20.07.2026
Crete ranks first among the preferred destinations of foreign holiday home buyers this year. According to data collected from our client base, during 2026, one-third of buyers chose Crete for the purchase of a holiday home. These buyers mainly come from Western European countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. It is also noteworthy that 76.6% of prospective buyers plan to proceed with the purchase of a holiday home within the next 12 months, while half of that percentage, or 38.3% of the total, intend to move forward within the next six months.
At the same time, according to our data, 36.5% of buyers who "vote" for Crete have a budget of up to €400,000, while an additional 22% are willing to invest between €400,000 and €600,000. It is also interesting that seven out of ten buyers (71%) choose newly built properties, or homes that have been constructed in recent years, while buyers' priorities include sea views, proximity to the sea and the presence of a swimming pool.
Commenting on these figures, Elxis’ CEO Mr. Giorgos Gavriilidis stated:
"The large size of Crete means that there is still a significant supply of plots suitable for the construction of new homes, especially in areas close to the sea, which is the main requirement of buyers from abroad. It is also important that Crete has perhaps the longest tourist season in Greece, thanks to its mild climate, while also enjoying a very strong tourism brand name. This allows owners of modern holiday homes to expect highly satisfactory returns and profits should they decide to make their property available for rental exploitation."
Another particularly important advantage is the fact that property prices in Crete continue to remain at reasonable levels, clearly more affordable than in other parts of the country, such as the Ionian Islands and the Cyclades. Specifically, today in Crete, a newly built villa with a swimming pool sold off-plan starts at €3,800 per square meter and can reach as much as €4,500 per square meter, depending on the construction specifications and location. At the same time, in Corfu, a house of similar specifications may cost up to €5,600 per square meter, while in Lefkada it may reach €5,500 per square meter. For precisely this reason, holiday homes in Crete also enjoy excellent resale value.
In addition, the size of the island still allows anyone interested to look for property in less well-known, yet equally beautiful areas.
"We see that our clients are constantly looking for new places to explore and invest in, from southern and eastern Crete to the western part of the island. Given that the island's infrastructure will be significantly upgraded in the coming years, with the operation of the new Kastelli Airport and the Northern Road Axis of Crete (VOAK), we expect a further increase in investment interest from abroad," Mr. Gavriilidis noted.
This accessibility itself constitutes an important competitive advantage, as flights now operate 52 weeks a year from the Netherlands to Heraklion, making travel easier for foreign buyers.
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.
