How Much Does It Cost to Buy Property in Greece Today?

Buying a property in Greece involves more than paying the agreed purchase price. Buyers must also calculate taxes, notary fees, Land Registry charges, legal checks, technical inspections and, in many cases, a real estate agent’s commission.

Therefore, the cost of buying property in Greece is usually around 8% to 10% above the purchase price when all professional services are included.

A simpler cash purchase without an agent may cost approximately 4.5% to 6% above the property price.

However, a transaction involving a lawyer, an engineer, a real estate agent, or a mortgage can require a higher budget.

This guide explains the costs of purchasing property in Greece and provides a practical example for a property priced at €250,000.

Property Purchase Costs in Greece at a Glance

Expense	Typical calculation	Example for €250,000
Property Transfer Tax	Effective rate of approximately 3.09%	€7,725
Notary fees	Progressive statutory fee, VAT and document costs	€2,500–€2,900
Land Registry or Cadastre	Approximately 0.5%–0.6% plus fixed fees	€1,273–€1,523
Lawyer	Negotiated fee, often budgeted at 0.5%–1% plus VAT	€1,550–€3,100
Engineer	Depends on the property and inspection scope	€620–€1,860
Real estate agent	Commonly 2% plus 24% VAT	€6,200
Estimated total costs	Excluding mortgage expenses	€19,868–€23,308

These amounts are estimates. The final cost depends on the property, the professionals involved, the agreed fees and the complexity of the transaction.

1. Property Transfer Tax in Greece

The buyer normally pays Property Transfer Tax before signing the final purchase contract.

The main transfer tax rate is 3% of the property’s taxable value. In addition, a municipal levy equal to 3% of the main tax is charged. As a result, the effective cost is approximately 3.09% of the taxable value.

For a property with a taxable value of €250,000:

• Main transfer tax: €250,000 × 3% = €7,500
• Municipal levy: €7,500 × 3% = €225
• Total transfer tax: €7,725

The tax declaration is normally processed electronically through the Greek tax authority’s myPROPERTY system before the notarial contract is signed.

Is there a first-home tax exemption?

Eligible buyers may receive an exemption from Property Transfer Tax when purchasing their first main residence.

The current exemption limits for the purchase of a residence include:

• Up to €200,000 for a single buyer
• Up to €250,000 for a married buyer or civil partner
• An additional €25,000 for each of the first two children
• An additional €30,000 for the third and each subsequent child

Specific conditions apply.

The buyer, spouse, and minor children must not already own another residence or a qualifying building plot that meets the family’s housing needs.

A notary or tax adviser should confirm eligibility before the buyer calculates the final budget.

What happens with newly built properties?

The suspension of 24% VAT on qualifying newly built properties has been extended until 31 December 2026. A developer may apply the suspension regime, in which case Property Transfer Tax is normally charged instead of VAT.

However, buyers should confirm the tax status of the specific development. The VAT suspension does not mean that every new property automatically follows the same tax treatment.

2. Notary Fees

A notarial deed is legally required to complete a property purchase in Greece. The notary prepares the final contract, coordinates the tax declaration, and verifies the documents required for the transfer.

Notary fees are calculated using statutory value bands. The basic scale starts at:

• 0.80% for the first €120,000
• 0.70% for the amount from €120,000.01 to €380,000
• 0.65% for the amount from €380,000.01 to €2,000,000

The percentage gradually decreases as transaction value increases. A fixed basic fee and additional charges for pages, copies and documents also apply.

Professional services are generally subject to the standard Greek VAT rate of 24%.

Example for a €250,000 property

Using the statutory value bands:

• First €120,000 × 0.80% = €960
• Remaining €130,000 × 0.70% = €910
• Basic fixed amount = €20
• Basic fee before VAT = approximately €1,890
• Fee after 24% VAT = approximately €2,344

Copies, additional pages, certificates and administrative work may increase the final notary invoice. Therefore, a practical budget for this example would be approximately €2,500-€2,900.

The buyer should request a written estimate from the notary before the transaction begins.

3. Land Registry and Greek Cadastre Fees

Signing the purchase contract does not complete the acquisition by itself. The contract must also be registered with the relevant Land Registry or Greek Cadastre office.

The current proportional registration fee for a sale is generally 5‰ of the property value. An additional 1‰ may apply when the registration is made in the cadastral books. Small fixed charges are also added.

Consequently, buyers should normally budget approximately:

• 0.5% of the property value in certain registration systems
• Approximately 0.6% when the additional cadastral charge applies
• Plus small fixed fees and certificate costs

For a property valued at €250,000, the estimated registration cost is approximately €1,273 to €1,523.

