Where to Look
With so much that is iconic in the realms of culture and tourism, it’s difficult to find a clear-eyed assessment of the relative merits of different parts of the country. However, given the distance from Northern and Western Europe and the country’s own topography, it’s worth remembering practicalities such as the proximity of international airports.
Mainland destinations such as the Halkidiki peninsulas in the north (close to Thessaloniki) and the Peloponnese or the island of Crete have the edge in terms of accessibility. It’s also worth keeping a look out for news of new budget airline routes such as GB Airways’ plans to serve Cofu, Mykonos and Rhodes this summer. The level of exclusivity that you are looking for will also narrow the field.
Snags, Points to Remember, Legal and Otherwise
There are some extra controls on non-EU nationals acquiring property in places such as Rhodes (which is adjacent to Turkey) and the country’s northern frontier with other Balkan states. Greece has no land registry so property transactions will normally be accompanied by a topographical survey of the boundaries with neighbouring properties.
Property purchases are almost exclusively in Euros and purchasers normally expect to pay a 10% deposit when the initial sale agreement is signed; THIS IS NOT NORMALLY REFUNDABLE.
There have been some cases of planning permission being revoked with allegations of corruption being made, as in Porto Carras in Halkidiki.