Where Foreigners Are Buying Property in Greece in 2025
Ktimatoemporiki Real Estate - 2025-09-30
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Where Foreigners Are Buying Property in Greece in 2025
Greece continues to shine as one of Europe’s most compelling real-estate markets, attracting international buyers who combine lifestyle aspirations with strong investment returns.
Fresh data released in 2025 shows clear patterns in where foreigners are buying property in Greece, driven by upgraded infrastructure, the evolving Golden Visa programme and rising global demand for Mediterranean luxury.
Athens & The Athenian Riviera: The Country’s Prime Magnet
Athens remains the single largest destination for overseas buyers.
The capital’s combination of year-round flight connections, vibrant culture and diverse housing stock—ranging from historic apartments in Plaka to contemporary seafront villas along the Athenian Riviera—makes it the natural first stop for international investors.
According to the Bank of Greece, apartment prices in Athens rose 5.9% year-on-year in Q2 2025, maintaining the steady growth recorded throughout 2024.
Neighbourhoods such as Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Elliniko’s newly developed waterfront are particularly coveted by high-net-worth individuals seeking both lifestyle and appreciation potential.
Thessaloniki: Northern Greece’s Rising Star
Greece’s second city has become a key hub for expatriates and investors from the Balkans and Western Europe.
With a thriving university and medical sector and a rapidly improving waterfront, Thessaloniki saw apartment prices jump 8.8% year-on-year in Q2 2025.
Its combination of affordable entry points and strong rental demand positions it as an ideal market for buy-to-let investors and families relocating to Greece.
The Cyclades: Mykonos and Santorini Remain Icons
The Cycladic islands, especially Mykonos and Santorini, continue to command international attention.
These islands are synonymous with luxury tourism and limited supply of prime seafront land.
High-net-worth buyers from Europe, the Middle East and North America compete for ultra-prime villas with panoramic Aegean views, keeping prices resilient even as other Mediterranean destinations fluctuate.
Crete and Rhodes: Large Islands with Global Appeal
The big islands of Crete and Rhodes—each with an international airport and an extended tourist season—offer a compelling blend of lifestyle and investment yield.
Areas such as Chania, Rethymno and the medieval Old Town of Rhodes attract both lifestyle buyers and investors looking for medium- to long-term rental income.
Strong demand for detached villas and seafront plots has pushed values steadily upward through 2024 and into 2025.
The Golden Visa Effect: New Thresholds Shape Demand
From 1 September 2024, Greece introduced higher investment thresholds for its Golden Visa residency programme:
• €800,000 minimum investment in prime zones such as central Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini.
• €400,000 in all other areas of the country.
• €250,000 remains possible in specific cases—such as the restoration of listed buildings or conversion of commercial property—subject to strict conditions.
These adjustments have begun to redirect foreign demand.
While prime urban and island markets remain attractive to ultra-high-net-worth buyers, many international investors are now exploring emerging coastal areas and redevelopment projects where the €250,000 exemption still applies.
Outlook for 2025 and Beyond
Analysts forecast that Greek housing prices will continue their upward trajectory through 2025, supported by robust tourism flows, structural supply shortages and sustained foreign capital inflows.
For overseas buyers, the key opportunity lies in identifying regions that combine lifestyle value with the new Golden Visa criteria.
Whether it is a seafront villa in Crete, a boutique apartment in Athens or a heritage restoration project qualifying for the €250,000 threshold, Greece offers a diverse landscape of investment possibilities.
Key Takeaways for International Investors
• Athens and the Athenian Riviera remain the country’s flagship market.
• Thessaloniki is emerging as Northern Greece’s investment hotspot.
• Mykonos and Santorini continue to lead the ultra-luxury segment.
• Crete and Rhodes combine large-scale infrastructure with strong rental yields.
• Golden Visa reforms—€800k / €400k / €250k thresholds—are reshaping where foreign buyers look for value.
Greece continues to shine as one of Europe’s most compelling real-estate markets, attracting international buyers who combine lifestyle aspirations with strong investment returns.
Fresh data released in 2025 shows clear patterns in where foreigners are buying property in Greece, driven by upgraded infrastructure, the evolving Golden Visa programme and rising global demand for Mediterranean luxury.
Athens & The Athenian Riviera: The Country’s Prime Magnet
Athens remains the single largest destination for overseas buyers.
The capital’s combination of year-round flight connections, vibrant culture and diverse housing stock—ranging from historic apartments in Plaka to contemporary seafront villas along the Athenian Riviera—makes it the natural first stop for international investors.
According to the Bank of Greece, apartment prices in Athens rose 5.9% year-on-year in Q2 2025, maintaining the steady growth recorded throughout 2024.
Neighbourhoods such as Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Elliniko’s newly developed waterfront are particularly coveted by high-net-worth individuals seeking both lifestyle and appreciation potential.
Thessaloniki: Northern Greece’s Rising Star
Greece’s second city has become a key hub for expatriates and investors from the Balkans and Western Europe.
With a thriving university and medical sector and a rapidly improving waterfront, Thessaloniki saw apartment prices jump 8.8% year-on-year in Q2 2025.
Its combination of affordable entry points and strong rental demand positions it as an ideal market for buy-to-let investors and families relocating to Greece.
The Cyclades: Mykonos and Santorini Remain Icons
The Cycladic islands, especially Mykonos and Santorini, continue to command international attention.
These islands are synonymous with luxury tourism and limited supply of prime seafront land.
High-net-worth buyers from Europe, the Middle East and North America compete for ultra-prime villas with panoramic Aegean views, keeping prices resilient even as other Mediterranean destinations fluctuate.
Crete and Rhodes: Large Islands with Global Appeal
The big islands of Crete and Rhodes—each with an international airport and an extended tourist season—offer a compelling blend of lifestyle and investment yield.
Areas such as Chania, Rethymno and the medieval Old Town of Rhodes attract both lifestyle buyers and investors looking for medium- to long-term rental income.
Strong demand for detached villas and seafront plots has pushed values steadily upward through 2024 and into 2025.
The Golden Visa Effect: New Thresholds Shape Demand
From 1 September 2024, Greece introduced higher investment thresholds for its Golden Visa residency programme:
• €800,000 minimum investment in prime zones such as central Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos and Santorini.
• €400,000 in all other areas of the country.
• €250,000 remains possible in specific cases—such as the restoration of listed buildings or conversion of commercial property—subject to strict conditions.
These adjustments have begun to redirect foreign demand.
While prime urban and island markets remain attractive to ultra-high-net-worth buyers, many international investors are now exploring emerging coastal areas and redevelopment projects where the €250,000 exemption still applies.
Outlook for 2025 and Beyond
Analysts forecast that Greek housing prices will continue their upward trajectory through 2025, supported by robust tourism flows, structural supply shortages and sustained foreign capital inflows.
For overseas buyers, the key opportunity lies in identifying regions that combine lifestyle value with the new Golden Visa criteria.
Whether it is a seafront villa in Crete, a boutique apartment in Athens or a heritage restoration project qualifying for the €250,000 threshold, Greece offers a diverse landscape of investment possibilities.
Key Takeaways for International Investors
• Athens and the Athenian Riviera remain the country’s flagship market.
• Thessaloniki is emerging as Northern Greece’s investment hotspot.
• Mykonos and Santorini continue to lead the ultra-luxury segment.
• Crete and Rhodes combine large-scale infrastructure with strong rental yields.
• Golden Visa reforms—€800k / €400k / €250k thresholds—are reshaping where foreign buyers look for value.
