{"id":23228,"date":"2026-09-18T16:33:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T15:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yatirim.uk\/tr\/atinada-ev-almak-mantikli-mi\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T14:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T13:26:30","slug":"atinada-ev-almak-mantikli-mi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/yatirim.uk\/en\/atinada-ev-almak-mantikli-mi\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Buying a Home in Athens a Good Idea?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is Buying a Home in Athens a Good Idea?<\/h1>\n

Yes, for EU residency (the Golden Visa) and a euro-denominated asset; not for a high rental yield.<\/strong> According to the Bank of Greece, apartment prices in Athens rose 5.0% year on year in the second quarter of 2026. Growth continues but is slowing: nationally 9.1% in 2024, 8.3% in 2025 and 5.5% now. On new conversion projects priced at the \u20ac250,000 Golden Visa threshold, gross rental yields are around 3%; on resale apartments in the wider market, 5% to 5.5%.<\/p>\n

Announced, not law yet.<\/strong> Greece has announced that the property transfer tax on homes bought by individuals who are nationals of countries outside the European Union will rise from 3% to 15%; the announced start date is 1 July 2027 and Turkish citizens fall within its scope. The measure is not law yet, and the scope and exemptions can change. The detail and what it means in figures are on our the cost of buying a home in Greece<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n

Athens in numbers, 2026<\/h2>\n
Indicator<\/th>Value<\/th>Source<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Annual change in Athens apartment prices (Q2 2026)<\/td>up 5.0%<\/td>Bank of Greece<\/td><\/tr>
Annual change in Thessaloniki apartment prices<\/td>up 4.7%<\/td>Bank of Greece<\/td><\/tr>
Greece overall<\/td>up 5.5%<\/td>Bank of Greece<\/td><\/tr>
Average rent in Attica<\/td>\u20ac9.2 per m\u00b2 per month, up 4.3% in a year<\/td>September 2026 rent map<\/td><\/tr>
Average gross rental yield in Athens<\/td>about 5.5%<\/td>Global Property Guide, May 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

The table says two things. First, prices in Athens are still rising, but the rapid phase of 2022 to 2025 is over. Second, rents are rising roughly in line with prices, so the market does not look like a bubble.<\/p>\n\n

The Golden Visa link<\/h2>\n

For many foreigners buying in Athens, the real goal is the Golden Visa: a five-year renewable Greek residence permit in return for a property investment. Since the 2024 changes, the thresholds depend on the region and type of building:<\/p>\n

Type of investment<\/th>Minimum amount<\/th>Condition<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Homes in Attica (including Athens) and Thessaloniki<\/td>\u20ac800,000<\/td>single property, at least 120 m\u00b2<\/td><\/tr>
Homes in other regions<\/td>\u20ac400,000<\/td>single property, at least 120 m\u00b2<\/td><\/tr>
Conversion of a commercial building to residential, or restoration of a listed building<\/td>\u20ac250,000<\/td>no minimum size<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

Almost all \u20ac250,000 projects in Athens fall into the third group: former offices and shops being converted into homes, which is why prices cluster right around \u20ac250,000. A home bought under the Golden Visa cannot be let short term (daily, Airbnb style). Details are in our Buying a home in Greece<\/a> guide, and using a loan is covered on our Can you get a Greek Golden Visa with a loan<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n

What rental yield to expect<\/h2>\n

Athens has two separate markets, and yields differ a lot between them:<\/p>\n