You need a Greek Tax Number (ΑΦΜ called "A-Fi-Mi"), which is mandatory for anyone who purchase real estate in Greece. It must be applied for at the responsible Tax Office by submitting your passport. The easiest and quickest way to obtain this tax number is to hire a financial accountant. He or she must receive an authorisation signed by you and then submits the application for you. The tax number is usually issued by the next working day. In the course of this, via this financial accountant you will receive also an identity within the electronic financial system, which will be necessary for subsequent transactions.

You will need to open a Greek bank account. The bank will require various documents (income statement, proof of residence and Greek tax number). You can then transfer the purchase price to this account, for which a cheque will be issued on the day the contract is signed. The account is also useful for subsequent automatic electricity payments.

You have to engage a lawyer for checking the property deeds for the past 20 years (previous owners, if it is mortgaged, if there are pending legal proceedings, claims, expropriations or any other legal obstacles). This process is done at the Cadaster or the Land Deed Registry.

You need to choose and instruct a notary's office to prepare for the conclusion of the purchase contract. We advise you to choose the local notary's office in Gythio, with whom we have a long-standing and perfect co-operation, which guarantees a speedy transaction.

Depending on the circumstances, it may be advisable to conclude at first a notarised preliminary contract with an advance payment of usually 10% of the purchase price to the seller and 25% of our commission to us.

The notary will draw up the final contract. Before the final contract can be signed, you, the buyer, must pay the appropriate purchase tax to the Greek Ministry of Finance after your notary has applied for the assessment of this tax amount.

At the day of the final contract, which takes place at the notary's office, the relevant paperwork is signed by both parties, or the respective representatives. The agreed price has simultaneously to get paid either in the form of a cash cheque from the bank or by immediate transfer via online banking and the contract is completed. The broker's commission must also be paid to us at the same time.

The contract is then filed at the main Land Registry offices and the notary retains a copy. Certified copies are also issued to the buyer and seller.

The notary's office usually arranges for the subsequent entry in the land register in the name of the new owner. The notification is usually issued after a few weeks. You must then ask the registration document from the notary.

Go to your accountant. He or she will prepare a declaration and forward it to the tax office. This should be done every year.

Advice 1: Property Insurance

If you have bought a residential property, you should take out insurance for it with an insurance company.

Advice 2: Technical survey of the property - Hire an engineer

When the property to be transferred is land off the town plan, it is necessary to recruit an engineer, who will check whether the property meets the legal conditions for construction. For land and plots (with or without building), a check of the topographical diagram which includes the property area, building coefficient (sq.m.), approvals of the Archaeology and Forest Service, any specific land uses such as seashore or habitat.