The Digital Property Transfer File has simplified many transactions. When all requirements are met and no previous registration is pending, the digital process may allow registration or a justified rejection within one working day.

4. Lawyer’s Fees and Legal Due Diligence

A buyer’s lawyer is not legally required in every property transaction. Nevertheless, independent legal representation is strongly recommended.

The notary acts as a neutral public official. The buyer’s lawyer, by contrast, protects the buyer’s interests.

Legal due diligence may include:

• Reviewing the seller’s ownership titles
• Checking the Land Registry or Cadastre records
• Searching for mortgages and pre-notations
• Checking seizures, claims and legal restrictions
• Reviewing the preliminary agreement
• Reviewing or negotiating the final purchase contract
• Confirming that the seller has the legal right to transfer the property

Lawyer fees are freely agreed in writing between the lawyer and the client. They may be quoted as a fixed amount, an hourly fee or a percentage of the transaction value.

For initial budgeting, many property-purchase guides use an estimated range of approximately 0.5% to 1% of the purchase price, plus VAT, depending on the legal work required.

For a €250,000 property, this would represent approximately:

• 0.5% plus VAT: €1,550
• 1% plus VAT: €3,100

A simple apartment with clean titles may cost less. A building, land plot, inherited property, company-owned asset or property with title problems may cost considerably more.

5. Independent Engineer and Technical Inspection

The seller normally provides the documents required for the legal transfer, including the relevant engineer’s documentation and the Electronic Building Identity where applicable.

However, these documents should not replace an independent technical inspection carried out for the buyer.

A buyer’s engineer can examine:

• Whether the property matches the approved plans
• Whether there are unauthorized extensions or alterations
• The actual internal and external measurements
• Building permits and planning compliance
• Structural or construction concerns
• Moisture, cracks and visible defects
• Electrical and plumbing installations
• Land boundaries and building rights
• Planning restrictions affecting a plot or commercial property
• Whether the intended use is legally permitted

A legal title check and a technical planning check protect against different risks. Therefore, buyers should normally arrange both before paying a large non-refundable deposit.

Engineer fees are not fixed.

For budgeting purposes, a technical inspection may cost €500-€1,500 plus VAT, depending on the property type, size, location, and depth of the investigation.

A standard apartment may require a smaller inspection. A detached house, commercial building, hotel, industrial property,y or plot may require surveyors and several engineering specialists.

6. Real Estate Agent’s Commission

Real estate commissions in Greece are freely negotiable. There is no statutory minimum or maximum commission.

A common market practice for property sales is 2% of the final purchase price plus 24% VAT, payable by the buyer, as agreed in the brokerage agreement. The seller may have a separate agreement with the same or another agency.

For a €250,000 purchase:

• Agent’s commission: €250,000 × 2% = €5,000
• VAT: €5,000 × 24% = €1,200
• Total commission: €6,200

The agreed percentage, VAT treatment, and payment terms should be clearly stated in the brokerage agreement.

A buyer should also confirm that the agent is legally registered and issues the appropriate receipt or invoice.

7. Mortgage and Bank Expenses

A property purchased with a mortgage has additional expenses.

Depending on the bank and loan product, these may include:

• Loan application or processing fee
• Bank property valuation
• Bank legal and technical inspection
• Lawyer’s fee for registering the mortgage pre-notation
• Land Registry or Cadastre fees for the pre-notation
• Property insurance
• Life insurance, when selected or required
• Costs for later removing the pre-notation after repayment

Current bank examples show legal and technical review costs ranging from a few hundred euros to approximately €750. Some products also charge application fees and separate legal representation costs.

The registration cost for a mortgage pre-notation is approximately 0.8% to 0.9% of the pre-notation amount, depending on the registration system, plus legal and fixed charges.

Importantly, the pre-notation amount may be higher than the actual loan amount. Therefore, buyers should request a complete written cost schedule from the bank before accepting the final loan offer.

Mortgage costs are additional to the normal property purchase expenses.

8. Additional Costs for International Buyers

Foreign buyers may need to budget for further administrative expenses, including:

• Certified translations
• An interpreter at the notary’s office
• A Greek Power of Attorney
• Apostille or document legalization
• Tax representation
• Courier and document-certification fees
• Specialist legal advice
• Currency-conversion and international bank-transfer charges

These costs vary significantly. A straightforward case may require only a few hundred euros, while a complex transaction involving foreign companies, inheritance documents or several powers of attorney may cost more.

