Buying a home in Greece: costs, process and prices

Greece's catalogue of homes for sale spans island villages, port towns and city neighbourhoods, and the figures in this guide describing our own catalogue are a snapshot of listings on 6 October 2026, showing asking prices rather than completed sales, and are not official statistics. The legal and cost information below is general guidance verified in October 2026 and can change, so always confirm current rules with a local lawyer, notary or tax advisor before committing to a purchase.

Can foreigners buy?

EU citizens can buy property in Greece without restriction. Non-EU citizens need a permit for property located in designated border areas, which include a number of islands and regions near the country's borders; a local lawyer can confirm whether a specific property falls inside one of these zones before you make an offer. Every buyer, regardless of nationality, also needs an AFM, the Greek tax number, which must be obtained before a purchase can proceed.

Costs and taxes on top of the price

Buying a resale home in Greece carries a transfer tax of 3 percent of the declared price, plus a municipal surcharge, bringing the total to 3.09 percent. Notary, land registry and legal fees typically add a further 2.5 percent or so on top. If you use an agent, the buyer's side customarily pays a fee of 2 percent plus VAT. These costs sit on top of the agreed purchase price and are worth budgeting for from the outset, alongside the price itself.

• Transfer tax: 3 percent plus municipal surcharge, 3.09 percent in total on resale homes
• Notary, registry and legal fees: around 2.5 percent
• Agent fee: buyer side typically pays 2 percent plus VAT

How the purchase works

Once your AFM is in place, a lawyer checks the title at the Ktimatologio, the Greek land registry, and reviews the building permits connected to the property. This step confirms that the seller holds clear title and that any construction or alterations are properly recorded, which matters in a market where older houses may have additions built up over time. The purchase is then completed by notarial deed, with the notary formalising the transfer in the presence of both parties or their representatives. This title and permit check, carried out by a lawyer acting for the buyer rather than any agent involved in the sale, is standard practice for every purchase in Greece.

What homes cost in our catalogue

On 6 October 2026, our catalogue listed 459 homes for sale in Greece, all recorded as houses. The median asking price was 210,000 euros, with a median size of 84 square metres, which works out to a median price of 2,860 euros per square metre. The lower quartile of asking prices was 150,000 euros and the upper quartile was 360,000 euros. Only 8 percent of listings, 36 homes, were priced under 100,000 euros.

The most listed places in the catalogue were Athens, with 105 listings and a median asking price of 260,000 euros, and Chania, with 77 listings and a median asking price of 350,000 euros. Thessaloniki itself had 48 listings at a median of 171,000 euros, and the Thessaloniki district of Kentro had 45 listings at a median of 173,000 euros. Kalamaria had 19 listings at a median of 250,000 euros, and Kupsele had 18 listings at a median of 198,000 euros.

Budget shapes what is realistically available. The table below shows what each budget typically bought in our catalogue on the day of the snapshot.

Budget	Listings in range	Typical size	Typical bedrooms
100,000 euros	50	50 square metres	1
250,000 euros	101	88 square metres	2
500,000 euros	57	112 square metres	3

Residency and living there

Greece's Golden Visa programme offers residency in exchange for a qualifying property investment. In Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and islands with more than 3,100 inhabitants, the required investment is 800,000 euros. Elsewhere in the country, the threshold is 400,000 euros. In both cases, the property must be at least 120 square metres, and it cannot be let out as a short-term rental. Buyers considering this route should discuss the current requirements and their own circumstances with a local lawyer or tax advisor, since programme rules can change.

Before you view

Before arranging viewings, get your AFM application moving, since you will need it to proceed with any purchase. Line up a local lawyer who can check the Ktimatologio title and building permits for any property you are serious about, and ask a notary or tax advisor to walk you through the transfer tax, registry and legal fees, and agent fee you can expect on top of the asking price. If you are a non-EU citizen, ask early whether a property you are considering sits within a designated border area requiring a permit, since this can affect timing. And if residency through the Golden Visa is part of your plan, confirm the current investment threshold for the location you have in mind, along with the 120 square metre and short-term rental conditions, before you make an offer.

Browse current homes for sale in Greece, estimate taxes and fees with the buying-costs calculator, or read the latest Journal article on Greece.

Rules, taxes and fees are general information verified in October 2026 and can change; regional rules may differ. Catalogue figures are asking prices of homes listed in the European Cribs catalogue on 6 October 2026 and are not official statistics. This guide is not legal, tax or investment advice — for an actual purchase, work with a local lawyer, notary or tax advisor. Cover photo: Oliver LOK / Pexels.