Greece for Global Investors: How to Get a Mortgage as a Non-Resident

What You Will Learn

• How non-resident investors buy property in Greece using local and international mortgage options.
• Why Greece is emerging as a strategic property investment in Greece for EU and non-EU buyers.
• How lenders underwrite foreigners using global income, assets and bank statements, not just local credit.
• When to pair bridging finance with long-term mortgages to secure time-sensitive Greek assets.
• How GMG integrates Greece into a 21-country international mortgage and wealth strategy.

Why Greece Is Back on the Radar for Global Investors

For many investors, buying property in Greece used to be about lifestyle: islands, coastline, and relatively low entry prices. Today, Greece is also a strategic play in a global portfolio. Real estate remains attractively priced compared to other eurozone capitals, rental demand is strong in Athens and key islands, and the country still offers residency pathways via real estate under its evolving Golden Visa framework.

At the same time, Greece benefits from the broader eurozone backdrop: lower-for-longer rates compared with historic norms, and renewed interest in hard assets as investors respond to monetary easing and currency debasement themes that GMG tracks closely in pieces such as Trump, the USD, Stargate, and the New Deal 2.0.

For global investors, that combination, euro exposure, real assets, and a structured legal framework, makes property in Greece an increasingly important part of a diversified international portfolio.

Can Foreigners Buy Property in Greece?

The short answer: yes. Both EU and non-EU citizens can buy property in Greece, including residential and commercial units. Some restrictions apply in designated border or military areas, where non-EU buyers may need additional permits from the Ministry of Defence, but for most urban and resort destinations, the process is straightforward.

This means:

• Foreign nationals can hold freehold title to real estate in their personal name or via certain structures.
• Buying property in Greece can also tie into residency strategies via the Greece Golden Visa, subject to new thresholds and size requirements depending on region and asset type.
• There is no requirement to be a Greek citizen to purchase real estate or apply for a mortgage.

For investors asking “can foreigners buy property in Greece?”, the answer is clearly yes, but access to non-resident mortgages depends heavily on how you present income, assets, and your long-term plan.

For a full list of markets where GMG already supports non-resident buyers, see:
21 Countries We Can Finance

How to Buy Property in Greece with a Non-Resident Mortgage

You do not need to be a Greek resident to apply for a mortgage, but Greek banks typically apply stricter rules for borrowers living abroad.

Most sources indicate that:

• Non-resident buyers can often borrow up to ~60–65% loan-to-value (LTV), implying a 35–40% cash contribution plus taxes and fees.
• EU nationals may see slightly more flexible terms than non-EU buyers, but both can access financing with the right structure.

What Lenders Look at for Non-Residents

Instead of focusing on Greek tax returns or local salary, lenders evaluate your global financial profile. Expect to provide:

• Proof of international income (employment or company revenues)
• 3–6 months of bank statements from your main banking relationships
• Evidence of existing assets and liabilities, plus any overseas credit reports where available.

This is very similar to how GMG underwrites cross-border borrowers in other European markets via its Europe Mortgages platform:
GMG Europe Mortgages – Regional Overview

The practical takeaway: buying property in Greece with a mortgage is realistic for non-residents, but the process is documentation-heavy and benefits from a specialist coordinating lender selection, structure, and timing.

Where Greece Fits in a Global Property Investment Strategy

For many clients, property investment in Greece is not a first market; it often comes after exposure to the U.S., U.K., or Australia. Greece plays a different role:

• Lifestyle + Yield: Athens and select islands can offer a balance of personal use and rental income.
• Euro Diversification: Holding property in Greece provides euro exposure alongside U.S. dollar assets.
• Residency Optionality: For investors who meet Golden Visa requirements, Greece can offer long-term EU residency attached to their real estate holdings.

GMG’s broader international mortgage platform, across the U.S., Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean, helps investors decide how Greece should sit alongside U.S. single-family rentals, U.K. buy-to-lets, or Australian education-driven purchases:

• World’s First U.S. Mortgage Solution for Wealth Management Distribution

Taxes and Ongoing Costs When You Buy Property in Greece

When you buy property in Greece as a foreigner, you are subject to the same core taxes as local owners.

