Buying a €400,000 resale flat in Greece costs roughly €32,900 on top of the price, or about 8.2%, including a lawyer and a 2% buyer’s agent fee. This guide breaks the total down line by line.
Last checked: October 2026
At a glance
- Property transfer tax on a resale is 3% plus a municipal surcharge of 3% of the tax: 3.09% in total.
- Tax is charged on the contract price or the tax authority’s “objective value”, whichever is higher.
- Notary fees follow a sliding scale set by ministerial decision: 0.8% up to €120,000, 0.7% to €380,000 and 0.65% to €2 million, plus 24% VAT.
- Registering the deed at the Hellenic Cadastre costs 0.5% of the value.
- New builds normally pay 24% VAT instead of transfer tax, but VAT is suspended until 31 December 2026.
- A 15% transfer tax for non-EU buyers of homes has been announced for 2027. It is not yet law.
The costs, one by one
Property transfer tax
The tax is 3% of the contract price or the objective value (the tax authority’s official valuation), whichever is higher. A municipal surcharge of 3% is added on the tax itself, which makes an effective rate of 3.09%. The buyer pays it before the deed is signed.
Notary
The notary drafts and certifies the deed. The fee is set by Ministerial Decision 111376/2011: 0.8% of the value up to €120,000, 0.7% from €120,000 to €380,000 and 0.65% from €380,000 to €2 million, plus a fixed €20. VAT at 24% is added, and there are small charges per page and for copies. Ask the notary for a written estimate.
Registration
The deed must be registered. At the Hellenic Cadastre the fee is 0.5% of the property’s value, under the Cadastre’s fee decision 2/12-1-2026 (Government Gazette B’ 64/13-01-2026). In areas where the cadastre is not yet operating, the deed goes to the local land registry, which charges its own fees.
Lawyer
A lawyer has not been compulsory since 2014, but most foreign buyers use one for the title and legality checks. Under the Lawyers’ Code (Law 4194/2013), the fee is agreed freely in writing; without a written agreement, a percentage scale in the Code applies. As a rough guide, lawyers usually charge about 0.8% to 1.2% of the price, plus 24% VAT, depending on the work involved. Agree your fee in writing before work starts.
Estate agent
Agents’ fees are not regulated: the fee is agreed case by case and must be stated in the written brokerage contract (Law 4072/2012), plus 24% VAT. Ask who pays what before you view.
Buyer’s agent
A buyer’s agent works only for the buyer: finding properties, checking them and negotiating the price. As an example, Atalos Estate, a buyer’s agency and sister company of GreekProps, charges 2% of the price, plus 24% VAT, when it acts as the buyer’s agent and consultant. Depending on the request, an upfront payment may be asked for.
Engineer and other costs
An engineer’s check of building legality is not a fixed-fee item and is priced per property. Budget also for translations, certificates and utility connections.
Worked example: a €400,000 resale flat
Assumptions: price €400,000, objective value lower than the price, property in an area covered by the Hellenic Cadastre, buyer uses a lawyer and pays a 2% buyer’s agent fee. The lawyer’s fee is taken at about 1%.
| Cost | Rate | Amount (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer tax | 3% of €400,000 | 12,000 |
| Municipal surcharge | 3% of the tax | 360 |
| Notary fee | 0.8% / 0.7% / 0.65% bands + €20 | 2,930 |
| VAT on notary fee | 24% | 703 |
| Cadastre registration | 0.5%, no VAT | 2,000 |
| Lawyer | about 1% | 4,000 |
| VAT on lawyer’s fee | 24% | 960 |
| Buyer’s agent | 2% | 8,000 |
| VAT on agent’s fee | 24% | 1,920 |
| Total | 32,873 (8.2%) |
Notary page charges and copies are not included.
New builds: VAT instead of transfer tax
Properties sold by developers normally carry 24% VAT rather than transfer tax. The VAT is suspended until 31 December 2026 under Law 5246/2025, and buyers pay transfer tax instead. In September 2026 the government announced that the suspension will be extended to 2030; this is an announcement, not yet law. Ask whether a quoted new-build price includes VAT.
The planned 15% rate for non-EU buyers
At the Thessaloniki International Fair on 6 September 2026, the government announced that transfer tax on homes bought by citizens of non-EU countries will rise from 3% to 15%, or about 15.45% with the surcharge. On our €400,000 example, that would raise the tax from €12,360 to €61,800.
According to the finance ministry’s presentation of the measure, it applies to individuals from outside the EU and EEA who do not have long-term residence in Greece. Companies, members of the Greek diaspora and long-term residents are excluded, as are commercial property and plots. The start date was first given as 1 January 2027 and later as 1 July 2027. The measure is included in the draft 2027 budget, submitted to parliament on 5 October 2026, but as of 17 October 2026 the law that would introduce it has not been published, so the details are not final. It is also unclear how the rule will treat commercial buildings converted into homes, including Golden Visa purchases.
Common mistakes
- Budgeting on the asking price when the objective value is higher. Tax is charged on the higher of the two.
- Forgetting VAT on professional fees. At 24%, it adds almost a quarter to the notary’s, lawyer’s and agent’s fees.
- Assuming the agent’s fee is only paid by the seller. In Greece both sides commonly pay.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage should I budget on top of the price?
Our €400,000 example comes to 8.2%, with a lawyer and a 2% buyer’s agent fee.
Who pays the transfer tax, the buyer or the seller?
The buyer.
Is the notary’s fee fixed?
It follows a scale set by ministerial decision, plus VAT and small extra charges. Ask the notary for a written estimate before signing.
Do I pay VAT on a resale flat?
No. Resales pay transfer tax. VAT applies to sales by developers, and it is suspended until 31 December 2026.
Are there annual costs after purchase?
Yes: property tax (ENFIA), plus building charges and utilities. See ENFIA for non-resident owners.
Can I reduce the costs?
Lawyers’ and agents’ fees are negotiable. Taxes and registration fees are set by law.
Related: how to buy property in Greece as a foreigner and buyer’s agent vs listing agent.
These figures are estimates from published rates. Buyers should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or accountant.
Sources
- Ministerial Decision 111376/2011: notary fees
- Hellenic Cadastre fee decision 2/12-1-2026 (Gazette B’ 64/2026)
- Lawyers’ Code, Law 4194/2013, Article 74
- Law 4072/2012 (brokerage contracts); Law 5246/2025 (VAT suspension on new builds)
- Ministry of National Economy and Finance: presentation of the measures announced at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, 7 September 2026
