Relaxing in your hammam (steam bath), tucking into your tagine (stew), bargaining in the souks or sliding into your comfortable caftan, you may be surprised how easily you slip into another culture and another century. In these small signature moments of pleasure, Morocco warps all sense of time and place. To get your bearings, just look to the horizon. You will notice a sparkling coastline with silken sand and striped canyons carved out of the High Atlas Mountains.

Morocco has been staunchly independent throughout its history yet remained open to ideas, creating a heady mix of cultures, religions and languages with ancient roots and a strikingly modern outlook. The influence of Romans, Arabs and Europeans is spotted in monuments throughout the country. Though you will hear French spoken in city boulevards - a vestige of the 50-year French Protectorate. A half-dozen Berber languages and Moroccan Arabic are also still widely spoken. Morocco is a unique blend of the African Berber, Arab and Mediterranean cultures. For centuries travelers have crossed shifting sands and braved mountain passes in search of mythic Morocco. They arrive dazzled by its royal palaces, extraordinary oasis and spectacular feats of hospitality.

Modern Morocco will never disappoint you. Whether you've come to relax in family-style riads (guest houses), shop for distinctive handicrafts, or stretch your imagination on treks to distant Berber villages, you'll meet Moroccans who go out of their way to exceed your expectations.

The people who have called Morocco home for millennia have proved themselves adaptable to Sahara Desert silence and bustling day-market medinas (old towns), mingling in Tuareg trading posts and ancient mellahs (Jewish quarters). The greeting that reaches your ears today echoes across the centuries: Ahlanwasahlan, welcome to Morocco.

Morocco has been welcoming the elite public since the 20s, when the mixture of local color, oriental’s mystique and a liberating remove from the West captured the imagination of an earlier generation of millionaires and artists. The social circle revolved around the Villa Taylor, built in 1923 by the Taylors of Rhode Island, who came to Morocco on a steam yacht. Its guest rooms played host to Rita Hayworth and Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The big names keep coming here but these days they're more likely to put up in one of the highly exclusive residences in the Palmeraie district. The oasis on the edge of town where tens of thousands of slender palms sprout from a dry lunar-like landscape, this is probably the most luxury real estate in the North Africa. It's the Beverly Hills of Morocco where high pink bougainvillea-bedecked walls keep out prying eyes and the swish of water sprinklers keeps lawns verdantly green.

Ethnicity and color have long proved a draw for the fashion crowd. First into the souk was Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge who picked up their first Marrakesh home in 1967. Jean Paul Gaultier set a collection in Marrakesh's ancient Medina, while Gucci's Tom Ford has been spotted truffling through the souks for prizes.

Morocco is a stylish country! It has become the exotic backdrop of choice for foreign producers, standing in for Tibet in Martin Scorsese's Kundun, Somalia in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down and Egypt in the French hit Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. Hideous Kinky with Kate Winslet was also filmed there. If you want to feel being a movie star, just purchase property in Morocco. This dream is very easy to reach, just contact MostProperties.com

There is certainly no lack of great attractions in Morocco. The country enjoys a strong sense of culture and a long and ancient history. The cool blue water flowing over the sand of the beaches is a direct contrast with the hot white sands of the desert, while the green leafs of fertile valleys contrast with the the snow-capped Atlas Mountains covered with white snow. The country is romantic and mysterious and there is no wonder that Morocco is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

There is a never ending list of Moroccan places of interest for the visitor to enjoy. The main starting points are the most popular cities such as Marrakech, Tangier, Fes and Casablanca. At each of these places, you will find the mixture of medinas, bazaars and riads. You will also find superb beaches and high hotels where a hubbly-bubbly pipe may be arranged with relative ease. All these things are an essential part of the Moroccan experience and should not be missed. There are also a number of excellent sightseeings in Morocco that a visitor should definitely make the effort to see.

Bab Rouah. As one of five gates that once served as entrances to the city of Rabat, Bab Rouah was built in 1197 and is a key historical monument. Once through the gates, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the rooms, including the Bab Rouah gallery which focuses on displaying the works of Moroccan artists.

Boulaouane Kasbah. This majestic fortress overlooking the Wadi Oum er-Rbia River was built in 1710. Visitors who take the long winding stairway to the top of the Kasbah’s ten meter high tower will be rewarded with an awe-inspiring view of the surrounding area. The interior of the Kasbah is a treasure trove of beautifully detailed mosaic designs and other decorations.

Besides that you should visit the citadel of Chellah Gardens located in Morocco’s capital city, El Bahia Palace in Marrakech and Mamora Forest in the vicinity of Rabat.

The list of Moroccan attractions is endless, so the only chance to see all of them – purchase the villa in Morocco and little by little enjoy all of them.

The property purchasing process in Morocco is quite simple. MostProperties.com will gladly guide you through each step of the process to ensure you are fully informed to avoid any potential pitfalls.

Using an Agent
A good agent is essential when you buy property in Morocco. MostProperties.com always carefully examines your particular requirements and provides you a selection of appropriate options from our database.

Making an Offer
When you have decided upon a property a verbal offer needs to be made through the agent and often some negotiations will follow. At this stage a lawyer should be appointed by you to formalize your final price agreement and to oversee purchase proceedings, including deposit or reservation payments.

Downpayment
It is usual to pay a deposit once the purchase price has been agreed on. This is not a guarantee, however, that the seller takes the house off the market, so it is safer to give just a deposit instead of paying the full amount immediately. Sometimes, houses being sold are still occupied. The buyer has to wait for the owner or occupant to move out and turn over the key.

The deal registration
The buying process is otherwise the same as in France and Spain, with a notary acting for both parties. Signatures on the sales deed of the contracting parties should be notarized. The sales deed should then be registered with the relevant registration office. The buyer then applies for the listing of the registered deed to the land registry.

A few more details:
•    Foreigners cannot buy agricultural land.
•    It is best to open a Moroccan bank account that enables foreign currency to be converted to Dirham to be used for the transaction, and for easier repatriation of funds in the future.

Transaction Costs
Real Estate Agent's fee          2.5%   
Registration Duties                2.5%   
Legal Fees                         1% - 5% (plus 10% VAT)  
Notary Fee and stamp duty    1.00% - 1.50%   
Land Registry Fee                 1.00%   
Notary Tax                           0.50%