Advice on buying Property in Greece

Any monies imported into Greece for property purchase should be documented and receipted
Capital gains tax is usually exempt when using the proceeds to buy another home in Greece.
However, capital gains tax can range between 10-30 but reduces over the time of occupancy.
Check within each area of Greece as to any restrictions regarding security issues as there may be increased security issues close to Turkish areas.
Property Prices in Greece Guide
Property Prices Range considerably from:
From £20,000 for rural properties in need of refurbishment
From £25,000 for building plots close to the coast
From £30,000 for coastal apartments / studios
From £100,000 plus for Townhouses and small Villas.
Be sure to check with local authorities regarding building restrictions for new properties.
Annual Wealth Tax is charged on all properties over a specific value and is charge as a singular figure percentage between 1-2 against the properties declared value.
Where to buy in Greece
With over 2500 islands in Greece you will most cetainly be spoilt for choice.
A few tips:- coastal properties around holiday resorts will be more expensive. Try moving inland a little where you will get a lot more for your money but may still be able to take advantage of living near to a resort.
The mainland can be more expensive especially around the capital Athens.
Living Costs in Greece
As I'm sure you have probably already been to Greece on holiday and as such you will know that the standard cost of living is quite reasonable compaired to other EU countries.
However, white goods like washers / fridges etc can be very similar to UK goods and cars can be somewhat expensive.
Buying Property in Greece
Once an agreement has been reached as to the property sale price, a contract is normally drawn up and would include price, completion date and any other relevant information for the sale.
A deposit can range from 10 - 30 and a mortgage on the property can be secured by either a Greek Bank or an International Mortgage Broker.

The contract is signed and an agreement is reached between completion before a Notary who will normally charge around 1-2 of the property value as his fee.
Solicitor / Lawyer
Wherever possible, try to enlist the services of a Greek local Lawyer or Solicitor to act on your behalf, preferably one who speaks English.
They will be responsible for paying any taxes and registering the property with the land registry in Greece.
They will normally charge between 1 - 2 of the sale value of the property.
Fees
Allow up to 18 for your fees just to be on the safe side as purchase tax is charged depending on the value of the property at between 9-11.
Land registry fees should be about 0.4 of the assessed value plus a small sum for stamp duties and certificates.
Real Estate agent's fees are usually paid by the vendor.
Property Tax
Very good value and is normally around 0.25 of the property's declared value paid annually.
This will cover local services.
In addition, there is a community tax of around 3 of the property transfer tax which is paid to the local municipality for general public services.
Mortgages
Greece is slowly changing its mortgage and lending criteria system which used to be quite difficult - to fall in line with other EU countries but beware as interest rates in Greece can be among the highest in the European Union.
Some people have used their existing properties at home to raise finance to buy their Greek property outright thus saving on interest and hassle.

Annual taxes to be paid by property owners in Greece
There are no annual taxes to pay in Greece, if the total value of the properties owned by the same person, does not exceed the value of 68.000.000 drs.(200.000 Euro). The valuation of properties, is carried out by the government, which provides published values, announced for every type of property. As already mentioned above, these values are usually far below the real cost.
These guidelines are meant for guidance only and describe a straightforward purchase scenarios. However this information is not meant to replace proper legal advice, which we always insist you take.