I want to buy a home in Greece. What are the most useful websites for me?
1. Starting Your Search: Spitogatos
Spitogatos is a good starting point for searching for a home in Greece, as it is the largest portal for Greek properties that are for sale or rent. Spitogatos’s price index will show you the evolution of prices in the Greek real estate market, based on millions of property listings in Greece. Select rent or sale, area and category of property you are interested in and the charts will show the price evolution over time.
Keep in mind that Spitogatos functions like eBay. Anyone can put their home or plot on the website, so there is a wide range of quality. It includes the good, the bad, and everything in between. Homes listed here haven’t gone under the same checks as a home listed on a registered real estate agent’s website. In short, Spitogatos is a good way to see the overall home market in Greece from a bird’s eye view as you start your search.
2. Getting Serious About Your Search: Elxis – At Home in Greece
There are many possible pitfalls when buying a home in Greece, if you choose to do it on your own with a site like Spitogatos.
Language barriers, bureaucratic processes, and distance are all challenges when buying property on your own in Greece. Not getting the right price, not understanding the local market, and dealing with local bureaucracy are all possible if you don’t have the right help.
Purchasing a property in Greece is a life-changing decision, and Elxis is here to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. With decades of experience and a team of dedicated professionals, we provide comprehensive support at every stage of your property journey. We get you the best possible price while managing the sale for you.
Elxis – At Home in Greece vs. Spitogatos
Spitogatos is a platform where anyone can post listings, so the accuracy can vary. Properties can be sold but still listed as available, the information provided might be incorrect, and prices mentioned may not be in line with the property’s market value. If you want a clearer picture of the market, working with a trusted real estate agency might be a better bet—they can help you navigate the true value of properties.
The properties on our website are carefully chosen to reflect current market trends. Our focus is on homes that are in demand right now, including second homes, standalone villas, new developments, and some more traditional Greek houses. Plus, you can also search with the peace of mind that all properties are legally built and that the price accurately reflects the property’s value.
3. Gov.gr
The gov.gr website is a valuable resource for anyone looking to buy a home in Greece. Here are some of the most useful things you’ll find there:
You’ll find details on Greece’s Visa options for foreigners, as well as the various documents needed to apply for them. You’ll find information on real estate transfer tax, property tax, and other costs you may encounter. Gov.gr also lists programs that offer financial assistance or incentives to first-time homebuyers or young families.
The Gov.gr website is, unfortunately, very hard to navigate. Although it’s available in English, you will likely need help navigating the information there. The best solution is to consult with a real estate agent or lawyer who specializes in property transactions in Greece. They can provide personalized guidance so that Gov.gr becomes a useful tool in your home-buying process.
4. Learning Greek: Duolingo
It’s not necessary to learn Greek when buying a home in Greece. But it can be useful! Duolingo is a free and fun way to learn Greek. It’s like playing games while you study Greek. You’ll learn basic words and how to put them together in sentences.
Even knowing a few basic phrases will make your trip much easier and more enjoyable. You can use it on your phone or computer, so you can learn whenever you have time. While Duolingo won’t make you completely fluent, it’s a great way to begin your Greek language journey before you travel. It can help you understand signs, order food, and talk to people, making your experience in Greece much richer. If you prefer (paid) online lessons from a real human, the italki website is a great alternative.
5. Getting to Greece: Skyscanner
One thing you’ll likely do when buying a home in Greece is travel to the country. This isn’t always the case, since some investors might buy a home without ever visiting, but a large majority of our clients travel to Greece multiple times in the home buying process.
From the time you start the search to the time the final paperwork is complete, most new homeowners in Greece visit at least once. Some might visit 2-5 times. For example, you might visit once to view homes in your favourite areas, a second time to view the construction process (if it’s an off-plan home), and a third time when the final paperwork is complete. Of course, many visitors use this opportunity for a vacation, as well! Other homebuyers in Greece will visit only once – when the purchase process is complete – because they live far away, have a busy 9-5 job in their home country, or simply can’t find the time to come.
That’s where Skyscanner comes in handy when travelling to Greece. Skyscanner lets you search across tons of airlines at once to find the absolute cheapest flights. You can be flexible with your dates too, and see how prices change – that can save you money, which is important when you’re making a big investment like buying a house.
6. Building On Your Land: Forest Cadaster
The Greek Forest Cadaster is a map of Greece that separates public forest lands from privately owned land. This is important during the home purchase or building process in Greece because you need to check if any part of your home is located on forestry land.
If you have land in an area that is now classified as forestry land, as the landowner you have limitations on building and developing there. This is because forestry land, along with coastland and archaeological sites, are considered common use and belonging to the state. You can only build on the sections of your land which are not defined as forest land.
