| > | | | | preliminary contract in the presence of a notary. |
| Planning to buy a property in Greece? Read the | | | | Of course, this means that you'll have to pay the |
| article and find out about the property buying | | | | notary cost twice (preliminary and final contract). |
| procedure in Greece. | | | | So, if you want, you can skip this part and |
| Excellent choice! Greece is the perfect place for | | | | proceed to the next stage. |
| your holiday home. And, by law, foreigners can | | | | Foreigners, just as Greeks, must have a tax roll |
| own a property at most parts of Greece. | | | | number (A.F.M.), in order to be able to undertake |
| Furthermore, foreigners - just as Greeks - can | | | | any kind of transaction in Greece. So, you must |
| obtain a bank loan from a Greek bank or a | | | | submit an application at a local tax office. You |
| foreign bank with branch in Greece, in order to | | | | must get the tax roll number before you sign any |
| finance part or the entire purchase of the | | | | contract. Then, with your A.F.M. you should open a |
| property. | | | | bank account in Greece. You will need that mainly |
| The most common way for a foreigner to find a | | | | for the wire transfer of your money from your |
| property to buy in Greece, is to get in touch with | | | | country, as well as for other payments regarding |
| a Greek real estate agent, speaking their language | | | | the purchase procedure. |
| or at least English. The agent will show them | | | | Foreigners must, also, prove that the money for |
| around the available properties and make the | | | | the transaction is legal. You can do that either by |
| necessary arrangements with the Greek owner | | | | a bank statement which shows money transfer |
| (who might not speak English!). | | | | from your bank in your country to a Greek bank, |
| When you find the right property and you decide | | | | or by keeping the receipts of currency exchange |
| to buy it, you should proceed with a down | | | | (pink slips). |
| payment to the owner, in order to "freeze" the | | | | The property transfer taxes are paid by the |
| property and make sure that the owner will stop | | | | buyer (9% for the first 15.000 of the |
| searching for buyers. In the meantime, you must | | | | property value and 11% for the remaining |
| have appointed a local English-speaking lawyer for | | | | amount), before the signing of the final contract. |
| the forthcoming legal procedure. Furthermore, if | | | | After the final purchase contract is signed, the |
| you are about to buy a second hand property or | | | | transaction must be declared to the land registry |
| land, then you should also appoint a civil engineer | | | | office by submitting the original contract. When |
| in order to check the status of the property. | | | | the contract has been registered, you are finally |
| If the lawyer and the civil engineer give you the | | | | the legal owner of the property. |
| green light, you can proceed with signing a | | | | |