09.02.2024
Analyzing trends from among its international clients, Elxis noticed a recent increase in demand for Golden Visas in certain areas of the country. This rise is assumed to be caused by the recent changes in the Golden Visa limits.
Since the writing of this article, Golden Visa minimum requirements have increased. Find the most recent changes here.
“The recent rise of the minimum investment limit, from 250,000 to 500,000 euros in the two major cities of Greece, i.e. Athens (city center, north and south suburbs) and Thessaloniki (city center), has led those investors looking to acquire a Golden Visa permit, to look for other parts, where this doesn’t apply. Among the most popular options emerging, are the areas close to the major cities of Rhodes, Crete, and Chalkidiki”, says Mr. George Gavriilidis, CEO of Elxis. This trend is expected to increase in the next months in 2024. Already, there is an increase in British and US buyers of holiday homes in Greece, specifically with the goal of getting residence permits through the Golden Visa system.
Based on data from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum of Greece, from the beginning of 2023 up until the end of November, the number of permits granted to investors from the UK had grown by 77.8% to reach 370. Similarly, residency permits granted to U.S. citizens (among them many Greek expatriates of second and even third generation), were up by 47.5%, growing from 183 at the start of 2023, to 270 by the end of November. However, it should be noted that those figures are expected to increase over the coming months, as a backlog of requests continues to be approved.
Another emerging trend in 2024 has to do with many foreign buyers’ preference for holiday homes with a small surface area. “What we can see is that the houses that our clients are looking for are getting smaller, but at the same time, much more luxurious, in terms of their aesthetics, but also their amenities. What’s important these days isn’t so much the size of the interior space of the house, or the number of rooms. Instead, the homes most in demand offer well-designed bathrooms and kitchens, as well as beautiful outdoor spaces, such as heated pools, gazebos with lounges, and even an outside kitchen”, explains Mr. Gavriilidis.
The main reason for this shift in buyers’ preferences is the desire to gain the highest possible yield from their property. According to Elxis, this results from the sudden rise in interest rates, which are now similar to the annual yield one can expect from a holiday home. So, it makes sense for investors to invest in a holiday home in Greece between 300,000 and 400,000 euros (instead of 500,000 euros), so they can use their own savings for the purchase and maximize the return on investment. At the same time, they have access to a luxurious house for a few weeks per year.
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.
