With easy access from the UK
and the rest of Europe, Greece
has become a popular destination for holidaymakers, not only from Europe but worldwide, attracting well over 5 million
tourists a year. The spectacular monuments and relics of Ancient Greece, the
beautiful beaches and the idyllic islands have been a magnet for tourists for
many years. The culture and customs, the music and the dancing are captivating.
Travel to Greece
and you are surely transported back to a different time. You can actually begin
to get the feeling of the history and mythology of Greece, simply the embodiment of
all things past, present and future. It is enduring!
Greece
was without doubt the place where European civilization and the concept of
democratic government was born some 2500 years ago. The names of the
Philosophers and Mathematicians such as Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Socrates,
Plato and Aristotle are all synonymous with this era. From the golden age of
Greece it has been a country in turmoil although it still managed to flourish
under the Roman Empire and even more so after AD 330 during the Byzantine
period. In 1460 Greece
became a Turkish province and remained under Turkish rule for 400 years, a
period that has had a profound effect on Greek politics and foreign affairs to
this day. Yet without this sometimes turbulent past, Greece would not have the amazing
character that it has today.
For those who want to live in Greece, the choices are almost
limitless. Whether you want to live on the mainland or one of the many
beautiful islands, Greece
is intoxicating no matter where you are. There are now absolutely no
restrictions on purchasing a property in Greece although in areas of
architectural interest permission is required before undertaking building work,
whether it is simply renovation or extensions to the property. In the past,
certain buildings of historical interest have been renovated using materials
not in keeping with the original. A particular type of cement caused long term
damage to the original stonework and the Greek authorities are now very strict
on how renovation work is undertaken.
However, once you have found the property you wish to buy,
we would advise finding an English speaking solicitor to act on your behalf as
all documents are normally if not always written in Greek. An agreement then
needs to be signed which will include the purchase price as well as a
completion date and a 10% deposit is then paid. A public Notary checks that the
property is free from any debts and has a clear Title deed. If everything is in
order you will then sign the purchase deed and the balance of the money is
paid. On top of this amount you should allow a further 15-20% of the purchase
price for all the fees, taxes, stamp duties, etc.
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