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 of 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 is from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.
Ionian Islands
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.
Crete
Over the same period, the growth in construction activity in Crete was 37.4%.
Western Greece
Over the same period, the growth in construction activity in Western Greece it was 38.1%.
How Does this Compare to Building in Athens?
During the first two months of the year, the volume of construction activity in Attica was lower by 3.4%.
How Were These Numbers Calculated?
These percentages are found by comparing March 2023 – February 2024 to the same period a year before (March 2022 – February 2023).
Off-Plan Villas
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.
Crete Projects
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 a 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.
Ionian Coast Projects
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.
Ionian Islands Projects
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.
About the Ionian Islands
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.
About Corfu
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.
About Lefkas
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.
About Crete
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 the 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.
About Western Greece
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
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.
Parga
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!
