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.

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.

All about the Greek Golden Visa (GGV)

Often, people thinking of relocating to Greece, desire to be able to reside ‘’permanently’’ or at least to be free to reside unencumberly and at their desired times of the year. 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 it is less free, requiring a Residency Visa (not necessarily a Golden Visa, which is usually pricy), obtaining which is perfectly possible and easily done. In Greece, there are four (4) types of Residency Visas, the Golden Visas often discussed more in the public domain. Please read through.

Types of Greek Residency Visas

1. The Greek Golden Visa (GGV), of five (5) year duration, renewable, for you and your family and free access to the Schengen-Area, which require either investing in a real estate property to live in, but not use as a business asset, engaging in tourism or other businesses. They are expensive, requiring a property investment of € 800K for most places, over 3,150 permanent Greek inhabitants or € 400K, for less popular locations or, in very few cases, investing € 250K, in a special type of hospitality asset, which cannot be lived in by the investing person or his family, but generating a secure income of 4% annually.
2. The FIP (Financially Independent Persons) Greek Visa, aimed at non-EU citizens, (like Britons, as well as other nationalities of similar circumstances), allowing long-term (presently 3-year, renewable) residency, but strictly without permission of working in Greece, for you and your family, but with free access to the Schengen-Area,. To qualify in 2025, applicants generally need to demonstrate a stable monthly passive income, typically a pension, of at least €3,500 per month, which increases for spouses and dependent children, as well as, proof of health insurance and accommodation in Greece.
3. The Digital Migrants’ Greek Visa, is a two (2) year, renewable, residence visa, aimed at salary employed or self-employed people, working digitally across the Globe, while reside in Greece and while having full access to the Schengen Area EU countries. Applicants’ families would enjoy the same privileges, for as long as they satisfy the criteria applied for an FIP (Financially Independent Persons) Greek Visa. The application are made strictly at Greek Consulates in the applicants’ country, strictly digitally or via registered post. EU, EEA or Swiss citizens, don’t have to have a Digital Migrants visa, as they have this right, by EU regulations.

None of these Greek Visas would allow the holders of any of these visas to engage in business in Greece. However, as per international and EU rules, as well as Greek Law, anyone’s non-Greek company, for example a typical off-the-shelf UK Ltd. company, can register and own a Greek company, with all the privileges of Greek companies within the EU and the world. We must, nevertheless, strenuously advise you to seek proper legal advise and financial consult.

TTUK, would be happy to introduce you to a number of often international legal practices specialising in Greek Visas and will facilitate you in dealing comfortably with all consultants or authorities in Greece.

Please, connect to arrange a TEAMS meeting.

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Prinos village, with about 200 permanent inhabitants, is located on the Greek island of Crete and it is part of the municipality of Arkadi. Arkadi town, is named after the famous Monastery of Arkadi or Arkadion, honouring a Saint Arcadious, built in Roman times. The monastery has a very special position in Cretan collective memory, because, the monastery having been the last stand and refuse of the revolting Cretans and their families, during the last Ottoman decades, was blown-up by the Cretans themselves, killing all hundreds of women, children and fighters, rathe than fall in the hands of the Ottomans.

There are also many late-Byzantine churches in Prinos village, as well as in the extended area, as well as, a memorial museum of the Second World War, honouring the many Cretans, Greeks and Allies (British and New Zealanders), who fought the Nazis during the second world war.

However, the most attractive aspect for visitors and residents of Prinos village is the 12 km long sandy beach, just a few hundred metres away, stretching from the rocks of Scaletta to the Venetian port of Rethymnon in the East. Incidentally, the Scaletta beach is one of the most important Mediterranean refuges of the careta-careta turtle.

Living in Prinos, means that you could swim every day and maybe twice a day in this beautiful beach, while very close by there are tavernas, several shops and a mini market staying open long hours.