24.07.2023
This article was originally published on July 16th in Het Laatste Nieuws, a Dutch-language newspaper that is now the most popular newspaper in Flanders and Belgium. The lovely couple you see pictured below are Paul Maeyens and Ellen Besard, both 58, at their second home in Crete. They are from Deinze, East Flanders. Het Laatste reporters met with Paul and Ellen to learn more about their long-cherised dream of buying a second home in Crete. “Buying a Home in Crete was not always the plan,” admit Paul and Ellen. 6 years ago, they invested in a second home in Crete for retirement, choosing a site in the south of Crete which is quieter and more green when compared to Crete's big cities. The villa they chose is impressively long, at 25 meters, with expansive views of the natural scenery and of the Mediterranean Sea.
Paul sold his candy company and began investing in real estate soon after. The couple first learned about Elxis - At Home in Greece at the Second Home Fair in Belgium. They began searching for a second home in Crete, hoping to rent it out when they weren't visiting. Elxis's team showed them a plot northeast of Plakias, and Paul and Ellen were attracted to the pristine and mountainous landscape. For them, the area offers more than the typical sea view, which can be found elsewhere in Greece.
Paul and Ellen like visiting their Cretan home in shoulder season: "We prefer to stay in Crete in spring, when everything is beautifully green, and in October at the end of the tourist season." The couple shares the home with friends during their visit, but also with renters. Those wishing to vacation at Villa Lithos can do so starting at 1,500 euros per week. For a new construction in the area, it’s possible to find a two-bedroom home from about 210,000 euros.
Paul and Ellen started working with Elxis - At Home in Greece, real estate professionals with offices in both the Netherlands and in Greece. The team is experienced in advising Belgian clients who are unfamiliar with the Greek market. After a viewing of the plot, they fell in love with the area: “When we step down the mountain, it's a kilometer and a half to the beach. Especially in spring, it's impressive to be among the wild orchids and all kinds of flowers." Back in Belgium, their home is a renovated farmhouse. In Crete, they wanted a change in style and chose a modern villa. “We gave our own input, and we were allowed to provide our own sketches. We clearly recognize our hand in this house. For example, we absolutely wanted maximum connection with nature and the house had to be a bungalow.” The couple also focused on accessibility, making sure the house would accommodate them even in old age.
The couple chose to buy furniture locally instead of going to mainland Greece, so they could support local Cretan stores. “That took more time and effort, but we're glad we did it anyway." The countertop they chose is made of a composite material that looks like marble. Paul and Ellen add: "We are still impressed every time because it is so beautiful. When we sit on the couch, it makes it seem like we are outside."
Paul and Ellen organized the bedrooms with their grandkids in mind. There are three bedrooms, each with a bathroom, a terrace, and a large window - so that every guest can wake up to a beautiful view. "Everyone has their own place to retreat for a while. When two families stay here, the kids love lying on the bunk beds."
"We liked to be a bit contrary every now and then," Paul laughs. "For example, the straight lines of the villa were broken by a circular cutout in the concrete awning.” This meant a tree could grow in the cutout. He decided for the infinity pool to be a little longer than originally planned, so at the end it follows the twists and turns of the plot.
07.08.2026
Greece is taking an important step in environmental protection, becoming the first country in the world to deploy a national satellite system for wildfire detection and monitoring. First launched in May and expected to become fully operational in September 2026, the new Hellenic Fire System brings advanced space technology to Greece's efforts against wildfires.
06.08.2026
If you own a home in the Peloponnese or have been quietly thinking about buying one, there is some news you should be aware of: At the end of June, a 40-year concession for Kalamata International Airport "Kapetan Vasilis Konstantakopoulos" was signed by a consortium led by Fraport, together with the Kopelouzos Group's Delta Airport Investments and the Konstantakopoulos Group's PILEAS. According to the National Development Fund, which retains a 10% stake in the new company, the initial concession payment is 45 million euros, and the planned investment programme is expected to exceed 125 million euros over time.
In short: Kalamata's airport is set to roughly double its traffic by 2030, with a new terminal three times the size of the current one. For anyone with a house in the region, or an eye on one, that matters.
03.08.2026
A new regulation regarding the calculation of ENFIA (Eniaios Phoros Idioktesias Akineton/annual property tax) was announced by the Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance. The purpose of this regulation appears to be to address cases where property owners were previously taxed on more square meters than their property actually has. The new regulation, which is expected to take effect in the 2027 tax year, introduces the Electronic Building ID as a key factor in determining taxable floor area.
28.07.2026
As UNESCO recently announced, Mount Olympus – also known as the Home of Ancient Greek Gods, or Greece’s highest mountain – has been added to the list of World Heritage Sites. Of course, Greece welcomed the news with a wave of euphoria, as Mount Olympus is widely recognized for its cultural and natural significance.
23.06.2026
Moving your life to a new country brings enough to think about, including the costs. For those settling permanently in Greece, there is some welcome news on that front. Bringing your household belongings and even your car can come with relief from customs duty, VAT and vehicle registration tax. The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has recently set out clearer rules on how this works. It's important to clarify that this relief is not exactly new, but what has changed is a significant detail: a recent AADE circular (reference E.2027/2026) spells out the eligibility, the supporting documents and the procedure, with the aim of handling applications more consistently across customs offices.
14.05.2026
For many people who own, or plan to buy, a home in Greece, the journey is part of the experience. Some fly directly to Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, or Chania. Others prefer slower travel, combining trains, ferries, buses, and regional routes across Europe. Until now, however, planning a cross-border trip by train has often required patience, several booking platforms, and a healthy tolerance for uncertainty. A new proposal from the European Commission aims to make that process much simpler. The plan introduces a more unified system for booking cross-border journeys across Europe, especially train journeys involving more than one operator. The goal is clear: travellers should be able to search, compare, and book a complete journey through one platform, even when different transport companies are involved. For international buyers, second-home owners, and regular visitors to Greece, this could become an important step towards easier, more flexible travel across Europe.
07.05.2026
If you own property in specific areas of the Regional Unit of Rethymno in Crete, there is an important deadline to keep in mind. As of 30 April 2026, the posting of cadastral data begins for several areas in Rethymno, giving property owners the opportunity for the first time to review how their property has been recorded in the Hellenic Cadastre. This is an important stage in the cadastral process. It allows each owner to check the legal and technical details of their property before the records become final. In simple terms, this is the moment to confirm that your property has been correctly registered and, if something is wrong, to request a correction within the official deadline.
30.04.2026
Buying a home in Greece has always come with a long list of pleasures: sea views, sunny terraces, village squares, fresh fish by the water, and the small but serious joy of never being too far from a good bakery. Soon, for many destinations, there may be another reason to smile: better airports. Greece is preparing for a new wave of airport upgrades, with a major tender planned for 22 regional airports that are still under state management. The project is expected to mark the next chapter in the modernization of Greek aviation infrastructure, following the earlier upgrade of the 14 regional airports managed by Fraport Greece. For travellers, this means smoother journeys. For local communities, it means better connectivity. And for international property buyers, it could make certain areas of Greece even more attractive.
