Thousands of foreigners are making Greece their home or home away from home. For the most part, Germans, Britons and Americans are gobbling up property and building summer homes in Greek holiday destinations. Most of these foreigners are tourists who have visited Greece

Both EU and non-EU nationals may purchase land and buy or build a house in Greece. The purchase of property or other property transactions by foreigners in certain parts of Greece known legally as "Border Areas" is prohibited. The prohibited areas are the East Aegean, Dodecanese islands, and regions of Northern Greece, Crete, and Rhodes. To establish what the regulations are in these cases you would need to contact the Greek Consulate or Embassy in your home country.

All buyers, including foreigners and permanent residents abroad, must have a Greek tax roll number (AFM). The tax offices issue this. It is free and issued on the spot. Greeks and EU citizens must show their ID card. Foreigners living in Greece are required to present their passport or another valid document of identification and their residence permit in order to apply for this number. Greeks and foreigners who permanently reside abroad can also apply for an AFM.

Property is relatively inexpensive in Greece especially when compared to comparable property in other EU countries. The one time purchase tax is calculated at between 7% and 9% of the assessed property value for plots of land. For apartments and houses the charge is between 11% and 13%. The buyer pays the transfer tax. It must be paid before the purchase.

The Public Notary fee is between 1% and 2% of the assessed property value. Lawyers charge between 1% and 2% of the assessed value as recorded on the contract of sale. You can appoint a lawyer of your choice or we will be pleased to recommend a local lawyer familiar with property purchase.