| Sharm El Sheikh is a place like no other and year on | | | | you will find your gem that’s just waiting to be |
| year many people choose Naama Bay, as their | | | | discovered. |
| preferred holiday retreat. People often sing the | | | | Now, it would be nice to finish here and say that |
| praises of the Red Sea as their preferred holiday | | | | everything will run smoothly and your decision to |
| destination which not only offers adventure, but | | | | purchase your dream home in the Egyptian sun will |
| fascinating surroundings, history and of course, | | | | not come back to bite you in the derriere, well, |
| endless sun. | | | | I’m sure it won’t, as long as you do your |
| If you’ve never visited Sharm El Sheikh before, | | | | research. Make sure you source information on a |
| much less Egypt, you may be relying entirely on | | | | reputable solicitor whilst in Egypt. Most agents and |
| comments and feedback from others that had. To | | | | developers offer the services of their own in-house |
| many, it’s the perfect place to own a holiday | | | | lawyer, but I’d strongly recommend that you |
| home: Sun all year round, quad biking, wind and kite | | | | find one that is independent and who will offer you |
| surfing, jet skiing, some of the worlds best known | | | | unbiased advice. The Egyptian Embassy can also |
| diving sites with an abundance of marine life. There | | | | provide you with a list of lawyers, which they have |
| are also many locations in Egypt, which are easily | | | | registered with them. Be aware, Egyptians tend to |
| accessible from Sharm El Sheikh, such as Cairo’s | | | | have a very laid back or even somewhat lackluster |
| Pyramids, St Catherine’s Monastery, The Nile, | | | | approach when dealing with matters we may |
| Luxor and so much more. | | | | consider the up most importance. So whatever the |
| It’s quite exciting to arrive in Sharm and to see | | | | time frame offered, be it for completion of works or |
| what it has to offer. Your first decision will be to | | | | conveyance work, you may find yourself waiting |
| decide whether you need a visa. Although a visa is | | | | more than double the time. This could prove very |
| not essential for those staying in Sharm, it is required | | | | frustrating when trying to move the buying |
| if your planning on travelling outside the resort or | | | | completion process along. So as I’ve stressed |
| even venturing on one of the many diving or boat | | | | before, make sure you do as much research as you |
| trips on offer. If you decide you need one, it can be | | | | can in choosing your lawyer as well as into the |
| purchased in arrivals at the airport. | | | | developments themselves. |
| If you had arranged to meet with different agents | | | | With a little patience, a little research and almost |
| over the first few days of your stay in Sharm, it will | | | | definitely a little luck, you’ll find, buy, and start to |
| allow you more time over the week to narrow your | | | | enjoy that holiday home in the sun. Think of it like |
| selection down and perhaps go for second viewings | | | | buying an item of clothing at the shops - you can |
| on the 4th or even 5th day of your stay. You’ll | | | | hunt up and down the high street all day and nothing |
| be shown various developments in Sharm – some | | | | seems to fit, look quite right, or maybe just a bit too |
| that are within your budget and others that are | | | | pricey, until you find this one item out of the blue |
| beyond belief – both in terms of price and | | | | that’s just perfect in every way. Once |
| quality. Some of the developments that you may | | | | you’ve found that dream home, study the |
| of researched before your visit, although seeming | | | | contract – including the small print – and |
| good from the pictures and the prices, may not be | | | | don’t take anything for granted. Some agents |
| so good when it comes to the quality of the finish. | | | | will try to pressure you into paying a deposit before |
| This seems to be the case with a number of | | | | you leave, but unless you are sure about what |
| developers in Egypt. You will also note that there | | | | you’re buying and who your buying it from, I |
| seems to be quite a lot of projects in Sharm that | | | | wouldn’t advise this. Make sure that what |
| lacks activity or seemingly left dormant. This also is | | | | you’ve seen in the show home and what |
| quite a common problem in Sharm. A developer will | | | | you’ve agreed with the selling agent are included |
| often start a project, taking money from investors, | | | | in the selling contract before you part with any of |
| but then fail to finish the project when they run out | | | | your cash. |
| of money – leaving the development stagnant | | | | Whatever your reasons for buying in Egypt, be it for |
| and unfinished. It’s a bit of a minefield, or | | | | an investment property, for the rental market, a |
| perhaps a game of Russian roulette would seem a | | | | holiday home or thoughts of relocating, visiting Egypt |
| safer option? | | | | first will give you a better chance of understanding |
| In time, doubts and thoughts that you had not done | | | | what may lie ahead. You may find that it’s not |
| anywhere near enough research into any of these | | | | quite the place for you. Don’t rush if you |
| potential offerings may creep in. It may look like you | | | | don’t find what you are looking for on your first |
| would have to beat a hasty retreat until you know a | | | | visit, but don’t be discouraged. Do your research, |
| lot more about what you are getting yourself into, | | | | because like any purchase, there’s that special |
| but don’t lose heart, In amongst all the murk | | | | something out there for everyone. |