| Living the Dream | | | | different issue!). Most Greeks aren't interested in |
| If you are planning to buy a property in Greece | | | | employing people who do not have a good |
| or even just thinking about it you will need a guide | | | | knowledge of the Greek language unless it deals |
| to help you though the Greek property purchasing | | | | exclusively with foreigners. Are there any jobs in |
| process. Whether you dream of a beach villa, | | | | your profession or trade in the area that you plan |
| village house or an apartment in the town, it is | | | | to live? Answer to these questions and others |
| important to avoid the pitfalls of buying a | | | | can be quite disheartening. However, it is better |
| property in Greece in order to make your | | | | to ask them before moving to Greece, rather |
| dreams come true. | | | | than afterwards. |
| The Dream Verses Reality | | | | The Greek equivalent of the English Job Centre is |
| In your favourite daydream you have decided to | | | | the OAED which has a special department for |
| leave your present home behind you and settle in | | | | Europeans seeking work, although you should |
| another country. You pack your belongings and | | | | expect it to be easy to find a job. Unemployment |
| leave your country behind. You can imagine the | | | | rates in mainland Greece is generally high. It is |
| little table, chair and parasol on your terrace | | | | higher still on the islands. Some islanders can only |
| overlooking the beach. You are watching the sun | | | | find work during the summer season, when |
| set peacefully into to azure sea, while drinking a | | | | tourists visit. This means they either have to |
| glass of local red wine and eating olives hand | | | | save enough money when they are working to |
| picked from your own trees. You are relaxing | | | | live on during the winter, or learn to survive on |
| away from the stresses and strains of your | | | | unemployment benefit in the winter months. |
| current life and enjoying a life that you so rightly | | | | Unemployment benefit is only paid if they have |
| deserve... | | | | enough national insurance stamps credited to |
| Well, we all have fantasies but, this is the real | | | | them over eighteen months. Working one |
| world and things are simply not always that easy. | | | | summer season will not earn you enough to be |
| Are you planning to book a cheap package holiday | | | | paid benefits. If you are self employed in Greece |
| for a week or two, spend a couple of days | | | | you are not entitled to benefits at all. |
| looking around, and then buy the perfect little | | | | Looking For Your Dream Greek Property |
| house on the spot? Or have you really thought | | | | After you have answered all these question and |
| about what's involved in purchasing a property in | | | | more your will be ready to start looking for a |
| Greece? Have you done your homework, | | | | property to suit you and your family. Now do |
| research and planning? Do you know where you | | | | your research. The internet is a helpful tool. Listed |
| want to live when you reach your dream | | | | below are links to relevant articles and information |
| destination? A little forward planning will help you | | | | about property and the prefecture of Messinia |
| achieve your goal of living the dream. It's much | | | | which will help with your research. |
| better than leaving things to chance. | | | | Take notes about the kind of properties that are |
| What do I really want from a property in | | | | available and their location. Also note down any |
| Greece? | | | | that are just below your price range (just below, |
| The first question you should ask yourself is | | | | because you will need some money to pay for |
| exactly why you wish to purchase property in | | | | taxes, legal fees, and hidden costs of buying |
| Greece. For example, are you looking for a | | | | property). Discuss the properties that you have |
| retirement or holiday home? Do you want a | | | | found with your family and friends. Find out about |
| summer, winter or permanent home? Are you | | | | the area to see if it suits your requirements. |
| seeking a sound investment or do you wish to | | | | Study maps and guide book descriptions of each |
| work or start a business? Probably you will find | | | | location. |
| that there are a number of reasons you wish to | | | | When you have established what your |
| buy a property in Greece. If this is the case there | | | | requirements are contact the real estate sites |
| are many more factor to take into consideration | | | | you have been looking at. Find out if the online |
| then just buying a holiday home. Take some time | | | | property list is up to date, quite often agents only |
| to decide what kind of property you would like to | | | | advertise a small selection of the properties that |
| purchase, and then discuss your ideas with your | | | | they have available. Let the agents know your full |
| partner and family. If you are at all unsure of | | | | requirement (be as detailed as possible) and leave |
| what or where to buy, the best decision is usually | | | | your up to date contact details with them. Ask |
| to rent for a while first. | | | | the agents to let you know when any suitable |
| When buying a property you need to consider | | | | property comes up. This will make it easier for |
| where you would like to live. Resorts are lively in | | | | them to narrow down the search so you do not |
| the summer, but may be crowded with tourists. | | | | spend months looking at unsuitable properties. |
| However, in the winter they may be completely | | | | If you intend booking a holiday in order to view |
