Starting with a rental is still the cautious choice when the country is new to you. Areas look very different between seasons, and nearby construction reveals itself after a few weeks. One rental cycle carries a much lower price than selling a home bought in the wrong street.
Purchasing earns its place when the time horizon is long. The costs of buying and selling can be substantial, so a brief posting seldom covers them. The standard advice involves a horizon of several years before the maths turns favourable.
Borrowing locally affects the decision significantly. Non-residents typically encounter larger deposit requirements and less favourable rates than residents. If no local mortgage is available, the whole plan means an all-cash transaction, which changes the opportunity cost.
Leasing preserves flexibility. A change of plans, personal circumstances or a regulatory change is manageable with a lease termination, as opposed to a sale that takes months. Where the market is illiquid, the ability to leave quickly has lapta real estate value.
Ownership gives what renting cannot: predictable housing costs, control over the space, and an asset you actually hold. In some countries, holding buy property in limassol also supports a residency case. The honest answer in most situations amounts to renting first and buying later.