Hi everyone,

I visited Vamos briefly last year. Can someone offer thoughts on full-time living in Vamos?

Look forward to receiving your comments.

Thanks,

Stavros

Ooh, I forgot the support provided by 24-hour medical centre and "Doctor Elizabeth".  If I wasn't in Gavvers I'd live in Vamos!

Gem,

Many thanks. That is an option I am considering in view of the economic uncertainty. However, I hear that people are still buying, which is interesting. Would you care to add some 'meat' to your opinion? Look forward to hearing more. You can always PM me if you prefer.

Stavros

Yes, the winter is when the aquifer tops-up and usually most of it falls in Jan-March and again usually you get nice bright  warm spells in between.  Last winter was wetter than average with fewer breaks but the rain did stop in mid-April, in 2011 it carried on till late May. That's why you need a suitable reliable home heat source, because it can feel very dank otherwise.
I know where Gem is coming from with his renting tip, there are several hundred properties for sale in the Apokoronas. Many of those owners would long-term rent them out if they got the chance for under half comparable  UK properties - with a pool thrown in!  Also a good idea to rent for the first winter to see if Crete is really for you.
There is a lot more going on in Vamos on the face of it, although there are many friendly and genuine folk, Cretan and ex-pat, to be found in Gavalochori once you settle-in.  The cafenion stays open serving food too throughout the  winter (and there's no language barrier with Monica of course!) whereas the tavernas tend to close or open only at the weekend.

Though I disagree with the total 'ban' on buying I agree renting for awhile is a much better idea. If nothing else it means you can move villages quite easily. Gav or Vamos, or elsewhere, is a personal decision and the only way to find out is try it. We are moving into our 3rd year renting in Gav and are looking to buy in a totally different area.
We actually quite like the winter. It helps that you can guarantee that summer will arrive of course. 

Stavros
We rented for 6 months in Vamos before finding our `ideal' property up on the cliff-tops overlooking Souda bay, and are intending to keep renting for many years.
Although we do use the Kafenions in Kalyves, we still love going back to the square in Vamos for a lunchtime beer or two. Everybody seems to know everyone else, and the entertainment re parking and traffic, can sometimes be priceless.

Stavros, Gav is great in itself but its also very easy to drive to Vamos, Almyrida or Kalyves [or 10 euros for a taxi when the tsikoudia is calling  ].
I also agree with Peebee re. traffic watching  I can reccomend Floppy Internet Cafe for some great parking and traffic jams!
More seriously, if your thinking of buying then it has to be for the long term. Most analysts think 10 - 15 years before the property cycle has turned in Greece i.e. you can sell and make anythingin real terms.

The real question is, do you want to live here in someone else's house or do you want to live here in your own house?  Common sense dictates that renting is probably the more sensible option but when it comes to quality of life common sense is not always the best way to go!

We have friends here who rent and it works well but they have to make a number of compromises re where, for how long, does the property meet their needs etc? 

One of the unexpected pleasures I've found living here is working in the garden.  I hated gardening (probably because my father made me work in the family garden when we were kids) and vowed never to have a garden.  Well guess what, I now have a garden that would scare a professional because of it's size and the work involved.  And maybe that's the magic of Crete and living here i.e. you find things to do that you never wanted or had the time to do when working back in the UK?  But there is a cost i.e. water, irrigation, plants, trees, pergolas, shaded areas to sit, read, lap up the warmth etc. and it's a lot harder to spend your hard earned cash when the property belongs to someone else.

Rentals here are relatively cheap but then again it's also relatively cheap to buy a house on Crete these days.  I can't imagine not having a pool to slip into over the hot (it's 38C here today) summer months and whilst the beach is very close it's not the same as slipping naked into the pool anytime during the day or night!

Come here with an open mind, rent for a bit and decide the kind of life you want to live.  Once you learn what you like / want you might well find owning your own house and turning it into your very own idyll is the better way to go.

Jon