Lambros Belessis and Eleni Gerasimidou discuss the recent increase in foreign investment in the Greek real estate sector, the incentives for and challenges to that investment, and some of the most important recent transactions in the latest Chambers Expert Focus: Real Estate, Infrastructure and Transport Edition.
Increase in Real Estate Investments
There has been a significant increase in real estate investments in Greece over the past few years. This is attributed to factors including:
- low real estate prices – the economic recession in Greece led to reduced real estate prices, making investments attractive;
- an improved legal framework – processes for real estate transactions are becoming less bureaucratic, with a shift towards digital and online databases;
- a tourism boom – post-pandemic, tourism in Greece has surged; and
- investment grade recapture – Greece’s recapturing of investment grade status, coupled with the absence of foreign direct investment restrictions, has made it an attractive investment environment.
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Investment Trends
Investors are primarily interested in tourism developments, including greenfield (new hotel construction) and brownfield projects (acquisition of existing hospitality units). There is a strong preference for renovation projects over new constructions due to quicker returns on investment. Other areas of interest include data centres, office buildings, luxury homes, in vitro fertilisation units, and rehabilitation units.
There is a marked preference for lease agreements over full property acquisition due to flexibility and lower costs, despite some legal risks. These lease agreements have a different tax treatment compared to property purchases, with benefits such as VAT or stamp duty deductions. However, lease arrangements are contract-based and offer less security than direct property ownership.
Incentives and Challenges
Efforts to stimulate real estate investment on the part of the Greek State include:
- electronic real estate files – set to launch in November 2023, these centralise real estate data and support documents;
- strategic investments/business parks – these offer more favourable terms for real estate development through administrative acts such as presidential decrees or ministerial decisions; and
- new building regulations – these offer urban benefits and incentives for environmentally compliant or efficiently designed buildings.
Despite improvements, challenges remain in the legal and institutional framework:
- complex zoning and planning issues – these include environmental restrictions and regulations related to archaeological sites and cultural heritage;
- disputes over building permits – often disputed by municipalities or environmental organisations, creating market uncertainty and potential project delays; and
- electronic permitting tools – though a positive development, these tools require better response and integration from urban planning authorities.
