What is it like to buy a home in Crete as a Dutch citizen? What is the hardest part about buying a home in Greece if I’m Dutch? What is the best part about buying a home in Greece if I’m Dutch?
We asked the help of Mary Haagsma, an experienced Dutch buyer of homes in Greece. She has bought not one, but two homes in Greece – one on the Ionian Coast and the other in Crete.
In this article, she shares her learnings for Dutch buyers – how to find a good builder, home-searching tips, and cultural changes to expect.
Mary Buys Her Second Home in Greece
Mary’s two homes are in two of the most famous areas of Greece: The Ionian coast and Crete. The first home was in Paleros on the Ionian coast (pictured above), which she purchased with Elxis. “We bought the home in 2019, and it was completed after 2 years, in 2021.”
It was not long after that Mary and her partner starting looking for a second home in Greece, seeking a more private location. After consulting with Elxis’s founding team about which area of Greece to search in, Mary started focusing more on the island of Crete, Greece’s largest island.
Mary says the most reassuring words she heard were, “the worst thing that can happen is you have a home in Greece.” Mary traveled around Crete with Elxis’s founding team members, as well as the builder, and slowly was drawn to a project in Agia Galini in the southern, more quiet coast of the island.
Experience with Elxis
Elxis did the process of buying both homes for Mary and her partner. Mary also had the opportunity to travel around Crete with Elxis and the builder to find the location that “stole her heart.”
Experience with the Builder
Mary had a multitude of good things to say about the builder, TETRAKTYS, who went above and beyond to help her during the purchase process. “TETAKTYS did a fantastic job not just with the building, but also were perfect with management and support on all tasks related to her business entity.”
What Made you Decide on Agia Galini?
For their second home in Greece, Mary and her partner wanted somewhere with ultimate seclusion and privacy. “Dion infected us with a love for the south of Crete and we thought, ‘we want to do this one more time.’” The sea and environment also were an important factor in the decision.
The area was previously unknown to Mary: “We didn’t know Agia Galini that well. The opportunity came up because it fit our requirements: to find a house at another level of building.”
What was the Biggest Cultural Change?
Mary loves Greece’s culture. She notes that “Greeks have a strong national identity and they have a very open mind.” She commented on the kindness and hardworking nature of the Greek people.
“We love Greece the whole year! In the holiday season it’s beautiful; in the pre-season its even better because of temperature and nature; and in winter time it’s less busy and nice for all kind of trips.”
Which is Better: Dutch or Greek Food?
Mary loves both cultures’ foods, but especially likes the freshness of foods in Greece. “I like things that are more natural, and in Greece you really notice the difference. The tomatoes, for example, have a different flavor because they weren’t grown in a greenhouse.”
What was the Best Part about Buying a Home in Greece?
“The best part is simple – you get to have a home in Greece at the end of the day.”
What was the Hardest Part about Buying a Home in Greece?
“There can sometimes be bureaucracy, but this isn’t much different from what you can expect in The Netherlands.”
What are Your Recommendations for Dutch People Buying a Home in Greece?
Greek Builders
Mary recommends working with an excellent Greek builder, like TETRAKTYS on Crete, or Paleros Dream Homes in Paleros. Mary notes, “We had a great relationship with our builders, and there were only minor changes by the end of the project.”
Rental Management
Mary also recommends the Dutch to leave rental arrangements to local experts instead of managing it yourself. “It’s best to leave the renting out process to a professional company, especially if you buy in a project with other villas built next to yours.” Mary recommends using an external company as well for maintenance.
