4. Take a Moment to Breathe
The decision to buy a home in Greece is made by both the head and the heart. The considerations of finances, location, accessibility, and year of construction are all relevant to your decision. Beyond these factors, we recommend taking some time to sit quietly in any home you are seriously considering buying. Ideally, this is without conversation and without any real estate agent in the room. It is a time for you to be alone with your thoughts. Imagine the home as your own, to see if the “feel” of the house is right for you.
5. Sign a Power of Attorney
If you enjoy your viewing trip in Greece, there's one more stop you should make before returning home. No, it's not the beach... (although that should be on your agenda as well). Your trip to view homes in Greece may be a good opportunity to sign a Power of Attorney. The Power of Attorney (POA) is a key step in the process of buying a house in Greece. With a POA, your lawyer can represent you throughout the entire purchase process and take any necessary actions on your behalf, even when you’re not in Greece. For example, your lawyer will be able to obtain a Greek Tax Number and sign the final contract on your behalf. It’s helpful to sign a POA while physically in Greece (instead of waiting before you return home) because in Greece, you can sign a POA at any local Public Notary Office. In your home country, you can most likely only do it at the Greek Consulate. Also, it is usually more expensive in your home country than in Greece.
Are Viewing Trips for Everyone?
While we highly recommend visiting a property in Greece before buying, we recognize that it may be difficult for some to make the journey to Greece, either because of the long distance, a busy work schedule, or personal reasons. Some people who want to buy a home in Greece as an investment may choose to buy a home without seeing it, because they don’t plan to use the home personally. For these people, a virtual viewing can be a good alternative.