08.07.2024
The most popular areas to buy a home in Greece are Crete, the western coast (Syvota, Parga, Igoumenitsa, Paleros, etc), and the Ionian islands (Corfu, Lefkada, Zakynthos, etc). In these three areas, a number of new projects are being built by some of Greece's finest developers. The increase in building in Crete and in the Ionian islands is multiple times higher than the increase in the Attica region, which includes Athens and Glyfada. The data in this article are from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
In the Ionian Islands prefecture, the number of building permits grew by 31.3%, and the increase in building activity was 58%. The biggest change compared to last year was in the first two months of the year.
Over the same period, the growth in construction activity in Crete was 37.4%.
Over the same period, the growth in construction activity in Western Greece it was 38.1%.
During the first two months of the year, the volume of construction activity in Attica was lower by 3.4%.
These percentages are found by comparing March 2023 - February 2024 to the same period a year before (March 2022 - February 2023).
In these areas of Greece, it is increasingly popular to buy an "off-plan" home. An off-plan home is reserved before construction has started, and the buyer pays in instalments as the project progresses. Off-plan homes are typically found on the outskirts of Greece’s picturesque villages. They are typically built by new, up-and-coming architects who use modern materials and minimalist designs.
In Crete, off-plan villas are especially popular. In western Crete near Chania, Elxis collaborated with a local developer on a project of 16 villas, just a short drive from the beaches of Kalyves and Almyrida. Named the Candia Villas, the units were all reserved within a matter of months. Most of their new owners are from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the United States, and other areas of Europe. A similar story was true for Sunny Days 3, a complex of 25 villas in southern Crete, built on a large amphitheatrical plot on the outskirts of the village of Asomatos. All sold out in just a few months. It was not long before Sunny Days 4 followed. In this edition, seven villas in southern Crete were released in late May, and they have almost sold out by early July.
In Western Greece, the most popular off-plan project was the Ionian Coast Bungalows, located just minutes from the white sandy beaches of Plataria in northwestern Greece. This project also sold out, and some of the first villas have already been delivered. Not far away, near the renowned Monolithi Beach, all 12 Kanali Sunkissed Villas (another recent off-plan project) sold out because of their panoramic vistas of the Ionian Sea.
In the Ionian Sea, the Corfu Sunset Villas project (originally four villas) was extended to ten villas when the developer saw its quick success and decided to buy the plot of land next door. This project sold out in the first week of July. On the island of Lefkada, one of Greece's only islands you can reach by bridge, the first Lefkas Bayview Villas were reserved shortly after their release.
The Ionian Islands are located in the Ionian Sea, west of the Greek mainland and for a small part off the Albanian coast. They were also called ‘Heptanisa’, which in Greek means ‘seven islands’. This was derived from the seven main islands of the archipelago, namely Corfu, Lefkas, Ithaka (also called Ithaki), Kefalonia, Paxi (also called Paxos), Zakynthos and Kythira.
Corfu is one of Greece’s most diverse islands, both from an architectural, cultural, and gastronomic perspective, because of the Venetian influence. It is the only area of Greece that was not taken over by the Ottomans during the Ottoman Empire. Here are just a few of the sights to take advantage of while on the island of Corfu.
Lefkas (Lefkada), the so-called “Caribbean of Greece,” is gradually gaining popularity among visitors to Greece. It is found on the western side of the Greek mainland in the Ionian island group and is reached by car via a bridge from Preveza. Lefkada is known for its incredible beaches, pristine waters, monasteries, museums, and charming villages in the mountains. The closest airport is Aktion National Airport.
The largest island of Greece has a rich history of resistance and victory, various cultural influences, world-famous cuisine, unforgettable hospitality, and a wealth of music and tradition. The enormous coastline offers magnificent beaches, and for adventurers, this island is a real treasure. The island is easy to reach by boat and plane, and it is always a few degrees warmer than the rest of the country due to its southern location. Crete has more beaches than any other island in Greece. The coastline stretches for 1046 kilometers and has many sandy, romantic beaches. Uniquely, Crete has the biggest palm forest in Europe – Vai on the east coast of Crete. The beaches of Balos, Elafonissi, and Falasarna are some of the most popular beaches and are found on the west coast of the island.
