Quick Guide To Buying Greece Houses

• Anyone buying Greece houses, or a car, or telephone contract, or most other things  must have a Greek tax number. Locally called an AFM (pronounced af-em-ee) which is issued local at tax offices.   It’s completely free and issued as soon as you have filled in a couple of simple forms (they are in Greek but they are filled in in English!) and you will need your passport as proof of ID. Take Greek speaker with you, it will save you hours! You do not need to live in Greece to get an AFM.
• You should look at adding about 15% on top of the purchase price of a Greece house to cove other costs and taxes. I.e. property tax,Notary and lawyers fees, local council and purchase taxes. Fees are based on the ‘official’ value of the house and is set by the government and is almost always around 60-70% of the actual value.
• Real estate agent’s costs are normally  paid by the seller but all expenses to conclude the final contract, including fees and there is a legal requirement for lawyers must be present at the signing of the contract.
• You will need a Greek bank account to pay for your Greece house and all the costs relating to it. You will also need to prove that any money has been tax paid and legitimately brought into the country.  If the buyer cannot justify the amount of  money they have spent, the Greek tax man will make you pay income tax on it.
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  Traditional Greek Fishings Boats Still Abound

  A civil engineer, know locally as a mekanikos polotikos, is also required to identify any building restriction or regulations have not been adhered to or must be adhered to in the future. They will also ensure the actual land boundaries match the title deed.

• A notary public, known locally as  symvoloiografos,  will mange the whole transfer and certify the legal completion of sale. He is independent of either the buyer or the seller.
• Getting an English speaking lawyer is a must. Do not consider anything else!. He will complete the title search at the land registry and ensure you understand all the legal implications of the whole deal. You will be lost without him.
• Pretty much anybody can own Greece houses but if you are from a country that is not a member of the European union then there are some restrictions on buying houses that are in most border areas including the islands of Crete and Rhodes.

Why Greek Apartments and Where Can I Find One?

Have you considered Greek apartments? Thousand of people from the UK and the US are upping sticks and moving to Greece. Hundreds of thousand of people from all over the Europe are headed for Greece. It’s not surprising really. Cheap air flights, 300 days a year sun, cheap property bargains (still) and probably one of the eventual winners of the credit crunch and global financial problems. Greece is becoming the business gateway to Europe for the Balkan countries and the future looks rosy. The pace of life is sedate, dictated by the warm weather so anyone leaving hectic life in the UK or US will find a new kind of pleasure.

Housing is plentiful and available. Many people moving to Greece look for old stone houses, traditional Greek villas and the like. Of course this is not all there is. Anyone living in Athens or Thessaloniki ( and that about half the population right there) probably lives in an apartment.

Stunning Sea And Mountain Views

Not to be confused with the awful tower blocks that rose in Britain in 1960’s. Greece has never suffered from any of the issues that occurred there. Many Greek apartments are in small blocks and many with beautiful shared gardens and stunning views over seas or mountains (and in many cases both). The weather means sitting and eating on your terrace or balcony for all but a few days of the year so you are never cramped or claustrophobic even in the smallest of Greek apartments.

Greek apartments are fantastic investments, always practical, always saleable and easily rented out. Whether you want a Greek apartment to live in or to holiday in then we should be able to find something to suit your needs and your budget.

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