It’s best to check with the official forest service website, not just the seller of a piece of land or locals. Many sellers will claim you can build on their land, for example. You can check the state of your land at https://gis.ktimanet.gr/gis/forestfinal.
The green areas represent forest land. The yellow lands are defined as private lands. The neutral color represents areas where there was an objection. You can click the “info” button on any area of the map for more specific details and the 2-letter designation.
Your lawyer in Greece will likely be the one accessing the Forest Cadaster, but it’s useful for you to know how it works.
7. Registering Your Home: Land Cadaster
The National Cadaster (Ktimatologio) is the new digital property registry system of Greece.
Every owner of a property in Greece, no matter whether they have owned it for one day, a month or for 50 years, has to register themselves with the National Cadaster when their region is eligible for registration. Below is an image of The National Cadaster on the Greek government’s website, which is searchable by region.
Who Needs to Register with the Greek National Cadaster?
Greek law dictates that any person or legal entity with real estate property rights of any kind is obliged to register his/her ownership rights with the Greek Cadaster by submitting the relevant statements and documentation that include an application form, title ownership, land survey, and a Greek ID card or passport information.
Once completed, each property is assigned a 12-digit code number, the “KAEK”, in reference to title ownership and location, which helps guarantee and secure future property rights and claims.
Like the Forest Cadaster, it is important to be advised by an expert when registering.
8. Paying Taxes: TAXISNet
The TAXISNet system is where you will report and pay property taxes. TAXISNet will also contain important tax documents related to your home in Greece. You’ll get access to this system when you buy a home in Greece.
But how do I get access if I’ve never been in the Greek tax system before? The answer is simple. To get access to TAXISNet, you will need a Greek tax number — known as an AFM.
The procedure for obtaining it is quite simple. A tax number is issued free of charge by the Greek tax authorities on presentation of a valid identity document and after completing a special application form.
If you have given us a power of attorney, we can apply for the tax number on your behalf. Note that a Greek bank account is NOT a requirement for buying a home in Greece.
If you own a home in Greece, you’ll need to file a tax return using TAXISNet every year, even if you don’t rent out the property. Your accountant will help you file your taxes and keep track of ENFIA payments (the main annual property tax in Greece.) Your accountant will also inform you about upcoming changes in tax legislation in Greece.
9. Electricity: DEI
Your Greek energy provider’s website is the most relevant when you complete the home purchase process. To add your name to the electricity bill, you can apply with any electricity company in Greece. There are a variety of suppliers, but most of our clients choose “DEI” (or ΔΕΗ) in Greece, which is the Public Power Company. You can submit your application with any DEI office in Greece, regardless of where the property lies.
Alternatively, you can register online at “myDEI“, an easy to follow website that lets you control your electric plan digitally. myDEI even has an app for your mobile phone. In select cases, it may be required to go into a store, but in most cases the whole registration process can happen through the myDEI website or app, and we recommend this method to our clients.
10. Rentals: Notos Real Estate Management
This will be relevant to you if you want to rent out your property in Crete or if you live in another country for most of the year and need help maintaining your Cretan home. One example of a high-quality property management company in Crete is Notos Estate Management.
Notos is known for its 5-star service, offering top-notch rental management services for private villa owners in Crete. Working with a property management company like Notos can drastically improve your return on investment on your property in Greece.
11. Maintenance: Douleutaras
If you don’t have a dedicated Estate Management Company, Douletaras is an online service that lets you easily arrange home repairs and maintenance. Imagine owning a villa on a Greek island but living abroad. A pipe bursts, the air conditioning fails during a heatwave, or the garden becomes overgrown. Douleutaras can source reliable and qualified plumbers, electricians, gardeners, or other tradespeople.
They can get quotes, oversee the work, and ensure it’s completed. This eliminates the need for the homeowner to fly to Greece for every small repair, saving time and money.
12. Orders: Skroutz.gr
Do you need to order something for your new home, but you’re in a village and don’t have the time to drive to the nearest furniture store? Did you buy an off-plan home in Greece and need to furnish it quickly before you can move in? Want to have something delivered to the door of your Greek holiday home so that when you fly in from abroad, it will be waiting for you?
Skroutz might be the right choice. It’s an e-commerce platform that can ship just about anything to your home in Greece. If you’re used to Amazon in the United States or other large e-commerce sites in Europe, don’t expect quite as quick of a delivery. Delivery times depend on the seller (since many vendors are found on Skroutz) and often vary from two days to one week.
The name of the company is inspired by Scrooge, who is a Charles Dickens’ character, and is known for being stingy, always wanting the lowest price for whatever he buys.
Stay Informed on Greek Real Estate Market Insights, Updates, Tips, and More
