Buying Property in Greece: Steps & Buyer Checks

Start with your intended use and total budget, compare specific units, review the documents, and arrange the purchase, registration and handover. These eight steps explain what to prepare, who to consult and which records to keep.

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How to buy property in Greece: eight practical steps

Property readiness and contract arrangements can change the sequence. Ask the professionals representing the buyer to confirm the arrangements before signing binding documents or making payments.

Define your intended use and total budget

Explain whether you plan to live in the property, hold it, rent it out or also pursue a residence application. Set your preferred location, unit type, intended use date and funding plan. Allow for the purchase price, transaction charges and ongoing ownership costs.

If residence is also an objective, check the proposed route, property requirements and intended use before committing to a shortlist.

Confirm at this stage: selection criteria, funding budget and any residence questions requiring separate review.

Arrange professional review and tax setup

Appoint a Greek lawyer representing the buyer for legal and title review, an engineer for technical review, and clarify responsibilities and fees with the notary and tax adviser. Non-resident buyers also need to obtain or verify their Greek tax number, AFM. Confirm the current application channel and documents with AADE or your tax adviser. AADE: non-resident tax-number guidance

If someone will act on your behalf, have a Greek lawyer or notary review the authorization scope and confirm signing, certification and translation requirements. Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs: power of attorney

Confirm at this stage: professional responsibilities, tax number and any required power of attorney.

Compare projects and identify the exact unit

Use the project directory to shortlist locations and project stages. Request the unit’s exact address, floor, plans, area definitions, included spaces, specifications, current price and availability. For construction or conversion projects, also confirm progress, delivery specifications and expected milestones.

A directory listing does not confirm that an individual unit remains for sale. Request a current unit information file.

Confirm at this stage: the exact unit, information date, price inclusions and current project status.

Open the project directory and compare properties

Complete title, legal and technical checks

Ask the buyer’s lawyer to check the seller’s authority, title and registration records, mortgages, attachments, third-party rights and other restrictions. Ask an engineer to compare the property as it stands with permits, use records, plans and area documents, and identify issues requiring resolution.

Check whether your intended use is feasible. If a residence application is planned, separately review the property and transaction against the proposed route.

Confirm at this stage: written findings, outstanding issues and conditions to satisfy before signing.

Review reservation terms and payment arrangements

If the transaction uses a reservation agreement or deposit, have the buyer’s lawyer review it before payment. Identify the exact unit, amount, payee, payment milestones, review conditions and what happens if a condition is not met.

Do not rely on verbal assurances to interpret refund or release conditions. Reconcile payment instructions with the contract and payment purpose, and retain records linked to the transaction.

Confirm at this stage: the reviewed agreement, written payment instructions and applicable refund or release conditions.

Complete tax formalities and sign the notarial deed

Confirm the transaction’s applicable tax treatment, declarations and payment arrangements with the notary and tax adviser. Where real estate transfer tax applies, arrange the required declaration and payment before the notarial purchase. AADE: real estate transfer tax

Before signing, reconcile the parties, property, price, payment record, included spaces and handover terms. Arrange any translation or proxy-signing formalities in advance.

Confirm at this stage: the final notarial deed, applicable tax records and payment evidence.

Track registration and obtain completion evidence

After signing, establish who submits the deed to the competent registry. Track status, fees and requests for further documents, and obtain the relevant registration completion evidence. The official digital transfer manual distinguishes application status, legal-review decisions and registration certificates: a submitted application still needs follow-up. Official digital property transfer manual

Separately, have your tax adviser check the E9 property statement or automatically generated record, applicable deadline and any corrections. E9 is a tax record and does not confirm that title registration has been completed. AADE: E9 and ENFIA

Confirm at this stage: registration completion evidence and the checked E9 record.

Inspect handover and arrange ongoing ownership

Inspect the property against the contract. Record keys, equipment, condition, outstanding items and responsibility for resolving them. Organize final plans, warranties and the complete transaction file, then arrange utilities, common charges, insurance and any management services you need.

During ownership, monitor applicable obligations such as annual ENFIA property tax and have your tax adviser confirm declarations and payment arrangements. AADE: property ownership taxation

Confirm at this stage: the handover record, open-item list, property file and ongoing ownership budget.

What should your purchase budget include?

Request an itemized estimate for the specific transaction, separating one-off charges from continuing ownership costs.

Cost category	What to confirm before signing
Property price	Exact unit, inclusions, payment milestones and currency
Applicable transaction taxes	Tax treatment, taxable basis and any exemption eligibility
Notary and registration	Itemized charges, payment timing and responsibility
Legal, engineering and other services	Engagement scope, quotation, service taxes and exclusions
Translation and authorization	Whether needed, where completed and associated fees
Ownership and use	ENFIA, common charges, utilities, insurance, maintenance and applicable management costs

The advertised property price may not represent your full expenditure. Confirm the total for your unit, transaction structure and service arrangements.

Which documents should you request first?

Start with the chosen project’s information file. Have your professionals confirm completeness and relevance to the transaction.

Unit information: project code, exact unit, address, floor, area definitions, plans and included spaces.
Commercial terms: dated quotation, availability, payment terms, delivery specifications and timetable.
Legal and technical information: title and registration records, relevant permits, use records and applicable engineering documents.
Transaction documents: draft reservation or purchase agreement, itemized fees and payment instructions.
Completion records: notarial deed, payment evidence, registration completion evidence, checked E9 record and handover record.

Choose a project from the directory Request current information from Santheos

Greece property buying questions

Can I prepare a purchase while living outside Greece?

AADE’s buyer guidance covers people living abroad, and tax-number preparation also applies to non-residents. Other requirements may depend on your identity, funding and the property’s location. Have a Greek lawyer and tax adviser check your circumstances. AADE: before buying a property

Can a representative act under a power of attorney?

A representative can carry out appropriately authorized purchase acts. Have a Greek lawyer or notary confirm the scope, execution and document formalities, and check any steps requiring personal action separately. The linked ministry guidance describes the US consular procedure; consult the competent authority for your location. Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs: power of attorney

Does buying property automatically grant a Golden Visa?

Purchase and residence applications are separate procedures. Property and transaction eligibility, as well as the application documents, require separate review; the competent authority decides the permit. If residence is an objective, read the existing official Greece Golden Visa guidance. Official residence application procedure example

How long does a purchase take?

Timing depends on file readiness, resolution of title and technical issues, funding, and notarial and registration arrangements. Request a written timetable for the selected property, with the prerequisites for each milestone.

How much should I allow beyond the purchase price?

Obtain separate quotations from the relevant service providers and have the notary or tax adviser confirm applicable taxes. Include transaction charges and ownership costs rather than replacing an itemized estimate with a universal percentage.

Is there anything to follow up after signing the deed?

Obtain the relevant registration completion evidence and check E9, handover and ongoing administration. Retain the deed, payment and registration records for ownership and future transactions. Official digital property transfer manual

Check the official requirements

Sources reviewed: 7 October 2026. Confirm the rules and competent-authority requirements applicable when your transaction is processed.

This page provides general buyer information. Santheos can explain projects and coordinate information; the specific transaction should be reviewed by independent Greek legal, engineering and tax professionals.

Put the process into practice: compare projects

Browse Santheos projects by location and status. Tell us your budget, intended use and preferred area. If you already have a shortlist, include the project code when requesting current unit information, pricing, availability and project documents.

Browse Greece property projects Request current project details