The biggest one remains relying on the seller’s lawyer. The seller is paid on completion, which is a different interest than acting for you. An independent lawyer costs a modest share of the price and is money well spent.
Signing in a language you do not speak is nearly as costly. A certified translation is inexpensive compared with what is at stake. Verbal assurances carry no weight if the written contract says otherwise — the document governs.
Buying off-plan without checking the developer has damaged plenty of plans. Before paying anything, look at the developer’s completed projects, the construction licences, hersonissos real estate and whether payments are held in escrow. Late deliveries are common even in good markets; abandoned sites are the exception but genuinely ruinous.
Ignoring the exit is a quieter mistake. A home bought abroad will eventually be sold, houses for sale in northern cyprus and the pool of future buyers determines the price. A home that only appeals to foreign buyers sells slowly in a weak market.
Lastly, many buyers fail to plan for the ongoing obligations. Tax filings can be required regardless of whether the buy property in kestel earns anything, and overlooked notices attract penalties that grow over time. Putting in place a local tax adviser from the start heads off most of these problems.