.
Gardening.
Rats, cockroaches, ants & flying things - pests and how to avoid them.
Using non-local trades and services - the advantages and disadvantages.

The random list of subjects above is not the full content of our Insider's Guide. Our guide is copyright protected. As of 1st March 2008 all of our new buyer clients are given a copy which is personalised with their name and an issue number. The Insider's Guide is exclusively for their use only and when they sign for it, the buyer agrees to keep it secure, not to pass it on, copy it or allow it to be transmitted or used by anyone else in part or all. SaronicNet keeps a distribution list. The cost of this publication is included in our fee and not charged as an extra. We do not undertake to update back issues with changes in the law, contact details or circumstances or additional information that we may from time to time update the guide with as part of the on-going development of our product.