Key items include:

• Transfer Tax: Typically 3% of the taxable property value on resale properties. Global Citizen Solutions
• Annual Property Tax (ENFIA): A uniform property tax levied annually on all real estate in Greece, with base rates generally ranging from about €2 to €16 per square meter, depending on location, size, and other characteristics.
• E9 Filing: Foreign owners must file an E9 real estate statement after acquiring property, just like Greek residents. AADE

GMG does not provide tax advice, but our cross-border approach always assumes that financing decisions, tax planning, and long-term holding costs need to be aligned, especially when investors hold multiple assets across jurisdictions.

To understand how tapping existing overseas equity can be part of that picture, click here.

Using Bridging Loans Alongside Mortgages in Greece

In competitive sub-markets, prime Athens neighborhoods, island hotspots, or Golden Visa-eligible assets, timing is critical. Offers may need to be executed before a traditional mortgage is fully in place. This is where GMG’s bridging loan capability complements Greek mortgages.

Common patterns include:

• Using a bridging loan on existing property in another country (e.g., Singapore, U.K., Australia) to create the deposit or even full cash purchase capacity in Greece.
• Securing a time-sensitive asset in Greece first, then refinancing into a local or cross-border mortgage structure once due diligence and documentation are complete.

GMG has built this “bridge + mortgage” pairing across multiple markets:

• Global Bridging Loans in 8 Countries
• How Global Bridging Loans Connect Investors to Property Opportunities in 8 Key Markets

Our broader thought leadership also shows how the world’s wealthiest families and investors use bridging loans as a strategic liquidity tool, not just a last resort:

• World’s Wealthiest Investors Leveraging Bridging Loans
• Copy the Best Real Estate Investor in the World

In practice, this means you might finance property investment in Greece using equity released from a U.S., U.K., or Australian asset rather than relying solely on local Greek bank financing.

GMG’s Role: Greece Inside a 21-Country Mortgage Platform

GMG’s value is not simply arranging a mortgage in Greece; it is structuring Greece within a global financing strategy:

• Evaluating whether to borrow locally in Greece, use equity unlocked via bridging loans elsewhere, or blend the two.
• Coordinating currency, rate structure, and leverage levels so Greek exposure supports, rather than distorts, your overall portfolio.
• Working with wealth managers, private bankers, and family offices who want a single platform to handle U.S., European, and Asia-Pacific mortgages together.

Investors exploring buying property in Greece can leverage the same cross-border approach GMG uses for the U.S., U.K., Portugal, Spain, and other European markets.

Learn more about GMG and our international lending model:

• About Us
• GMG Global Bridging & Mortgage Platform

To discuss a specific Greek transaction or broader portfolio strategy, you can reach us directly at [email protected] or through our Contact Us page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can foreigners get a mortgage in Greece?

A: Yes. Non-residents, both EU and non-EU, can obtain mortgages from Greek banks, typically with stricter criteria and lower LTVs than local borrowers. Expect roughly 60–65% LTV for non-residents, subject to income, documentation, and property type. 

Q2. How much down payment should I plan for when I buy a property in Greece?

A: Most foreign investors should plan for at least 35–40% cash toward the purchase price, plus taxes and fees. In practice, GMG often advises clients to budget closer to 40–45% to remain competitive and allow for Golden Visa-related thresholds where relevant. 

Q3. Does buying property in Greece automatically give me residency?

A: No. Ordinary property in Greece does not automatically grant residency. Residency is linked to specific Golden Visa criteria, including higher minimum investment thresholds in many key areas and property size requirements. The standard €250,000 threshold now applies mainly to certain conversion or niche projects; prime Athens and other zones may require €400,000–€800,000 or more.

Q4. When does it make sense to use a bridging loan instead of waiting for a mortgage?

A: Bridging loans are most useful when you need speed or flexibility, for example, to secure a high-demand asset, meet a developer deadline, or unlock equity from another country before refinancing into a traditional mortgage. Many GMG clients use bridging finance first, then transition into a long-term non-resident mortgage once the property and structure are in place.