Greek Property: the Mamma Mia Effect

The movie Mamma Mia starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth could do the same thing for property in Greece as Captain Corelli’s Mandolin did: showcase the stunning visual beauty of the Greek islands and lead to a rise in the number of visitors and those purchasing property there. According to the experts at The Overseas Guides Company, some of the islands featured in the film could well see a surge of popularity and anyone considering investing in overseas property should consider these parts of Greece before the prices rise accordingly.

The hit musical which is based on ABBA songs was largely filmed on the Greek island of Skopelos, where the A-list cast were based for six weeks last September. Skopelos is located just off the more well-known island of Skiathos and as it has no airport it has to be reached via the airport on Skiathos and then by an hour-long ferry ride. This relative remoteness adds to its appeal, however, as the island still retains an old-world feel and is unspoiled by rampant tourism.

Skopelos (referred to in the film as the fictitious Kalokairi, meaning ‘summer’ in Greek) has one of the most beautiful ports in the Aegean and the beaches are stunning, with white sands set off against the sparkling turquoise sea. The interior of the island is lush and green and the locals are warm and friendly (a disposition shared by nearly all Greeks, in fact). The island has the simple white-washed village houses and churches (in fact Skopelos has around 300 churches and chapels) that have become synonymous with Greece, and the many simple tavernas do a bustling trade in rustic home cooking, traditional Greek fare and fish caught fresh from the harbour.

It’s rare that a location made to look awe-inspiring on film lives up to its beauty in real life, but Greece and its islands do just that. Greece has long been a favourite of tourists as well as those looking to buy property abroad for a slice of the Mediterranean way of life. Seeing the outstanding natural beauty of a Greek island on the big screen inspired people to visit Mykonos after the hit film of the 1980s, Shirley Valentine was filmed there. Kefallonia, the setting for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, saw a surge in tourism and a rise in property prices after Nicholas Cage and the rest of the cast brought the island’s beauty to the attention of the film-going public. It’s likely that the newly released Mamma Mia will also cause people to discover, or remember, the great beauty of the Greek islands and so the time to get a property bargain could be now, before the expected price rise.

Although timing is as important as location when it comes to investing in overseas property, rushing into any purchase without the appropriate research and due diligence is foolhardy. Start your research with friendly, expert and entirely unbiased advice from The Overseas Guides Company. Their property buying guide on Greece will present the main regions to consider, both the mainland and the islands, it will warn you about the common pitfalls when it comes to buying property in Greece and will help arm you with all the information you need to make an informed and wise decision.

OverseasGuidesCompany.com is your resource for impartial and expert guides to property investment and not just in Greece. The guides cover how to choose the best properties in France and houses in Italy, the rights and wrongs of property investment in Bulgaria, and what you should remember when buying property in Cyprus, to name but a few topics. Find out all the information on offer at www.overseasguidescompany.com.