Crete is a comparatively new market since if you were a foreigner it has only been possible to buy property in Greece without a Greek partner since 1990.
Before then only few foreigners with a good knowledge of Crete and trustworthy friends were willing to invest their money in property. The advent of the European Union changed all this and more and more EU citizens have been buying property on the island.

At first it was a trickle and whilst it hasn't yet turned into a flood there seem to be more and more people buying either land for construction, old houses or ruins for renovation or brand new houses. Some buy a second home, others plan to move to Crete "lock, stock and barrel" whilst more and more consider retiring to an island with a better climate, lower costs of living and almost non-existent criminality - an attractive combination.