The Ionian Coast is also known as the Greek Amalfi Coast, and this endless coastline is dotted with seaside villages, dreamy beaches, mountain towns, archaeological sites, and amazing landscapes. The biggest beauty of the location is that not many people know about it. Some towns on the Ionian coast include Pogonia, Preveza, Syvota, Parga, Igoumenitsa, and Paleros.
Preveza is gaining popularity among tourists to Greece because of its pristine landscapes, nature areas, stunning beaches, and ancient and historical sites. The current town was built over the ancient town of Vereniki, which was founded by the King of Epirus in 290 BC. Monolithi is the longest sandy beach in the EU, a stunning 25 kilometres long. It stretches along the Ionian Sea next to Preveza, extending from the village Mytikas (Cape Komarus) until the village Kastrosykia.
This quiet seaside town has colorful houses built on a hill that leads up to a Venetian castle. Parga feels like a Greek island even though it is on the mainland, and the center of town is full of flowers. The hills around Parga are full of olive trees. The Venetian Castle of Parga is truly a must-see attraction known for its stunning views of the Ionian Sea and the surrounding countryside!
29.06.2026
More and more buyers from the United States and Canada are looking to fulfill their own "Greek dream" by purchasing a holiday home in Greece. According to our data, demand from these two markets increased by 50% during the first half of this year, establishing an entirely new trend in Greece's holiday home market.
25.05.2026
Holiday home prices across Greece are rising by 10.8% this year. According to a recent study of ours, the average price per square meter increased by 10.8% during the January – April period of this year compared to the same period last year, reaching €3,398/sq.m. from €3,067/sq.m. The main reason behind this increase is the significant rise observed in newly built properties, driven by strong purchasing interest from abroad, a sector in which we specialize, promoting properties to foreign buyers, mainly from Northern Europe and the United States. Specifically, in holiday homes purchased off-plan, the average value of signed contracts rose by 12.5% to €507,427. At the same time, the average price per square meter increased by 12%, from €3,790 to €4,245.
Commenting on this development, George Gavriilidis, CEO of Elxis, stated: “This year’s increase and the overall trend highlight the strong interest in newly built homes, despite increases in construction costs due to price adjustments. Buyers seeking modern specifications, high energy efficiency, and flexible usage options, such as personal use or investment purposes, continue to drive demand in the Greek market.”
27.04.2026
Crete, the Peloponnese, and the Ionian Islands stand out this year in terms of demand for holiday homes from international buyers. At the same time, an increasing number of foreign buyers are seeking newly built properties “off-plan” to benefit from lower prices. These findings come from one of the recent analyses.
23.03.2026
A shift is evident this year in the profile of foreign property buyers in Greece, following adjustments to the Golden Visa program. According to an analysis by Elxis – At Home in Greece, demand for residency permits has dropped by 83% compared to last year. This is based on demand data and trends observed through Elxis’ network and its offices in the Netherlands, Thessaloniki, and Crete.
19.01.2026
Our survey forecasts notable changes compared to previous years and the formation of new trends in the holiday home market for 2026. Throughout our research, we identified an increasing shift not only toward luxury and high-end properties, but also toward more affordable holiday homes of smaller surface areas, based on demand observed in selected projects with such characteristics.
17.12.2025
Holiday homes with an average value of €450,000 were the primary choice in 2025 for foreign buyers. This represents a 37.3% increase over 2024, demonstrating international investors’ willingness to spend more to acquire higher-quality properties. This is the main conclusion of our latest survey by Elxis – At Home in Greece.
17.11.2025
Foreign buyers of holiday homes are showing a clear preference this year for more expensive and luxurious properties, as the percentage of those choosing homes worth over €600,000 has tripled. Even though prices have already risen significantly, international buyers continue to view the prospects of the Greek market — and the value it offers — very positively. As a result, they are turning to increasingly high-quality properties to upgrade their quality of life by acquiring the home of their “dreams.” These are some of the conclusions of the latest analysis of holiday-home market trends by Elxis – At Home in Greece (www.elxis.com), a leading company in selling holiday homes to foreign buyers.
24.10.2025
An exponential increase both in the speed of real estate transactions and in the overall size of the real estate market can be achieved through the availability of publicly accessible and reliable data, especially for prospective buyers from third countries. This was the key takeaway from the remarks of Mr. Dion Gavriilidis, Managing Partner of Elxis – At Home in Greece, a leading company in the sale of holiday homes in Greece.