International buyers should also arrange a Greek Tax Identification Number before the purchase process is completed.

9. Costs That Buyers Often Forget

Several expenses are not always included in the official closing-cost calculation.

Property valuation

An independent valuation can help the buyer determine whether the agreed price reflects the property’s location, condition, legal status and investment potential.

A bank valuation protects the lender. It does not necessarily replace an independent valuation carried out for the buyer.

Reservation deposit

A reservation deposit or preliminary payment is usually part of the purchase price rather than an additional cost.

However, the buyer should not pay a large deposit before the legal and technical conditions are clearly documented. The agreement should explain when the deposit is refundable and what happens if the transaction cannot proceed.

Renovation and immediate repairs

Older properties may require:

• Electrical upgrades
• Plumbing work
• Heating or cooling systems
• Window replacement
• Waterproofing
• Energy improvements
• Kitchen and bathroom renovation
• Legalization or correction of technical issues

These costs should be calculated before the final offer, not after the purchase.

Annual ownership costs

After the purchase, the owner may also pay:

• Annual Greek property tax, known as ENFIA
• Building common expenses
• Property insurance
• Maintenance and repair costs
• Property-management fees
• Municipal and utility charges

These are not closing costs. Nevertheless, they affect the property’s real annual cost.

Detailed Example: Buying a €250,000 Property in Greece

Consider a resale apartment with a purchase price and taxable value of €250,000.

The buyer uses a real estate agent, lawyer, and independent engineer but does not require a mortgage.

Cost	Estimated amount
Purchase price	€250,000
Transfer tax and municipal levy	€7,725
Notary and document costs	€2,500–€2,900
Land Registry or Cadastre registration	€1,273–€1,523
Lawyer	€1,550–€3,100
Independent engineer	€620–€1,860
Real estate agent	€6,200
Total additional costs	€19,868–€23,308
Estimated total acquisition budget	€269,868–€273,308

In this example, the additional costs represent approximately 8% to 9.3% of the property price.

Without a buyer’s agent fee, the same transaction could require approximately 5.5% to 6.9% above the purchase price.

A mortgage, translations, a Power of Attorney, additional surveys,s or complex legal issues would increase the final amount.

How Much Extra Money Should a Buyer Reserve?

As a practical rule:

• Reserve approximately 5% for a simple cash purchase with only the main mandatory costs.
• Reserve approximately 8% to 10% when using a lawyer, an engineer, and a real estate agent.
• Reserve approximately 10% to 12% when buying with a mortgage or completing an international or legally complex transaction.

The safest approach is to request written estimates from the notary, lawyer, engineer, agent,t and bank before signing a reservation agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are the total costs of buying property in Greece?

The total cost is typically 8% to 10% above the purchase price when transfer tax, notary, registration, lawyer, engineer, and real estate agent fees are included.

Who pays the Property Transfer Tax in Greece?

The buyer pays the Property Transfer Tax before the final purchase contract is signed.

Is a lawyer mandatory when buying property in Greece?

A lawyer is not legally mandatory in every transaction. However, independent legal due diligence is strongly recommended because the notary does not act exclusively for the buyer.

How much does a real estate agent charge a buyer in Greece?

The fee is freely negotiable. A common agreement is 2% of the final purchase price plus 24% VAT.

Does new property have 24% VAT in Greece in 2026?

The VAT suspension for qualifying new developments has been extended until the end of 2026. When the developer has entered the suspension regime, Property Transfer Tax generally applies instead. Buyers must confirm the status of the specific property.

Can a buyer avoid Property Transfer Tax?

Eligible first-home buyers may receive an exemption within the applicable value limits. Ownership, family, nationality, and other legal conditions must be verified before the contract is executed.

Final Advice Before Buying Property in Greece

The advertised price is only the first part of the acquisition budget.

Before making an offer, buyers should calculate:

1. The purchase price
2. Property Transfer Tax
3. Notary and registration fees
4. Legal and technical due diligence
5. Real estate commission
6. Mortgage or international-buyer expenses
7. Renovation and annual ownership costs

A well-organized purchase process reduces financial surprises and protects the buyer from legal, technical, and commercial risks.

Urban Keys supports buyers searching for residential and commercial property in Athens and Greece. Our approach combines property search, market analysis, professional due diligence coordination, and financing guidance, helping each buyer understand the complete acquisition cost before making a final commitment.

Contact Urban Keys Athens, Greece to receive a personalized property search and an initial purchase-cost estimate based on your available budget.