09.12.2024
The outcome of the recent U.S. elections is emerging as a "catalyst" for the surge in American interest in purchasing vacation homes in Greece. This development has triggered a "wave" of people, who have become disillusioned by the election results and are seeking opportunities abroad, particularly in Europe.
According to research by Elxis – At Home In Greece, a company specializing in vacation home sales in Greece, the number of U.S.-based visitors to its website increased tenfold in the two weeks following the elections compared to the same period in 2023. Compared to October, the number quadrupled, and viewing inquiries from prospective buyers also rose at a similar rate. Another indicator is that in November, Americans surpassed visitors from any other country on Elxis’s social media platforms. The data clearly show a sharp increase in demand for vacation homes in Greece from American buyers following the elections. However, this trend was evident throughout 2024. George Gavriilidis, CEO of Elxis, explained, “interest from U.S. buyers was already significantly higher in 2024 compared to 2023. Depending on the period, we had three to six times more American visitors to our website this year compared to 2023. What has changed after the recent elections is the rapid acceleration of this trend.”
According to Mr. Gavriilidis, “In 2024, one in eight of our clients (12.3%) came from the U.S., and we predict that in 2025, the U.S. will rank third after Germany and the Netherlands.” This development is particularly noteworthy because U.S. buyers tend to have larger budgets. In 2024, the average sale price of vacation homes through Elxis was €378,500 for all buyers, but U.S. buyers invested an average of €514,000.
It is worth noting that international companies specializing in investment migration programs (e.g., “Golden Visa”) report similar trends. For instance, Henley & Partners recently noted that inquiries from U.S. citizens surged by 400% in the week following the U.S. elections compared to the previous week. However, many of these individuals do not intend to permanently relocate but to use a property in Greece as an option, like an insurance policy.
According to the latest data from the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum (October 2024), initial residence permits issued to U.S. citizens reached 369, representing a 45.8% increase compared to the same month in 2023. This places American investors in the Golden Visa program in the seventh-highest position compared to other countries. Elxis predicts a significant rise in these numbers, as nearly 10,000 pending residence permit applications, dating back to mid-2023, have yet to be processed. Therefore, the increased demand over the past 12 months is not yet reflected in official permit data.
Elxis - At Home in Greece (https://elxis.com/) is an expert provider of realty and legal services in the Greek market. With offices in Thessaloniki and Crete in Greece, and Utrecht in the Netherlands, Elxis's team of highly qualified property professionals has over 30 years of experience in managing residential property investments. The company covers the needs of its international clientele in the best way possible, with a team of seven legal experts, as well as with personnel whose native spoken language is English, Dutch and German.
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.
