Real Estate · Residential Property

Residential Property in Greece.

Full legal service for buyers and sellers of residential property across Greece — Athens apartments, island villas, mountain retreats and rural homes. For Greek nationals, EU citizens, non-EU buyers and diaspora Greeks buying remotely. Title, coastal zone, forest land and permit due diligence in every transaction.

FullConveyancing Service
AllOf Greece
RemoteTransactions Managed
2002Firm Founded
Thorough Title Due Diligence
Cadastre and Land Registry searches, encumbrance checks, building permit verification and full ownership chain analysis before any purchase.
Island & Rural Property Specialists
Specialist handling of the added complexity of island and rural properties — coastal zone, forest land, archaeological zones and Defence Ministry permits.
Non-EU Buyer Expertise
We manage the full process for non-EU nationals: AFM, Greek bank account, Defence Ministry permits where required, power of attorney and Cadastre registration.
Remote Transaction Management
Most of our international and diaspora clients complete their purchase without visiting Greece — we manage everything under a notarised power of attorney.
Buying a home in Greece?
Tell us about the property and where you are in the process, and we'll give you a clear, honest view of the title position and what happens next.
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Overview Scope of Service Process Why Us FAQs

Residential Property

Buying a home in Greece is exciting —
and legally more complex than it looks.

Greece offers some of the most desirable residential property in Europe — Athenian apartments in renovated neoclassical buildings, island villas overlooking the Aegean, mountain retreats and rural farmhouses. International demand has never been stronger, driven by lifestyle appeal, relative value against other Mediterranean markets, and the availability of the Golden Visa programme for qualifying purchases. Buying property in Greece as a non-resident adds tax number and banking steps, but no restriction on ownership itself.

Greek residential conveyancing requires specialist knowledge that a general practice conveyancer will not have. Property registration in Greece is split between the traditional Land Registry (Υποθηκοφυλακείο) and the modern Cadastre (Κτηματολόγιο), which is still not fully operational in every area — meaning the correct search depends on exactly where the property sits. Island and rural properties in particular carry a materially higher risk of title complications: coastal zone (αιγιαλός) encroachment, forest land designation, building permit irregularities, and unresolved inheritance chains running back through several generations of unregistered transfers.

A property can look straightforward on the ground and still carry a defect in its paper title that only surfaces at the notary — or worse, after completion. That is precisely what full due diligence exists to catch before it becomes your problem. The risk in buying property in Greece is almost always title and planning, which is why diligence precedes the deposit.

We act for Greek nationals, EU citizens, non-EU buyers and diaspora Greeks purchasing a family property from abroad. Most of our international and diaspora clients complete their purchase without ever visiting Greece — we manage the entire process remotely under a notarised power of attorney, and remain available after completion for ENFIA registration, utility transfers and short-term rental licensing. Send the listing and we will tell you what to check first.

Who we act for
Greek, EU and non-EU buyers alike
Whether you are a Greek national living abroad, an EU citizen buying a holiday home, or a non-EU investor purchasing for the Golden Visa, we know the specific requirements for each buyer type.
What we do
Full-service conveyancing, start to finish
Due diligence, preliminary contract, notarial deed, Cadastre registration, ENFIA registration, utility transfers and post-completion support — we handle everything from instruction to keys.
Non-EU buyers
Every additional requirement managed
AFM (tax number) application, Greek bank account setup, Ministry of National Defence permit applications where required, and a clear explanation of restrictions in border areas and many islands.
After completion
We stay involved once the keys change hands
ENFIA tax registration, utility transfers, short-term rental licence applications where relevant, and any post-completion issues — we remain available long after the deed is signed.

Scope of Service

Every title risk a Greek home can carry —
checked before you commit.

