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Real estate investment in Greece
Greece has long suffered poor growth in the real estate market, with a lack of available funds to loan on property. Now property prices are growing in prime locations, driving demand, and investors can anticipate a healthy Euro yield.
Athens
Known for its thriving arts scene, buzzing nightlife and ancient ruins, the capital city is an exciting and appealing place to live and work. It is a vibrant hub with a cosmopolitan community. A buzz of tourism comes through year-round, with an increasing community of nomads choosing to live and work in the city. The availability of centrally located property at competitive European rental adds to the appeal.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is a wonderful place to live and work, with a high quality of life and relatively low cost of living. Some of the finest beaches in Greece are on the Halkidiki peninsula, which is just a short bus ride from Thessaloniki. The well-regarded University of Thessaloniki makes this area a popular destination for academics and brings a wonderful vibrancy to the city.
Benefits of investing in Greece
A straightforward buying process
No restrictions on foreign investment
A Golden Visa with purchases exceeding €250,000
High demand for rental accommodation in prime cities year round
Good rental returns in Euros.
Growing property market.
Long-term factors to consider
- The lack of available loans on property purchases provides a barrier to entry. If this changes, as it has done in other European countries, we can expect a sharp increase in property value.
- Efficient systems in place for property management, stabilising asset maintenance post investment.
- Greece offers great rental yields in prime cities and locations.
- Greece is a multinational country with a strong cultural backing.
All considered, it's easy to see why Greece is a hotspot for investment and why it might see a positive growth phase in years to come.
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Greek Golden Visa – Residency by investment
The Greek government launched their Golden Visa programme in 2013 with the aim to stimulate foreign direct investment, boost the real estate market, and attract affluent individuals and families to Greece.
Benefits of the Greek Golden Visa
Freedom of movement
Residency card holders enjoy visa-free access throughout the Schengen area for leisure purposes.
Residency for the whole family
You can include your spouse and children under the age of 18 as dependants. Adult children under the age of 21 can be included if they are unmarried and financially dependant on you. Parents can also be included without needing to prove dependency.
Quick processing
The Greek Golden Visa is simple, efficient, and uncomplicated. The whole process can therefore be completed in as little as four to six months.
No minimum annual stay requirements
No annual minimum stay requirement to maintain residency status.
Greek Golden Visa qualifying criteria
Real estate investment
As of 1 August 2023, there are two different qualifying price categories of real estate investment for the Greek Golden Visa:
- Minimum investment of €500,000 in prime areas (central, northern and southern suburbs of Athens, the city of Thessaloniki, and the islands of Mykonos and Santorini)
- Minimum investment of €250,000 in all other areas of Greece and on all other islands
There are, however, no restrictions as to the type of property you can buy and so investors can purchase residential and/or commercial properties and can even buy land. In addition to this, property usage is not limited and so it is possible to enjoy leisure use of the property, opt for short term rentals or put a long-term tenant in place.
It is important to note that the property does need to be held indefinitely in order to retain residency rights.
Outside of prime areas, an investor can choose to purchase multiple properties to meet the €250,000 minimum investment threshold, or they can purchase real estate in excess of the minimum threshold in order to run multiple family Golden Visa applications off of the same property, i.e., one investment at €500,000 could support two family applications.
Differing itself from other global residency and citizenship-by-investment programmes, the Golden Visa investment does not have to be purchased solely in the name of the main applicant but can be owned 50/50 with a spouse.
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Disclaimer: Please do not act in reliance on information published or advised without consulting a suitably qualified independent legal or other professional advisor of your own choosing. Sable International will not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of their use or reliance on any of the advice provided by any one or all of the professional advisors identified by Sable International; loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of changing government legislation; and/or changing rules around immigration and nationality. Obtaining residency and citizenship is at the sole discretion of the government in question and cannot be guaranteed by Sable International.