Buying

Before purchasing a property in Greece, you should be clear about your reasons for buying. Is it a vacation home, a second residence, or a retirement property? Buying real estate abroad can be an excellent investment. Property prices in Greece are still quite low and have only moderately recovered after the ten-year catastrophic economic crisis.

Once you've found a house, the property must be thoroughly examined and assessed.

A lawyer should check the land registry entries to ensure that there are no third-party rights attached to the property (debts, inheritance issues, etc.) or that the property is generally available for purchase (e.g., no building permit).

For instance, trees located on the property may belong to another owner, requiring you to grant them lifelong access rights.

It is highly recommended to also involve a civil engineer who can inspect the property and check for any construction defects.

EU citizens face no restrictions when purchasing property in Greece, except in border areas where a permit from the local authorities is required (this is typically granted automatically).

Non-EU citizens face various restrictions for security reasons when buying property in certain regions, including border areas on the mainland and the islands of Lesbos, Chios, and Samos. Special permits are possible but entail a very high bureaucratic burden, significant costs, and long waiting times, making it practically impossible in most cases.