They are used to working with foreigners here
Investors from all over the world come to Greece. The country is experiencing a tourism boom: companies from the USA, Israel, Canada, and China are opening offices here, buying hotels and building sites. Many people are attracted by the Golden Visa program, which remains one of the few in Europe that allows them to obtain EU resident status for real estate investments (the program is currently unavailable for Russian citizens).
"The Greek housing market has not reached its ceiling yet, " I am convincedNatalia Tsiro-Ruva, founder and CEO of Hellas Consult Solutions. "Even with the current growth, prices in the country remain below the European average when compared with Germany, France or Italy."
In premium locations in Attica, the Athenian Riviera, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete and the Ionian Islands, foreigners account for 60-85% of demand, and among the main buyers are citizens of Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, the USA and Israel. Halkidiki has a significant share of transactions, according to Svetlana Yuvchenko, founder and managing director of Dionisiou Real Estate, is traditionally contracted by residents of the Balkans - North Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania.
According to data for the first quarter of 2026, the top five countries with the highest demand for housing in Greece included the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Bulgaria and Serbia. Citizens of Russia and post-Soviet countries also continue to show interest in the sunny and hospitable Hellas.
Given that the Greek market is largely focused on the international buyer, real estate agencies, as a rule, have a specialization based on the citizens of which countries they work with. This allows you to meet the client's expectations as much as possible and help solve common problems for representatives of the same national group.
People from Russia and the CIS, according to Natalia Tsirorova, are more demanding, like clarity and are intolerant of procrastination. It is difficult for them to find a common language with Greek realtors who are used to a different pace and are in no hurry to answer questions that arise during the selection of real estate. This often leads to conflicts and misunderstandings.
However, it is not always a panacea to turn to a compatriot who understands you perfectly. This may pose a different kind of threat if the person who volunteered to help you is not experienced enough, but at the same time overconfident. Keep in mind that many foreigners trying to find employment abroad go to realtors, taking advantage of the fact that the entrance to this door is virtually free.
According to Svetlana Yuvchenko, the main risks of cooperation with an unscrupulous agent are: loss of time, incorrect choice of the object, delaying the transaction, and in the worst case, loss of the deposit.
Free entry into the profession
The main feature of Greek regulation is the almost complete absence of entry barriers. This is one of the few professions in the country that does not require a license, qualification courses, or exams. Only a couple of points are mandatory: no criminal record and a certificate of graduation from a secondary school."Often, social service workers, teachers, and people from municipal bodies become realtors." One profession flows smoothly into another. But it's not a fact that by opening a company, a person will be able to work, earn money and last for years in the Greek real estate market," Natalia Tsiro-Ruva notes.
What you need to work as a realtor in Greece
For legal work, you need a tax number (AFM) and a registration number with the GEMI Chamber of Commerce (ΓΕΜΗ). As Svetlana Yuvchenko explains, there is no separate "realtor's license" in the form in which it is often presented by foreign buyers. It is enough to register a company and get the codes that allow you to engage in this activity. If the work is carried out through a company, the provision of real estate services should be included in the list of permitted types of activities.
The law that established the current conditions for registration of realtors was passed in 2012. Since then, the changes have been mostly technical in nature. The document flow has become electronic, and the codes and rules for issuing checks have changed.You can check the agency through the General Commercial Register of Greece (ΓΕΜΗ): registration data, legal form, permitted activities, information about owners and representatives are available by number. The company is required to indicate the number ΓΕΜΗ on its website.
What are the obligations of agencies
In Greece, there is no practice of paying for the selection of real estate and concluding a general contract for the provision of real estate services. As a rule, a person arrives for viewing, a viewing certificate is signed, which specifies a specific commission in case of purchase of the object. This commission is paid to the agency after the completion of the transaction.
According to Natalia Tsiro-Ruva, Russian-speaking companies, when working with Russian-speaking clients, often draw up contracts for the provision of paid services for the selection and registration of real estate, and so on. This is done as an exception, since it is more familiar to the buyer from the CIS.
An agent does not need to obtain any special permits to work with foreigners, but in practice transactions with non-residents require a realtor to coordinate actions much more seriously. A buyer from abroad needs to be helped to obtain a Greek tax number, arrange a legal and technical check of the property, interact with a notary, and go through a number of other procedures.
