Photos: iefimerida.gr
If the case of the Dutch royal family that spent 461,000 euro on the fence of their villa in the municipality of Kranidi in the Peloponnese shocked even the Dutch themselves, this is actually just a drop in the ocean compared with what is happening in the region.
Without exaggeration, the area has become a point of attraction for Greek and foreign super-rich businessmen who are building their deluxe villas there. A report on the topic of "Kathimerini" newspaper indicates that, because of the Dutch king who bought the luxury building in 2012 and subsequently renovated it, three Greek ministries (namely of the environment, maritime and the interior) signed a specific decision to permit the legitimate building of a special pier for the royal family that leads directly to the villa, located on an area of about 7 acres, "for reasons of national security."
However, the Dutch royal family is not the only one that requested such a thing. Real estate agent Martha Goutou states, "The majority of the potential buyers require access to the waterfront and want the beach to be theirs if possible".
On the other hand, retired mayor Dimitris Kamizis explains this phenomenon as follows, "Our area, thanks to the wonderful beach, has been attracting Greek and foreign magnates for 30 years, with all the possible consequences."
The direct consequence of the concentration of rich people in Kranidi is the extreme increase in real estate prices. In some cases, the price per acre amounts to 1 million euro!
The local residents have turned to construction, real estate and services, abandoning agriculture and livestock. Kranidi is full of heavenly places and villas "that would be the envy even of Mykonos island", with pools, landing places for helicopters and well-maintained lawns.
"Traditionally Kranidi was preferred by the French," says Goutou, "and now at least 50 families of Greek shipping magnates spend their holiday here." Being really rich "still from the cradle," the newcomers in Kranidi cause no tension and it is not uncommon for them even to make donations, for the health centre of the region for instance. "Over the past three years there has been a strong interest in buying property on the part of Russian millionaires, we have had Arabian clients too", says the agent. However, the request for a property with direct access to the beach is utopian. "There are free houses but not directly by the sea", she explains. In every case, "this year’s stir is unprecedented but most likely it will have no effect because the majority of the potential buyers expect that prices have fallen which is not always the case" notes Martha Goutou.
Recently, two hotels of an international chain that meet very high standards have started operating in the area on a pilot basis and talks are underway to specify the location of two more complexes of the same rank. Therefore, the news concerns only those who are very rich, as the rising prices are not attractive for the middle class tourists and even the locals sometimes feel as aborigines who see the sea only with binoculars.
"The water issue is very serious as the pools and gardens require large amounts but the aquifer in the area is limited", warns retired mayor Dimitris Kamizis.