Budget roughly 8–12% of the price on top of the purchase price for a resale property. The core items are: a property transfer tax of 3.09% (3% plus a 0.09% surcharge) on properties not eligible for the VAT-suspension regime; regulated notary fees of about 0.65–1% plus 24% VAT on those fees; cadastre (Ktimatologio) registration of about 0.5%; a lawyer at 1–2%; and agency commission of 2–4% plus 24% VAT. New-build eligible for the VAT-suspension regime is taxed at the same 3.09% transfer tax instead of 24% VAT (see our VAT-suspension question). On a €1,000,000 resale villa expect roughly €90,000–€110,000 in costs. Confirm every figure with a Greek notary and a lawyer, and the tax position with a local tax adviser, before you commit.
The all-in cost, line by line
Greece separates the tax on the transaction from the professional fees, and both matter. The headline tax on a resale (second-hand) property is the property transfer tax — the FMA — at 3.09%: a 3% base rate plus a 0.09% municipal surcharge, calculated on the higher of the purchase price and the tax-authority 'objective value'. This single tax replaces the 24% VAT that would otherwise apply, because resale homes fall outside the VAT net. New-build that is eligible for and placed under the VAT-suspension regime is also taxed at 3.09% rather than 24% — a decisive point covered in our dedicated VAT-suspension question.
On top of the transfer tax sit the professional and registration costs. Greek notary fees are regulated on a sliding scale, broadly 0.65–1% of the value, and — a detail many buyers miss — 24% VAT is charged on the notary's fee itself. Registration at the Hellenic Cadastre (Ktimatologio) runs at roughly 0.5%. A buyer's lawyer, effectively essential for title due diligence, typically charges 1–2% plus VAT. Agency commission is market-standard at 2–4% plus 24% VAT, usually paid by the buyer in Greece. Taken together, a realistic all-in budget on a resale property is around 8–12% above the price.
Worked example — a €1,000,000 resale villa
Nobody publishes this cleanly, so here it is. The table models a €1,000,000 second-hand (resale) villa — the typical Cyclades or Athenian Riviera purchase for our clients — where the 3.09% transfer tax applies rather than VAT. Figures use market-standard professional rates; your exact lawyer, notary and agency terms will vary, and VAT is shown on the fees that carry it.
The headline: on a one-million-euro resale home you are looking at roughly €90,000–€110,000 in acquisition costs, or about 9–11%. The single largest professional variable is the agency commission (2–4%), which is why confirming who pays it and at what rate is worth doing up front. These are current, directional figures; the objective-value basis, the exact notary scale and any regional surcharge must be confirmed with a Greek notary and a tax adviser for your specific property before you rely on them.
| Cost item | Rate | On €1,000,000 (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | — | 1,000,000 |
| Transfer tax (FMA) | 3.09% | 30,900 |
| Notary fee + 24% VAT | ~0.8% + VAT | ~9,920 |
| Cadastre registration | ~0.5% | ~5,000 |
| Lawyer + 24% VAT | ~1.5% + VAT | ~18,600 |
| Agency commission + 24% VAT | 2–4% + VAT | 24,800–49,600 |
| Total acquisition costs | ≈ 9–11% | ≈ 89,000–114,000 |
Illustrative only, resale property (3.09% transfer tax, not VAT). Transfer tax is charged on the higher of price and objective value. Notary fees follow a regulated sliding scale; agency and lawyer rates vary. Tax positions must be confirmed with a Greek tax adviser.
Sources
Primary and expert sources behind this answer:
- AADE — Independent Authority for Public Revenue (Greek tax authority: transfer tax, ENFIA, capital gains, inheritance, short-term-rental AMA register) ↗
- Hellenic Notaries — Notarial deed, regulated notary fees and the Greek conveyancing process ↗
- Hellenic Cadastre (Ktimatologio) — National land registry, title search and 2026 digitalisation ↗
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Greek property, tax, letting and succession rules are technical and change frequently — several reliefs here (VAT suspension, capital-gains suspension) are time-limited to 31 December 2026. Every figure and rule here must be confirmed with a Greek lawyer (dikigóros), a notary (symvolaiográfos) or a tax adviser (logistís/forotechnikós) for your specific situation before you act.
Related questions
Explore our guides and listings
Buying property in Greece? Get an independent read first.
GADAIT is an independent luxury buyer's agent. We confirm the tax, the title, the real all-in cost and the right structure for your specific case — before you commit a euro.
Newsletter
Be among the privileged.
Subscribe to the Gadait International newsletter and receive the latest trends in the luxury market, along with exclusive opportunities for exceptional properties in advance.
Low frequency. High relevance.