What it costs, how the purchase works step by step, where the value sits region by region, and how to close the whole thing from abroad — the national guide from the only real estate company with offices in both the US and Greece.
Bank of Greece residential index & BUY GREECE network comparables · Greek Property Monitor, Q3 2026
Yes. Greece places no general restrictions on foreign ownership — US, EU, Canadian, Australian and most other nationals can own Greek property freehold in their own name. What you need is a Greek tax number (AFM), a lawyer, and a transfer executed before a Greek notary. Non-EU buyers need an additional permit only in designated border and certain island zones. Budget 8–10% above the purchase price for taxes and fees, and expect four to eight weeks from agreed price to registered title.
Issued by the Greek tax office and required for every purchase. Obtainable by power of attorney — you do not need to fly to get one.
Title search, building permits, encumbrances and the energy certificate. Never skip this step — it is where problems surface while you can still walk away.
In Greece the transfer is executed before a notary, who then registers the deed. Attendance in person is optional if you grant power of attorney.
Normally needed to fund the purchase and settle taxes. It can be opened remotely with the right documentation — the paperwork is the slowest part, so we start it early.
US buyers: the full legal walkthrough is in our guide for American buyers, and common questions are answered in the buyer FAQ.
Plan on 8–10% on top of the purchase price. On a €400,000 home that is roughly €32,000–€40,000 in taxes and professional fees, due at or before closing. Greece remains comparatively affordable on transaction costs by Western European standards.
Paid by the buyer, calculated on the purchase or assessed value.
The notary drafts and executes the deed and handles registration.
Your lawyer's due diligence and representation through closing.
Recording the deed so the title is legally yours.
Market standard in Greece; confirm who pays what before you offer.
The number to budget. We itemize it for your specific property before you commit — no surprises at the notary.
New-build purchases can fall under VAT rather than transfer tax depending on the developer's status and the building permit date — we confirm which regime applies to your property in advance. Figures indicative, July 2026. Run returns on the ROI page.
Four to eight weeks is normal once documents are prepared. Every step below can be completed from abroad by power of attorney — our clients have closed on Greek property from New York, Toronto and Melbourne without boarding a plane.
Buyer-side negotiation, with comparables from our Glyfada office so the number is defensible before anything is signed.
Title search, building permits, encumbrances and the energy certificate — the checks that decide whether the deal proceeds.
The Greek tax registration every buyer needs. Handled remotely by power of attorney.
Used to fund the purchase and settle taxes. Started early, because documentation takes the longest.
A deposit secures the property and takes it off the market while the final checks complete.
The final contract is executed in person or by power of attorney, with funds transferred and taxes paid.
The deed is recorded and the title becomes legally yours. Utilities, management and any rental setup follow.
Selling or inheriting instead? See resale and inherited property in Greece.
Greece is not one market. Heat marks gross rental yield — brightest in the Ionian, warm across Crete and the Peloponnese — while Attica pairs mid-5% yields with the strongest documented price growth in the country.
Reading the map: Zakynthos & the Ionian up to 6.8% gross · Crete and the Peloponnese 5.5–6.5% (indicative) · Thessaloniki 5–6% (indicative) · Attica & the Riviera 5.1–5.8% verified, plus +71.1% price growth since 2017 · the Cyclades trade on capital rather than yield — Mykonos €7,500–€18,000/m². Gross long-lease yields, Q3 2026, BUY GREECE network comparables.
It depends on what you want the property to do. For capital growth and year-round city life, Attica and the Athens Riviera lead the country. For heritage and value, the Peloponnese. For rental yield, the islands. For the cleanest returns, off-plan new developments. Each guide below carries verified price bands, micro-district detail and an interactive market map.
