Filenews 17 February 2026 - by Vassos Vassiliou
Turkish, Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot intermediaries are active in the sale of real estate in Karpasia, with the phenomenon on the rise recently.
A government source, with whom we contacted, confirmed to "F" the increase in the sale of real estate in Karpasia. The same source expressed concern about what is happening, as well as disappointment at the fact that those who are active in the sale of Greek Cypriot properties are facilitated by Greek Cypriots.
He further clarified that the number of Greek Cypriots who engage in the above activity is not large, although as he noted, not many are needed for these transactions. At the same time, he clarified that since the purchases and sales are not declared normally, the Land Registry Department is not in a position to know which properties are changing hands.
The government source said that the increase in sales that seems to have been observed lately, to some extent is related to the fact that the original owners are gradually passing away. Some descendants of the beneficiaries (children or grandchildren) who have emigrated in the meantime and to whom the properties were transferred, may not even know where their property is, so when approached it is easier for them to be interested in selling it having cut off all contact.
When asked about this, the same source said that "Turkish Cypriot lawyers, Turkish brokers are mainly active in the issue of real estate sales in the occupied territories".
As he explained, the above are launching the procedures by urging owners to sell their property based on the regime prevailing in the so-called cadastre of the pseudo-state.
The tactic they follow is to approach the heirs and test them as to whether they are willing to sell the property that was transferred to them, indicating that they will never take it anyway or that it will grow, in which case they will lose it again, and so on.
If the heirs "bite" and enter the process of selling their property, they are asked to certify with certificates that the plots they inherited have indeed been transferred through the Land Registry of the Republic of Cyprus. After the certificates (title deed) are presented, the so-called land registry accepts them and proceeds to complete the sale deed to the Turkish settler or other interested party.
In fact, according to information, transactions with the owners who reside in Britain are made with pounds, which was also forwarded, as information, to competent persons.
Similar methods are followed with heirs of the original owners residing in the free areas. It is noted that these acts are not related to those who choose to sell their properties by resorting to the so-called "real estate committee" of the occupied territories but concern transactions beyond it.
When the act concerns a private transaction, the ring found a way to infiltrate the data of property owners, who are approached and offered to sell their properties to settlers or Turks in general, who may not even live in the occupied territories but are interested in investing in real estate.
One of the arguments they employ is the following: Instead of turning to the "real estate committee" and getting 10% of the value of your property, as it was estimated in 1974, there is an interested party and we will make sure that you secure a better price."
In order for the act to proceed, either the owner will present the title deed from the Land Registry of the Republic of Cyprus, which of course is not in a position to know why the title deed is requested. Alternatively, the Turkish Cypriot lawyer undertakes to certify that he has checked the documents of the Republic of Cyprus and that he has confirmed that the heir is the legal owner.
Another aspect that concerns concerns the fact that while some are trapped and receive financial assistance from the Republic of Cyprus, at the same time they play an important role in the sale of real estate of Greek Cypriots in the trapped villages. This aspect may be properly examined.
