• Build or buy? - House prices have fallen since 2006 but material costs have risen significantly and will continue to rise.  Do your sums and double check quotes.

• Land requirements. - The Greek development laws have caused a polarisation: in villages there are no minimum plot sizes, in the open countryside 4,000 square metres at least is required while within 0.5km of a village or on a road between two villages it is 2,000m2.  There are rumours that it will be increased to 8,000m2 in the open countryside, which will severely limit house building on Alonissos and push up prices.  There are very few 4,000m2 building plots available and 8,000 is unheard of.
• Old or new? - most houses in the old village are built in the traditional way.  Most outside of villages are villas made from reinforced concrete.
• Steep or gentle slopes? - Steep slopes mean good views while gentle slopes mean quiet, agricultural plots.  Most houses are on steep plots.
• Coast or mountain?  - Because of the terrain there are not many houses close to a beach.  Any that are will have a high price premium irrespective of the condition of the house.
• Mains water supplies. - Don't always expect mains water.  All village houses will have this but will have a sterna(water tank) as well, as supplies can be sporadic.  Houses outside of a village will usually rely on rainwater filling their sternas.  This may seem unacceptable but is not a problem unless the sterna is too small for a large number of guests or a lot of planting.  We have heavy rains but not for long, so a single night's rain can half fill a sterna.  A reservoir has been built but it will be a few years until the filtration plant and pipes are in place.  Electricity and telephones are available at most locations now but for broadband you have to be near a village or to use mobile broadband.
• Austerity and house prices:  The economy of buyer's countries have affected house prices as well as the Greek austerity measures.  This has applied mostly to the mainland and Alonissos has remained largely insulated from this because of its attractiveness but demand is down.  The rental market has also insulated Alonissos as people are able to rent their houses in the summer rather than accept devalued offers.  It very much depends upon the owner's circumstances whether they will accept an offer.
• Building regulations. - If you come from England or Germany you will expect strict building controls.  You have to become more relaxed and accept that the controls here are not as strict.  What matters most to the buyer is that the house is earthquake proof.  What matters to the authorities most is that the forest remains untouched.  For the former there are strict controls and an engineer will advise.  For the latter the authorities rely upon good topographical surveys and 1940's aerial photographs.  For the last 10 years or so, walls have been insulated.  In more recent years damp courses have been installed but these are very few.
• Can I fit in? - The island people are very easy to get on with and will help wherever possible.  There is a small but strong ex pat. community who are always ready to help a newcomer or in times of adversity.  It is important to accept that this is a foreign land and that customs and traditions should be enjoyed as well as respected.  Enjoy an environment that is like it was 40 years ago in England.
• It seems at first that Alonissos is not as rich in archaeology as on the mainland.  In fact it has the most important marine archaeology in the Mediterranean.  We are hoping that past finds will be brought back from the mainland now that we have a museum.  Did you know that Alonissos issued its own coins thousands of years ago?  Go to Tsoukalia beach and see the millions of pot sherds.
 
  Andrew Lewin