What should alert you when working with a realtor
So, "red flags":
The promise of a license."If a realtor says, "I'm waiting for the license to be released," that should be alarming. No license comes out by itself: the company is simply registered with the Chamber of Commerce, using the codes that allow it to engage in real estate or consulting activities, explains Natalia Tsiro-Ruva.
Promises to complete the transaction very quickly and without difficulties.In Greece, real estate transactions require the collection and verification of a large number of documents, and this process often takes time. A conscientious realtor is more likely to warn a client about possible delays than to promise unrealistic deadlines, Svetlana Yuvchenko warns.
Lack of registration data.You can check the agency using the Tax number (AFM) and the Gamma number (Epsilon). "When we enter this number into a system that any lawyer or specialist has access to, we immediately get the entire profile, the entire history of this agency or entrepreneur," says Natalia Tsiro-Ruva.
Work without a written contract."Record all your agreements in writing, signed by both parties, so that, if necessary, you can always prove that the agreement was specifically for this commission, specifically for a certain purchase amount," Natalia Tsiro-Ruva recommends. She also notes that there is a risk for the agents themselves - the client may refuse to pay the commission after completing the work.
Payment in cash.Any cash payment is prohibited on the Greek real estate market. Even if a receipt for the transfer of funds is drawn up, no court will recognize this as evidence. The very fact of transferring/receiving funds and receipts is an illegal act," Natalia Tsirorova emphasizes.
How to avoid risks?
- pay attention to how long the agency has been operating;
- check if it is a member of the professional association of realtors;
- make sure you have your own website and permanent office;
- evaluate how large and realistic his database of objects is;
- check the company's registration in ΓΕΜΗ;
- view customer reviews.
"Choosing a lawyer who will represent the buyer's interests is also very important. If you have doubts about the agency, it is better to involve an independent lawyer, rather than a specialist recommended by a realtor, advises Svetlana Yuvchenko.
Natalia Tsiro-Ruva adds: "Today's main story is social media, customer reviews. Not even websites. Today, nothing can be hidden on the Internet."
Where to complain
If we are talking about a violation of professional duties, you can complain to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where the realtor is registered. If it is a matter of deception, embezzlement of money or other serious violations, you shouldcontact a lawyer and, depending on the situation, the police or the court.
"The complaint system in Greece is not very widespread." There is no book of complaints and suggestions as such. But if fraudulent actions have been carried out, you can submit an application to the Chamber of Commerce with a request to understand the activities of the agency itself," Natalia Tsiro-Ruva clarifies.
Tips for choosing an agent
Let's summarize the recommendations of experts:
1. Check the registration.Make sure that the agency has a tax number (AFM) and a number in the General Commercial Register (Gamma;Epsilon;Mu;Eta;). Check whether the provision of real estate services is included in the list of permitted activities of the company.
2. Examine the reputation.Check out the reviews on social media. Ask how long the agency has been operating in the market, whether it is a member of a professional association, whether it has a permanent office and a website.
3. Ask about the specialization.For a foreign buyer, it matters how often the agency works with clients from their country. "This is important not only because of the language. Buyers of different nationalities may have their own peculiarities of making bank payments, confirming the origin of funds, processing documents and transferring money to Greece. A realtor who regularly works with such clients usually knows these nuances in advance and can warn about possible difficulties," Svetlana Yuvchenko explains.
4. Engage an independent lawyer.Do not rely solely on a specialist recommended by a realtor. The buyer's lawyer verifies the legal purity of the transaction, and the notary certifies the contract.
5. Record the agreements in writing.Sign the review report indicating the specific commission. All agreements must be recorded on paper with the signature of the two parties.
6. Don't fall for promises of unrealistic deadlines.A conscientious realtor will warn you about possible delays, rather than promising a deal that is too fast.
7. Trust a personal contact.A good realtor should understand exactly what you are looking for, talk not only about the advantages of the facilities, but also about possible problems and not push you to a hasty decision, Svetlana Yuvchenko emphasizes.
8. Keep taxes in mind.Any official real estate transaction in Greece is accompanied by tax obligations for both the buyer and the agent. (For more information about taxes, see in a separate article. Note that tax increase on transfer of ownership rights for foreigners is expected).
The Greek real estate market is gradually moving towards greater transparency. But as long as the entrance to the profession remains free, vigilance is the main tool of the buyer.
Thank you for your help in preparing the material:
Svetlana Yuvchenko, founder and managing DirectorDionisiou Real Estate
Natalia Tsirorova, Founder and CEOHellas Consult Solutions
