International demand for Greek homes in the first eight months of 2026 was 60.3% higher than in 2020, according to data from the property portal Spitogatos. Buyers abroad now account for 20.3% of all demand for homes in Greece.
The figures measure interest on the portal, such as searches and enquiries, not completed sales. They show where foreign buyers are looking and at what price.
Who is looking, and where
The United States, Germany and the United Kingdom were the top three countries of foreign interest from January to August 2026, Spitogatos says.
Five of the ten most popular areas for foreign buyers are outside Athens and Thessaloniki: Halkidiki, the Cyclades, Kavala, Messinia and the Dodecanese.
On the sales side, interest is concentrated on homes priced up to €250,000. Above €550,000, demand is weaker relative to the number of homes on offer.
Pressure on cheaper rentals
The same data show strong competition at the bottom of the rental market. In Athens’ northern suburbs, each home let for under €600 a month drew 21.1 enquiries and 281.7 searches. For homes above €1,500, the pressure was up to 42 times lower.
In the Dodecanese, homes let for under €600 drew 22.4 enquiries and 196.4 searches each. Elefsina, Marousi, Heraklion, Pallini and Chalandri were the areas under most pressure for cheap rentals.
What it means for buyers
Buyers from abroad are spreading beyond Athens, and the busiest price band is the one where most buyers compete. A purchase below €250,000 is likely to meet more rival bids. Above €550,000, buyers may find more choice and more room to negotiate.
Two of the three leading source countries, the US and the UK, are outside the EU. Greece’s planned rise in transfer tax on homes bought by non-EU buyers from 3% to 15% is still a draft, but it would hit these buyers directly. We looked at which nationalities are most exposed using Bank of Greece data.
For investors who plan to let long term, the rental figures point to deep demand for homes under €600 a month, and much thinner demand at the top end.
What happens next
The transfer tax change depends on a bill that has not yet been published. Until it is, the rate for all buyers remains 3%.
Sources
- Spitogatos: demand data for January to August 2026, released in October 2026
- AADE: Property transfer tax (ΦΜΑ) for residents abroad