The capital region: Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza on the coast, plus central Athens, Kifisia and Chalandri. Up 71.1% since 2017, anchored by The Ellinikon. Attica guide →
Four coasts on one motorway system: Nafplio, Kalamata and the Mani, Porto Heli, Monemvasia. Heritage stone and seafront at a fraction of island prices. Peloponnese guide →
Buying before delivery has produced 32.7% average appreciation across our 13+ developer partners — the strongest documented return path in the market. New developments →
Mykonos €7,500–€18,000/m² with trophy sales above €20M, Santorini €4,500–€7,500/m², plus off-market access on the Riviera. Luxury guide →
Eight coastal regions mapped across 13,500 km of Greek coastline — from waterfront apartments to clifftop villas. Sea view properties →
Second-hand apartments and villas with a six-point verification before they reach your short list. Resale properties →
Comparing regions on numbers rather than pictures? The quarterly Greek Property Monitor tracks prices, yields and American buyer demand, and 50 market statistics sit behind it.
Under Law 5100/2024, in force since September 2024, the property thresholds are €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 residents; €400,000 across the rest of Greece; and €250,000 for restorations of listed buildings or conversions of commercial property to residential. The permit covers your spouse, children under 21 and both spouses' parents, and carries no minimum-stay requirement.
Attica (including the whole Athens Riviera), Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and the larger islands. Prime Attica property often needs a budget above the threshold itself.
The whole Peloponnese, most of the mainland and the smaller islands. This is where the threshold and the market actually meet.
Listed-building restorations and commercial-to-residential conversions. It fits Greece's heritage stock unusually well: Mani towers, Monemvasia castle houses, Nafplio's Old Town.
Full requirements, timeline and family rules: the Greece Golden Visa guide. Thresholds cited per Law 5100/2024 as in force July 2026 — always confirm current rules before committing capital.
Yes. Greece places no general restrictions on foreign buyers, and US, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens can own Greek property freehold in their own name. You need a Greek tax number (AFM) and a notary-executed transfer. Non-EU buyers require an additional permit only in designated border and certain island zones.
Budget 8–10% above the purchase price: transfer tax around 3%, notary fees 1–1.5%, legal fees around 1%, land registry around 0.5% and agency commission of 2–3%. The national average asking price is €2,561/m², with quality apartments from about €150,000 and prime Riviera or island villas above €1M.
Yes — the entire purchase can be completed by power of attorney. The AFM tax number, bank account, due diligence and notary closing are all handled on the Greek side. Our clients have closed from New York, Toronto and Melbourne without boarding a plane.
Four to eight weeks once documents are prepared, from agreed price to registered title. Due diligence and the AFM run in parallel so the timeline does not stall; Golden Visa applications proceed alongside the purchase rather than after it.
By the numbers, yes: national prices rose 8.6% in 2024, Attica is up 71.1% since 2017, gross rental yields run 5.1–5.8% on the Athens Riviera and up to 6.8% in island markets, and off-plan purchases have appreciated 32.7% on average to delivery across our developer network. The national average of €2,561/m² still sits below comparable Mediterranean markets. Nothing here is investment advice — see the ROI analysis.
For capital growth and year-round living, Attica and the Athens Riviera — Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni lead the mainland. For heritage and value, the Peloponnese: Nafplio, Kalamata and the Mani, Monemvasia. For rental yield, the islands with international airports. For the cleanest return path, off-plan new developments.
In practice yes — it is normally required to fund the purchase and settle taxes. It can be opened remotely with the right documentation, and because the paperwork is the slowest part of the process we start it at the beginning rather than the end.
Yes — the Golden Visa grants EU residency for property investment from €250,000 to €800,000 depending on zone and property type under Law 5100/2024. It covers your spouse, children under 21 and both spouses' parents, with no minimum-stay requirement.
Chicago and Glyfada, Athens — the only real estate company with active offices and expert teams in both countries. You deal with one team from first question to registered title.
Title, permits, energy certificate and pricing checked on the Greek side — across a network of 13+ developer partners and 9,000+ properties.
Power of attorney, AFM, banking and notary coordination — explained in English, at US business hours.
Nothing on this page is legal, tax or investment advice. Purchase costs and Golden Visa thresholds are cited as in force July 2026 under Greek Law 5100/2024; always confirm current rules with your lawyer before committing capital.