Buying Property in Greece

If you are looking for a second home in a vacation paradise, as well as a sound investment for the future, Greece is the word. Up until recently, a lack of cheap flights to Greece and its islands put people off choosing it as a location for a second property. There was also a lack of available property for sale and locals did not seem interested in developing the market. The complex bureaucracy was a barrier as well, but all that is in the past and the real-estate market in Greece is rapidly changing: whether you’re looking for houses, apartments or villas, it's not just the sun that’s hot in Greece -- the property is hot, too. Rhodes, Zante, Kos, Parga, Athens, Halkidiki, Stoupa, Corfu, Santorini, Kefalonia and Zakynthos all offer beautiful, reasonably priced property for sale to the astute buyer. The government has strict planning laws preventing property developers from ever spoiling the view, so unlike in other countries where developmental sprawl continues unchecked, what you see now is generally what you will see years from now from a property in Greece.

There are plenty of reasons to invest in Greece. The blue cloudless skies, turquoise seas and breathtaking scenery go without saying, whether you are waking up in Athens to views of the Parthenon or in Corfu to a vista of the distant Albanian mountains over the reach of the dolphin-filled Ionian sea. Now imagine a country full of friendly people, both locals and holiday homers like yourself, a country that is also virtually crime free and offers a growing number of holiday amenities – unspoiled beaches, sailing, golf, and for those in on the secret, skiing. Ski resorts on Delphi and Mykonos offer cheap skiing and much underrated slopes and facilities during the autumn and winter. There are a number of English-language schools for primary, secondary and post-secondary levels to ensure that your children do not miss out on their education or struggle to adapt in a Greek school.

For those looking for a complete change of pace, Greece also offers various job opportunities. A lot of these, especially on the islands, are, of course, driven by the needs of the tourist industry. However, there are also opportunities in the voluntary sector, in self employment and in professional spheres such as IT and accountancy. The only word of warning is that the legal system is still complex to negotiate and you should avoid impromptu offers of properties from would be Greek Dell boys and work through an estate agent and local solicitor. The worldwide property portal aHome.in has properties from many different estate-agents in Greece making it easy for you to contact them. As they say in Greece, 'Kalh tuch!'