Lawyer

The role of your lawyer is to act on your behalf. Most buyers prefer to give the order of buying to their lawyer by proxy; this allows the lawyer to make all the essential checks, the paper work and the payments in your absence. In cases that you do not have a lawyer we can recommend to you an experienced lawyer who speaks English and has had many successful transactions of buying and selling properties, who can advise you and answer free of charge any of your question or queries.

Eleni Georgiadou - Marinaki

Lawyer

1-13 Skalidi and Piraios str.,

Chania - Greece

Tel:   +30 2821070240

Mob: +30 6944862212

Email: georgiadou_helen@hotmail.com

 

Initial Deposit

When you have found the property that you wish to buy, a deposit of 10% is required and a pre-contract is drawn up. If the buyer withdraws after that without any valid reason, then the deposit will be lost.Your lawyer will then carry out all the essential research for a property which ensures that not only an explicit title and explicit property exist, but also that there is no pecuniary debt and that the construction was completed according to the planning permission of the building. Your lawyer will also collaborate with you so that you will receive a Greek tax identification number (ΑFM) which is required so that you can buy a property in Greece. You will need a copy of your passport and your birth certificate in order to receive this number.

Contract and Acts

When all the legal checks concerning the property you are interested in are done, you will be ready to complete the purchase; you will sign the contract and will transfer the property into your name. Your lawyer will organise a meeting with a notary, whose job is to certify the signature and to make sure that the transfer tax is paid. The contract will be read and a copy can be provided in the English language, if you wish. The contract will then be signed and a copy of these acts will then be registered in the local land and property registry, if required.

Tax Statement

At the end of year that you have made the purchase, you will need to submit an income tax statement. You shall not pay tax unless the property is used for exploitation (eg: renting). 

Expenses of Transfer

In Greece, as in many other European countries, the buyer pays all the expenses that are connected to the purchase. The transfer expenses are:

• Property Tax
• Lawyer's fees
• Notary's fees
• Land registration fee
• Agency fee