| closed, with nothing in the way of facilities or | | | | properties, it is important to let the real estate |
| shops. In the mountains or villages a few | | | | agent know you are going to be arriving at least |
| kilometres in land you will probably be a part of a | | | | a couple of weeks in advance. Tell the agent |
| friendly village community, but if the village is | | | | where you will be staying. Take a mobile phone |
| remote no-one may speak your language, so you | | | | with you that works overseas, so they can |
| will have to learn theirs quickly. Another option is | | | | contact you if they need to. The agents will be |
| to excel at mime. You can make many friends | | | | able to arrange viewing of properties for you |
| among the villagers this way and have great fun | | | | while you are in the country, and hopefully, will be |
| too. | | | | able to find several properties in each area you |
| Financial Considerations | | | | are interested in. |
| One of the most important aspects of buying a | | | | Be open minded, it may be worth considering |
| property in Greece and living there is finance, | | | | purchasing a plot of land, rather than a house that |
| which includes everything from transferring and | | | | already exists. Design and build properties are |
| changing money to mortgages and taxes. If you | | | | easy to find and are a very popular choice. Check |
| are investing in property or a business it is | | | | if the plot has planning permission. It is often |
| important to consider the exchange rate. Take a | | | | automatic if the land has road frontage, with all |
| realistic look. It is easy to imagine that you have | | | | services (water, etc) nearby. If the land is within |
| more money to spend on your dream property | | | | the town planning area it should also be buildable, |
| than you actually have. The cost of purchasing a | | | | but always check, and get it in writing. |
| house and costs of repairs can spiral dramatically | | | | Prefabricated buildings are available in Greece now, |
| without you being prepared for it. If you need to | | | | they can be built by the manufacturers, or by |
| borrow money to fund your dream property, be | | | | yourself. If you plan to build any property yourself |
| careful where you borrow the money from. | | | | you it is important to remember that you have |
| Many mortgage companies will not lend money | | | | to build to Greek and European building and safety |
| for property overseas. It may seem trivial to | | | | regulations. These are very different from UK |
| mention, but always remember that if you | | | | regulations. All buildings must be built to withstand |
| borrow money to buy property, or to rebuild it, | | | | earthquakes, for example! |
| you have to pay the money back! This | | | | When you have found the property you would |
| statement is one that should be at the forefront | | | | like to buy, it is advisable to get a survey done. |
| of your mind when you are making your plans. | | | | This is a step that is often missed out in Greece. |
| It's advisable to have your finance in place before | | | | Some areas are prone to flooding, earth tremor |
| your inspection visit. If you see your dream home | | | | damage, or sink holes (A large hole that suddenly |
| you will be able to purchase it without any delays. | | | | appears in the earth when the limestone beneath |
| This way you will not miss out. | | | | is eroded away by water). Save yourself a lot of |
| Do not count on holiday lettings for your property | | | | trouble in the future by paying for a good survey. |
| to tourists during the months you are not there. | | | | When you have found a good lawyer (who |
| In the last two years there has been a decline in | | | | speaks your language, as well as Greek) and a |
| the tourism in most parts of Greece, and income | | | | good accountant (to sort out a tax number for |
| from letting property has declined with it. To let | | | | you, and some financial details), you are ready to |
| out rooms legally, you must have a license from | | | | make an offer. |
| the Greek Tourism Board. You must also fulfil fire | | | | It is normal to pay a deposit of 10 - 20 % of the |
| and safety regulations, and you must pay tax on | | | | agreed purchase price. This seals the contact |
| this income. Authorities are having a clamp down | | | | between the seller and buyer. If the seller pulls |
| on illegal lets, and fines are enormous! | | | | out (which is unlikely) he must return the money |
| If you are planning to move permanently to | | | | plus the same amount again. If the buyer pulls out |
| Greece, unless you have enough private income | | | | the deposit is forfeit. However, if previously |
| for you to live well on, you must consider | | | | known problems are revealed the deposit will |
| employment in the place you are going to live. | | | | automatically be return. Property purchase is |
| You must ensure that this will be possible before | | | | generally completed in a short period. It can take |
| you buy a house. What kind of job can you really | | | | as little as 48 hour to 2 weeks. However, if the |
| expect to do? What are your qualifications and | | | | seller has not collected all the necessary |
| experience? Are they recognized? Do you speak | | | | documents for the transaction, it can take up to |
| fluent Greek? Unless your Greek is fluent you | | | | 3 months. You must not pay the full amount until |
| wont be completing on equal terms with the local | | | | all the documents are in place and your lawyer |
| workforce (you wont anyway, but that a | | | | has made it all legal! |