The property market in Egypt is gathering up steam and riding on the success of an ever growing tourist economy. With great holiday and investment appeal, Egyptian property today offers purchasers excellent potential.

Property in Egypt is turning the heads of international property purchasers looking to buy into an exotic, historical and beautiful country with a warm climate and a booming tourist industry to match. Egypt is a fascinating tourist destination with history dating back to around 3200BC and the warm waters of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea attract divers worldwide. As a tourist destination with many possibilities to suit all interests, Egypt attracts increasing numbers of visitors and property buyers alike who come here to reap its many rewards.

Reasons why property in Egypt is a good investment

• Low property prices starting at around only £30k
• Steady year-on-year capital appreciation of between 20-30%
• Beautiful, well established tourist hotspots suitable for varied tourist interests, from excellent diving and snorkeling to cultural and historical locations
• Stunning natural, unspoilt landscapes
• Steady annual growth in tourist figures
• Less property taxes than paid in the UK
• No capital gains tax
• British residents avoid inheritance tax on any Egyptian properties
• Foreign investors are regarded by the government as a big investment opportunity and laws have recently streamlined procedures, making the purchase procedure easy.
• Strong economic growth and increased investment in infrastructure are boosting the property investment market as a whole.
• Warm desert climate with temperatures ranging from 14°C in winter to 30°C in summer creating a year-round tourist season
• Politically stable country
• Increased inward investment, creating a rich investment climate.
• Well renowned developers are creating luxury resorts to cater for Egypt 's new influx of international tourists
• Easy air access from many European destinations makes Egypt an ever popular medium haul holiday location
• Cairo International airport is being modernized and a new terminal is to be built by early 2007
• Low cost of living and maintenance costs
• English is widely spoken, after Arabic

After an initial written agreement between the parties has concluded and the buyer pays the established price to the seller, the purchaser presents to the real estate registry a request for registration (1 day).
This request is then internally transferred in the real estate registry to the to the Egyptian Surveying Authority (ESA) offices of the ministry of water resources & irrigation.

After payment for the inspection, the Egyptian Surveying Authority (ESA) office of the ministry of water resources & irrigation inspects the site, takes the necessary measurements and specifications and prepares a report. Setting a date for inspection and delivery of required items takes 7 days. Visiting the field & developing the surveying report takes 7 days. Returning the results & submitting the documents to the Real Estate Registry takes 1 day.

Then, the report will be approved or refused by the measurement department. The approval is called kashf tahdeed.
The approved request is then transferred back to the Real Estate Registry. The Registry will examine the report and issue a final approval called maqbul. The Real Estate Registry offices receives the surveying & delimitation report (KASHF TAHDEED) from the relevant ESA offices & develops the acceptance report (MAQBUL) within 21 days

A (final) sale agreement is drafted by the parties on a special form at the Lawyers’ Syndicate. A lawyer must ratify the form.
The Lawyers’ Syndicate reviews the final contract and will approve the contract (mashrua). The contract takes 1 day to be drafted, 1 day to be submitted to the Real Estate Registry office, 4 days to complete the work cycle at Real Estate Registry office & submit the contract to the lawyer syndicate, and finally 20 days to authenticate process at the lawyer syndicate.

The buyer obtains the contract from the real estate registry against payment of fees amounting to 2000 EGP. This registration fee was changed from 3% and capped at EGP 2000 during 2006. Estimating fees at the Registry office takes 1 day and payment of the fees takes 1 day

Seller and purchaser must sign the contract before the real estate registrar.
The real estate registry reviews the contract again, making sure that payments have been made and that details are correct and will add a registration number to the contract. Visiting the notary office takes 1 day at the Registry office. Visiting the main REPD office for publicity purposes takes 1 day.

After the registry adds the new registration number to the contract, it is ready to be picked-up by the buyer.