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Life on Gozo, Malta, a Gorgeous
Mediterranean Island, Attracts Expatriate Retirees The
Maltese currency is the Liri, written as Lm X
| Gozo, Malta is an island in
the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, just
south of Sicily and 180 miles from the
northern edge of Africa. Gozo is one
of five islands that make up the Republic of
Malta, which is a part of Europe and a newer
member of the European Union. The
island of Malta itself is one of the most
densely populated pieces of land in the
world with 380,000 people living on 153
square miles, but Gozo is a different
story. Here, roughly 25,000 people
live on an island 9 miles long by 5 miles
wide, and many of these folks are European
retirees. |
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Ninety-eight percent of the population speaks English,
and it, along with Maltese, are the official languages,
which eliminates one of the biggest hurdles, learning a
new language, that
expatriate retirees from the United States often face when
relocating to a foreign land. Italian and French are
also spoken.
Victoria is the capital city and
has nearly any product or service one might need.
Many small villages are within a few miles of this city
hub, and out in the country, ancient temples and green
pastures make for a very pretty landscape.
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Foreigners can buy one piece of property for their own personal
use and for the use of their immediate family, but there are some
restrictions when buying real estate. To protect the local
market and local sellers, foreigners must pay at least Lm 30,000 or
roughly $88,000 USD for an apartment, even if the selling price is
actually lower, and pay at least Lm 50,000 ($146,000 USD) for a
house, even if the selling price is actually lower. These
prices can, however, include restoration costs.
"Homes with character" start in the high-$200,000s (USD)
and come, at this price, with two to three bedrooms, two baths, a garage,
usually a private
courtyard and 140 -150 or so sq. meters. Prices reach into the
millions and vary according to location (homes in Victoria are
generally higher than those in the smaller towns). Apartments
are plentiful and can be found starting at around $100,000 USD for a
one bedroom, one bath flat with a garage, and, yes, a stunning
Mediterranean view. Visit www.maltahomes.net
for a good selection of Gozo homes.
The Republic of Malta has excellent health care (ranked #5 in the
world by the WHO, compared to the U.S.' ranking of #37), and the
health care system is a combination of clean, modern, public and
private facilities. Most doctors on Malta and on Gozo train in
the United Kingdom and are considered top-notch. There is a
small public hospital, Craig Hospital (Tel: 21561600), in Gozo's
capital city of Victoria, and another small private day hospital as
well. Generally, health care is inexpensive and expatriates
pay for it as needed.
The summers are hot, dry and very sunny with occasional cool breezes from the Mediterranean.
Beach season can last until the end of October. Winters are
mild, although an occasional wind from northern Europe can bring chilly temperatures.
The buildings are primarily built
from limestone and tend to keep the summer heat at bay; during the
winter months a small space heater may be needed at night
Great Real Estate Abroad
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