14.04.2025
Amid global economic uncertainty, real estate investments are making a strong comeback as a “defensive” strategy that also offers considerable returns. According to data from Elxis – At Home in Greece (elxis.com), buying a newly built holiday home in Greece is one of the most attractive options, providing both capital appreciation potential and significant income through rentals.
Over the past 12 months, the purchase price of an 80 sq.m. holiday home in Rethymno, Crete—featuring three bedrooms and a private pool—reached €327,000, representing a 16.7% increase compared to 2023 (€280,000) and a 23.3% rise from 2022 (€265,000). “If the owner also chooses to rent out the property, the potential profit can be even greater,” notes George Gavriilidis, CEO of Elxis.
According to company analysis: A 50–80 sq.m. furnished and equipped home with a terrace and pool can be rented at €80–140 per bedroom per night. Larger homes of 120–150 sq.m. can command €180–240 per bedroom per night. Rental rates depend on factors such as sea view, proximity to the beach and tourist attractions, year of construction, presence of a garden or pool, and distance from the airport.
Final returns are also affected by operational costs. Choosing to work with a management company involves a 10%–30% commission, which usually covers a full suite of services—from cleaning and maintenance to guest reception and support.
Elxis provides the following case: 145 sq.m. home with 3 bedrooms and pool, purchased in 2019 Total investment: €515,000 (€450,000 purchase + €65,000 for transfer, furnishing, and equipment) Net rental profits: €80,000 Capital appreciation by end of 2024: €182,889 Total gain upon potential sale: €262,979 Buying off-plan plays a crucial role in value appreciation, as the buyer benefits from immediate capital gains upon project completion.
According to Mr. Gavriilidis, buyers from the Netherlands and Belgium are the most active investors. Around 50% of them treat holiday homes as investment assets, renting them out during periods they are not in use. Some—especially Dutch buyers—resell their properties within two years, securing a substantial profit. This trend is also growing among German and French buyers, though many still prefer to use their holiday homes mainly for personal vacations. All signs suggest that holiday home investments will continue to gain traction in the coming years.
Elxis - At Home in Greece (https://elxis.com/) is a leading provider of realty and legal services in the Greek market. With offices in Thessaloniki and Crete in Greece, as well as 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 languages are English, Dutch, German, and French.
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.