Coastal Zone (Αιγιαλός) Clearance
Checking whether a coastal or island property encroaches into the legally protected coastal zone — a risk that is frequently invisible on the ground and undisclosed by the seller.
IslandsCoastalΑιγιαλός
Core service →
01
Forest Land Designation Checks
Verifying whether a rural or mountain property sits on land mapped as forest, which imposes severe restrictions on construction and use — Greek forest maps are not always accurate, so we check as standard.
RuralForest MapsRestrictions
Core service →
02
Building Permit Verification
Confirming that what was actually built matches the building permit on file — irregularities are common in older Greek properties and must be regularised before a sale can safely proceed.
PermitsComplianceRegularisation
Core service →
03
Inheritance Chain & Title Resolution
Tracing and resolving multi-generational inheritance chains where Greek property has passed down without formal registration — a common and often decisive source of title risk.
InheritanceTitle ChainCadastre
Core service →
04
Defence Ministry Permits (Non-EU)
Managing the Ministry of National Defence permit application required of non-EU buyers purchasing in border areas — a category that includes many Greek islands.
Non-EUBorder AreasIslands
Core service →
05
Co-Ownership (Οροφοκτησία) Review
Verifying that the horizontal or vertical co-ownership regulations governing an apartment or shared building are correctly registered and enforceable.
ApartmentsCo-OwnershipΟροφοκτησία
Core service →
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The Purchase Process

A Greek residential purchase — step by step.

STEP 01
Instruction & Initial Advice
You identify a property. We review what's available, flag any immediate red flags, and set out a realistic timeline before you commit to anything.
STEP 02
Full Title Due Diligence
Cadastre and/or Land Registry search, ownership chain verification, coastal zone and forest land checks, building permit review and ENFIA compliance history.
STEP 03
Preliminary Contract (Προσύμφωνο)
Drafting or reviewing the preliminary purchase agreement, negotiating terms and deposit conditions, and arranging power of attorney for buyers who cannot attend in person.
STEP 04
Notarial Deed, Completion & Post-Sale
Attendance at the notary, Cadastre registration, ENFIA and utility transfer, and — where relevant — short-term rental licence registration with the AADE.

Frequently Asked Questions

What residential buyers ask us most.

How long does a Greek residential purchase take?+

A typical Greek residential purchase takes 6–12 weeks from instruction to completion, depending on the complexity of the title due diligence. If a Ministry of National Defence permit is required — for non-EU buyers purchasing in a border area or on many islands — add a further 4–8 weeks. We give you a realistic timeline at the start of every instruction, not an optimistic one.

Can I buy a property in Greece remotely, without visiting?+

Yes. Most of our international and diaspora clients complete their purchase remotely. We act under a notarised power of attorney, attend the notary on your behalf, and manage the entire process in your language, with full documentation and reporting throughout.

What is the difference between the Cadastre and the Land Registry?+

The Cadastre (Κτηματολόγιο) is the modern, computerised Greek land registration system. The Land Registry (Υποθηκοφυλακείο) is the older system that still operates in areas not yet transferred to the Cadastre. The distinction matters because it determines which search we run — we check the correct register for your property's specific location.

What are the typical costs of buying residential property in Greece?+

Beyond the purchase price, buyers typically pay a real estate transfer tax of 3% of the assessed value, notary fees of roughly 1–1.5%, legal fees, and Cadastre registration fees. Non-EU buyers also face fees associated with the AFM and, where applicable, the Defence Ministry permit. We provide a full cost schedule before the transaction proceeds, so there are no surprises at completion.

Can I rent my Greek property out on Airbnb?+

Short-term rental of Greek residential property is regulated and requires registration with the AADE (the Greek tax authority) and a short-term rental registry number. Certain locations — including Mykonos and Santorini — impose additional restrictions on top of the national rules. We advise on short-term rental compliance as part of our post-purchase service.

What happens if a building permit irregularity is found during due diligence?+

It does not automatically end the transaction. Many older Greek properties have some form of permit irregularity — built structure not matching the original permit, or additions built without one. Where the irregularity can be regularised under the relevant compliance scheme, we handle that process, or we negotiate a price adjustment or a completion condition requiring the seller to regularise before the deed is signed. What we will not do is let a buyer complete without knowing exactly what they are taking on.

Can you act on an island purchase?+

Yes. Island purchases on Crete, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu are a routine part of the practice. They warrant closer title work than mainland transactions: fragmented inherited ownership, unregistered extensions and coastal-zone proximity all appear more frequently, and each is far cheaper to resolve before the deposit than after.

Ready to buy property in Greece?
Let us guide you through it.

An initial consultation on your property and the purchase process. No obligation.