Foreign buyers are increasingly looking at Greece for holiday homes, permanent residences and investment properties, with budgets commonly reaching €400,000-€600,000 and demand concentrated in Crete, the Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands.
Data from Elxis – At Home in Greece show that 30.8% of foreign buyers are now looking for a permanent residence, while 44.4% are still primarily interested in a holiday home and another 17.8% are buying mainly for investment purposes.
The strongest demand in 2026 is coming from the US, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK, followed by Belgium and France. Interest from Australia has also doubled compared with 2025, driven largely by members of the Greek diaspora.
Crete captures 42.9% of demand
Crete remains the most popular destination among foreign buyers, accounting for 42.9% of demand in Elxis’ latest data. The Peloponnese follows with 22.9%, while the Ionian Islands represent 12.7%.
Earlier Elxis data showed that among buyers targeting Crete, 36.5% had budgets of up to €400,000, while another 22% were prepared to spend between €400,000 and €600,000.
More than 70% prefer new or ready-to-use homes
New-build and recently completed homes dominate buyer preferences. According to Elxis, 71.7% of prospective buyers prefer a newly built property or a home that can be occupied immediately, while 68.2% are looking for villas and only 17.2% are interested in apartments.
Off-plan properties are also gaining attention, partly because buyers can secure them at lower prices than comparable completed homes and avoid the cost and complexity of major renovation work.
Golden Visa demand drops sharply
The Golden Visa is no longer the main driver of foreign residential demand. Only 7% of buyers cite obtaining a residence permit as their primary motivation, according to Elxis data.
In a separate analysis published earlier this year, the company said demand linked specifically to Golden Visa residence permits had fallen 83% year-on-year following changes to the programme.
One factor is that properties acquired under the current Golden Visa rules cannot be used for short-term rentals, reducing their appeal to investors seeking income through Airbnb-style platforms.
7% tax regime supports retiree demand
Greece is also attracting more foreign retirees. Under the country’s tax regime for eligible foreign pensioners who transfer their tax residence to Greece, foreign-source income can be taxed at a flat 7% rate for up to 15 years.
To qualify, applicants must meet residency and previous tax-residence requirements, including spending at least 183 days per year in Greece.
