08/09/2026
🏡 IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR THE GREEK REAL ESTATE MARKET
A significant measure was announced at this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), which, if enacted into law, is expected to directly affect certain international property buyers in Greece.
🇬🇷 According to the announcement, the property transfer tax is set to increase from 3% to 15% when the buyer is a citizen of a country outside the European Union, with implementation announced from 1 January 2027.
What does this mean in practice?
For a property purchase of €450,000:
At 3% → €13,500
At 15% → €67,500
That represents a difference of €54,000 in transfer tax alone.
Such a substantial increase in acquisition costs could significantly affect the way international investors evaluate a property purchase in Greece — and may also influence negotiations on the final purchase price.
👉 An important detail: according to the information announced, what matters is the buyer’s citizenship/passport, rather than their country of residence. For example, a French citizen living in Dubai would remain subject to the 3% rate, whereas a British citizen would not.
⚠️ What should buyers and property owners keep in mind?
At this stage, this is a government announcement and not yet enacted legislation. We therefore await the final legal provisions, which will clarify the exact scope of the measure and, importantly, what will apply to property transactions that are already underway.
For property owners, buyers and investors, accurate and timely information is more important than ever.
MB PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE
We follow the market. We keep our clients informed.
