Authors: Metaxopoulos K., Managing Partner
Nikolaraki M., Senior Associate
1. PROCEDURE – MAIN STEPS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION UNDER GREEK LAW.
Acquisition of a real estate property in Greece includes mainly the following steps:
• Finding of the property to be purchased, with the possible assistance of a real estate agent. Usually, the agent’s fee amounts to 2% upon the purchase price, but can be negotiated between the parties.
• Obtain a Greek Tax Registration Number. This procedure is simple and does not require the presence of the foreigner in Greece, since it can be carried out by a third party, by virtue of a Power of Attorney.
• Legal due diligence of the property. After having found the property and before proceeding to the execution of any deed or agreement, the purchaser should appoint a lawyer to perform a complete legal due diligence of the property, which includes a detailed audit of the rights of the seller and his predecessors, as well as a research on any possibly existing encumbrances (mortgages, claims, etc). Legal due diligence is performed with the Land Registry or Cadastre of the region in which the property lies. It is noted that the responsibility for this very important step lies with the purchaser, given that Greek notaries are not obliged to (and will not) perform such a due diligence.
• Technical due diligence. It is performed by a civil engineer and is mostly needed in cases where the property to be purchased is a non-constructed land or lies outside the urban plan. Technical due diligence aims to ensure that the property meets all legal requirements for the construction of buildings to be allowed, and, in cases where the property to be purchased is already built, to determine whether the already existing building(s) include any illegal constructions which need to be settled, according to the relevant laws.
• Issuance of the required certificates and other documents. In order for a property purchase to take place, a number of certificates must be produced to the notary public, which however pertain to the seller.
• Execution of the notarial purchase deed. In Greece, purchase of any real estate property is performed solely by virtue of a notarial deed. Execution of such a deed takes place before a notary public. The notary public is usually chosen by the purchaser, who also pays the relevant notary fees. Both the seller and the purchaser may either appear in person before the notary in order to execute the deed, or they may appoint someone else to execute it in their name and on their behalf, by virtue of a notarized Power of Attorney.
• Registration of the notarial purchase deed with the Land Registry or Cadastre. In Greece, a purchaser of a property becomes the property’s owner only after the notarial purchase deed is registered with the competent Land Registry or Cadastre. Such registration entails certain fees which are paid by the purchaser (and their amount is indicated herein below).
2. TIMELINE
The time required for the conclusion of a purchase of a real estate property depends on the complexity of each case. In regular cases, after the property has been found, purchase procedures are normally concluded within a period of 1,5 – 2,5 months.
3. MAIN CONTENT OF THE PURCHASE DEED
– The Contracting Parties
– Detailed description of the property
– Detailed description of the ownership rights of the seller and his predecessors
– The price
– The payment terms in detail
– Other clauses depending on each case.
The notary will read the deed aloud for both parties, but purchase deeds are only in Greek. Therefore, non-Greek-speaking purchasers (if personally attending the execution of the deed) will need to appoint a translator.
4. FEES AND EXPENSES CONNECTED WITH THE EXECUTION OF THE NOTARIAL PURCHASE DEED. TO BE PAID BY THE PURCHASER.
• Notarial Fees. They are calculated gradually, as a percentage upon the value of the purchase deed, ranging from 0,80% for the part of the value up to 120.000,00 € to 0,10% for any amount beyond 20.000.000,01 €. Notarial fees are subject to VAT 23%.
• Lawyer’s Fees. The presence of a lawyer at the time of execution of the purchase deed is no longer required under law. It is, however, strongly recommended, in order to secure the accuracy of the deed’s content in relation to the description of the property, the description of the sequence of rights of the seller and his predecessors, etc. Lawyer’s fees for the performance of the legal due diligence and the attendance of the execution of the purchase deed are agreed between the client and the lawyer and depend on the value of the transaction and the complexity of each case. Lawyer’s fees are subject to VAT 23%.
• Registration Fees. The fees for the registration of the notarial purchase deed with the Land Registry or Cadastre amount approximately to 0,475% upon the value of the deed and are subject to VAT 23%.
5. FINANCING
The most common way of financing the purchase of a real estate property is through a bank loan. In order to grant a loan, Greek banks examine the financial situation of the purchaser. Greek banks have the current commercial value of the property estimated by a civil engineer and grant loans for an amount not exceeding the 70 – 75% of such estimation. Before the loan is disbursed (directly to the seller) the bank shall register a mortgage upon the property for an amount of approx. 120% of the loan.
6. TAX TREATMENT
a. Taxes imposed at the time of purchase of the property. To be paid by the purchaser.
• Transfer Tax
Before the execution of the notarial purchase deed, the purchaser is obliged to pay the corresponding transfer tax. Such tax amounts to 3% upon the value of the property.
