Greek mortgage guides for US buyers

Clear finance and purchase guidance, with dedicated expertise for Santorini and the Saronic Islands.

Buying in Santorini or the Saronic Islands?

Explore location-specific guidance covering non-resident mortgages, property types, technical checks, costs and realistic timelines for American buyers.

Compare Santorini areas Read the Saronic Islands guide

Plan your Greek purchase

Selling a Greek property and capital gains

Costs

Bas Terpstra10 August 20268 min read

Selling a Greek property: the capital gains suspension

Greece has not collected capital gains tax on private property sales for over a decade, which is exactly why the US side of the same sale catches owners out.

Where to buy in the Ionian Islands

Regional Guide

Bas Terpstra6 August 20269 min read

Where to buy in the Ionian Islands

Compare Corfu, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Paxos from a US buyer's mortgage and purchase-planning perspective.

Fixed or floating rate on a Greek mortgage

Financing

Bas Terpstra29 July 20268 min read

Fixed or floating rate on a Greek mortgage

How Greek fixed-rate periods and Euribor-linked floating rates actually differ, and what the June 2026 ECB hike changes for US buyers.

Where to buy in Crete

Regional Guide

Bas Terpstra23 July 20269 min read

Where to buy in Crete

Compare Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion and Lasithi from a US buyer's mortgage and purchase-planning perspective.

Greece's new short-term rental rules

Legal

Bas Terpstra15 July 20267 min read

Greece's new short-term rental rules

Registration, safety standards, permit freezes and a revised tax bracket: what US owners need to know before counting on rental income.

Where to buy in the Cyclades

Regional Guide

Bas Terpstra9 July 20269 min read

Where to buy in the Cyclades

Compare Santorini, Mykonos, Paros, Naxos and Syros from a US buyer's mortgage and purchase-planning perspective.

Non-resident mortgages in Greece for US buyers

Financing

Bas Terpstra26 June 20267 min read

Non-resident mortgages in Greece

A separate product, not a resident loan with extra paperwork. Deposit, Euribor-linked pricing, Greek title work, the weaker dollar and the filings that follow completion.

Where to buy in Santorini

Regional Guide

Bas Terpstra14 June 20269 min read

Where to buy in Santorini

Compare Oia, Fira, Imerovigli, Pyrgos and Akrotiri from a US buyer's mortgage and purchase-planning perspective.

Santorini mortgages for US buyers

Regional Guide

Bas Terpstra11 June 20268 min read

Santorini mortgages for US buyers

A Santorini mortgage guide for US buyers covering Greek non-resident lending, deposits, documents, costs, currency and purchase deadlines.

Buying and financing in the Saronic Islands

Regional Guide

Bas Terpstra7 June 20268 min read

Buying and financing in the Saronic Islands

Plan a Hydra, Spetses or Poros property purchase from the United States, including boat-only access, renovation, mortgage timing and euro costs.

Preliminary agreements and finance

Legal

Bas Terpstra4 June 20267 min read

Preliminary agreements and finance

How the prosymfono and the notarial deed interact with mortgage conditions, deposits and deadlines for US buyers in Greece.

Using equity from your US home

Financing

Bas Terpstra31 May 20267 min read

Using equity from your US home

How using a cash-out refinance, home equity loan or HELOC on a US property may fund a Greek purchase, including affordability, security and currency risk.

Greek mortgage or US home equity?

Comparison

Bas Terpstra28 May 20267 min read

Greek mortgage or US home equity?

Compare a Greek mortgage with releasing US home equity, including security, currency, fees, affordability and application timing.

Mortgage checklist before an offer

Checklist

Bas Terpstra23 May 20266 min read

Mortgage checklist before an offer

A practical Greek mortgage checklist for US buyers covering affordability, documents, deposit, costs, currency and contract conditions.

Documents for a Greek mortgage

Documents

Bas Terpstra20 May 20266 min read

Documents for a Greek mortgage

Greek mortgage document checklist for US residents: identity, income, tax records, statements, debts, deposit evidence and property details.

Additional costs of buying in Greece

Costs

Bas Terpstra16 May 20267 min read

Additional costs of buying in Greece

Budget beyond the asking price for Greek property: taxes, notary, registration, legal checks, valuation, mortgage, currency and ongoing costs.

Start with your financial position

Planning

Bas Terpstra13 May 20267 min read

Start with your financial position

Plan a Greek property budget before viewing: mortgage, deposit, taxes, buying costs, exchange rates and a realistic monthly commitment.

How much can I borrow for a Greek mortgage?

Financing

Bas Terpstra28 March 20267 min read

How much can I borrow for a Greek mortgage?

Two ceilings decide the answer for a US buyer, loan to value and affordability, and the lower one binds. Why a US thirty-year calculation overstates your capacity.

Greek property market outlook for US buyers, 2026

Market Update

Bas Terpstra10 February 20267 min read

Greek property market outlook for US buyers, 2026

Where Greek mortgage rates, the dollar-euro rate and island prices stand heading into 2026, and what it means for US buyers planning a purchase this year.

Can a US resident get a Greek mortgage?

Eligibility

Bas Terpstra21 January 20267 min read

Can a US resident get a Greek mortgage?

Greek lenders do lend to Americans. What decides the outcome is tax residency, documented income and the property, not the credit score you rely on at home.

Greece's Golden Visa for US property buyers

Residency

Bas Terpstra22 September 20257 min read

Greece's Golden Visa: what US buyers should know

Unlike some other Southern European markets, Greek property can qualify for residency through the Golden Visa. What the program covers, and what it doesn't.

ENFIA tax and FBAR for US owners

Costs

Bas Terpstra5 June 20257 min read

ENFIA explained, plus FBAR and FATCA for US owners

ENFIA is Greece's annual property tax, and it's not the only filing US owners need to track. What ENFIA costs, plus FBAR and FATCA obligations for a foreign account.

Greek property prices, 2025

Market Update

Bas Terpstra12 May 20257 min read

Greek property prices, 2025: islands and mainland diverge

The best-known Cyclades islands are pulling away from quieter island and mainland markets in 2025. What the divergence means for a US buyer's budget and timing.

Fifth ECB rate cut, January 2025

Market Update

Bas Terpstra3 February 20256 min read

Fifth ECB rate cut, January 2025: rates at 2.75%

The ECB's fifth consecutive cut brought the deposit rate to 2.75% in January 2025, just as the dollar began a sharp 2025 slide against the euro. What it means for US buyers.

ECB rate cut, December 2024

Market Update

Bas Terpstra16 December 20246 min read

ECB rate cut, December 2024: rates down to 3%

The ECB's fourth cut of 2024 brought the deposit rate to 3% in December. What a full year of easing means for Greek mortgage affordability for US buyers.

ECB rate cut, 2024

Market Update

Bas Terpstra16 June 20246 min read

ECB rate cut, 2024: Greek mortgages start to ease

The ECB cut rates for the first time since 2019 in June 2024. What the first cut means for Greek mortgage pricing and the dollar-euro picture for US buyers.

ECB rate pause, 2023

Market Update

Bas Terpstra12 October 20236 min read

ECB rate pause, 2023: what it means for buying in Greece

The ECB paused rate hikes in October 2023. What the pause means for Greek mortgage costs, and how US buyers should plan trips within the Schengen 90/180 rule.

ECB rate hike, May 2023

Market Update

Bas Terpstra15 May 20236 min read

ECB rate hike, May 2023: what it means for a Greek mortgage

The ECB raised its deposit rate again in May 2023. What this means for Greek mortgage costs and dollar-euro timing for US buyers.