Blog
What to check before buying property in Greece
Short, sourced articles on the public records and rules that come up in a Greek property purchase. Each one explains what the official maps show, what they cannot tell you, and what to ask your lawyer or engineer.
Buying
Buying property in Greece: a pre-purchase checklistThe steps of a Greek property purchase in 2026: tax number, title search, engineer's certificate, energy certificate, notary deed and Cadastre, with the buyer's costs.Read the article →The Hellenic Cadastre and the KAEK: how to look up a parcelWhat the Greek cadastre and the 12-digit KAEK are, how to find a parcel on the official map, what is public and what is not, and how wrong boundaries are fixed.Read the article →Unauthorised buildings (αυθαίρετα): what buyers need to knowHow Greek law treats unauthorised works, the Law 4495/2017 legalisation deadline to March 2028, the engineer's certificate every sale needs, and what to ask.Read the article →Buying property in Greece as a foreignerWho can buy in Greece, the border-area permit for non-EU buyers, tax number, bank payment, Greek deeds, power of attorney and the Golden Visa thresholds.Read the article →
Land and planning
In-plan or out-of-plan: can you build on this Greek plot?The difference between in-plan, settlement and out-of-plan land in Greece, the 4,000 m² and road-frontage rules, the 2027 deadline for smaller plots, and what to ask.Read the article →The coastal zone: buying property near the sea in GreeceWhat the Greek foreshore (αιγιαλός) and beach zone (παραλία) are, why they cannot be private, how the line is set, and what to check before buying by the sea.Read the article →
Environment and hazards
Greek forest maps: what they mean for a propertyWhat Greek forest maps are, what the codes mean, the 2026 rule for selling forest-coded land, and what to ask before buying a plot shown as forest.Read the article →Streams and flood zones: checking flood risk on Greek propertyHow Greek law protects streams, the 10 m and 20 m building distances, what the official flood hazard maps show and miss, and what to ask an engineer.Read the article →Natura 2000 areas: what they mean for Greek propertyWhat Natura 2000 means for a Greek plot: it is not an automatic building ban, but plot sizes, banned uses and assessments can apply. What to check before buying.Read the article →