It should be noted that Greek Law also provides for an exemption – under certain conditions – from the payment of the transfer tax. These exemptions apply only to purchasers that already reside or intend to be established in Greece and fall into the following categories: (i) Greeks, (ii) repatriates from Albania, Turkey and countries of the former Soviet Union, (iii) EU citizens and citizens of the European Economic Area, (iv) acknowledged refugees, and (v) nationals of non EU countries who enjoy the status of long-term residency in Greece.
• Value Added Tax for new buildings
When it comes to new buildings, namely buildings the building permit of which has been issued or revised from 01.01.2006 onwards, a VAT of 23% upon the value of the property shall be imposed at the time of their first sale / transfer by a manufacturer, or by a person who deals professionally with the construction and sale of buildings. In cases where VAT is applicable, the purchaser is not required to pay any transfer tax.
Important Note: due to frequent legislative amendments in taxation of property, it is strongly recommended that all property related taxes are re-visited and re-calculated before any purchase.
b. Annual fiscal obligations of property owners.
• Real Estate Property Tax (sic: “ENFIA”)
Any real estate property located in Greece belonging to individuals or legal entities on the 1st of January of every year, is burdened with Real Estate Property Tax. This is the major annual tax imposed on real estate properties. Such tax is calculated on the basis of the surface of the real estate property, its location, etc. When it comes to buildings, it ranges from to 2,00 € per m2 to 13,00 € per m2, while when it comes to plots of land, it ranges from 0,003 € per m2 to 9,00 € per m2.
• Real Estate Duty (sic: “TAP”)
This is a special duty imposed upon real estate properties, in favour of the Municipal Authorities. It is calculated by multiplying the value of the property by a rate ranging from 0,25 ο/οο to 0,35 ο/οο. This duty is collected through the Electricity Bills of the property.
• Special Real Estate Property Tax
This is a special property tax imposed upon natural or legal entities residing or having their registered seat in countries with a privileged tax regime, and possessing full or bare ownership or usufruct of properties located in Greece. Such tax amounts to 15% upon the value of the property. This tax has been imposed in order to deal with the phenomenon of tax evasion of off shore companies possessing real estate property in Greece. Law provides for a number of exemptions from the application of the above tax.
• Tax on Income from Property Rents
Annual income from property rents is taxed by a rate of 15% on the amount of income up to 12.000 €, by a rate of 35% for the amount of income between 12.001 € and 35.000 €, and by a rate of 45% on any amount above 35.001 €.
Rents of properties leased for business or professional purposes is surcharged by a stamp duty of 3,6%, which however is usually paid by the lessee, subject to an agreement.
Important Note: due to frequent legislative amendments in taxation of property, it is strongly recommended that all property related taxes are re-visited and re-calculated as need may be.
7. RESTRICTIONS IN ACQUIRING REAL ESTATE PROPERTY IN GREECE
• Cross-border Areas.
Greek law provides restrictions for the acquisition of property rights in cross border areas of Greece, by individuals or legal entities that are not nationals of the European Union or the European Free Trade Association (“EFTA”). Furthermore, the transfer of shares or the change of partners /shareholders of companies not located in the EU or EFTA that own real estate property in cross-border areas of Greece, is also prohibited. Any such natural or legal persons (that are not nationals of the EU or EFTA) wishing to acquire real estate properties located in cross-border areas, must apply to a special Committee in order to obtain permission to acquire or rent the real estate property. Any transaction taking place in breach of the above provisions is null and void.
The following areas of Greece are considered as cross-border areas, in which the above restrictions apply: Dodekanisa, Evros, Thesprotia, Kastoria, Kilkis, Lesvos, Xanthi, Preveza, Rodopi, Samos, Florina, Chios, Thira (Santorini), Skiros, as well as certain regions of the areas of Drama, Ioannina, Pella and Serres.
Restrictions are lifted depending, in principle, on the legal form of the requested transaction, its monetary value, the exact location or value of the property, and unless national security reasons exist.
• Purchase of Islands
Greek law also provides that in order for a natural or legal person to acquire ownership of or rent a privately owned island or a property located in a privately owned island, they have to apply for the issuance of a permit by the Minister of Defense.
When it comes to public islands, acquisition of ownership is not possible; such islands may only be leased under the same above conditions (prior issuance of a permit by the Minister of Defense).
8. IMMIGRATION RULES RELATED TO PROPERTY INVESTMENT
Greek law provides that a residence permit of 5 years shall be granted to citizens of non EU countries who are the owners (either personally or through a legal entity the shares of which belong entirely to them) of real estate property in Greece, or who have concluded a timeshare agreement, or have leased hotel accommodations for at least 10 years. The minimum value of the real estate property and the contractual value of the hotel accommodations lease agreement has been set to the amount of 250.000 Euros. Such residence permit may be renewed for an equal period (5 years) for as long as the real estate property remains in the ownership of the non EU citizen or the timeshare-lease agreements remain in force.
Said non EU citizens may be accompanied by their family members (spouse, children under 21 years old, parents), to whom a separate residence permit may be also granted following their request. Their permit shall be terminated at the same time as the permit of the property owner.
May, 2016
