Overseas Mortgages · Greece
Greece Mortgages for Canadians & Americans
Athens, Crete, Mykonos, Santorini, the Peloponnese — Greek banks finance non-resident buyers up to 60% LTV in euros. Applications via our partner Upscore.
Greece overseas mortgage guide written and reviewed by the Citadel Mortgages licensed brokerage team.
Licensed Canadian mortgage brokerage — FSRA 12993 (ON), FCAA 509446 (SK) and licensed across 10 provinces & territories.Verify licensing
Max LTV (non-resident)
50–60%
Typical term
15–25 years
Currency
EUR
Golden Visa
From €250k–€800k
Overseas Mortgages in Greece
Greece has reopened to international buyers in recent years, with Greek banks now lending to non-residents up to 60% of the purchase price or valuation (whichever is lower). Rates are competitive — typically Euribor + roughly 2.0%–3.5% — and the country still offers a Golden Visa programme tied to qualifying property investments.
Global Property Mortgages connects Canadian and American buyers with the right Greek lender, coordinates the AFM (Greek tax number) and bank account through our partner Upscore, and works alongside your Greek lawyer through the entire process.
Global Property Mortgages is a brand of Citadel Mortgages, a fully licensed Canadian mortgage brokerage. Applications are powered by our partner Upscore — the cross-border mortgage platform built for international buyers.
Why buy and finance property in Greece
The case for Greece from a Canadian or American buyer's perspective.
Why Greece
Greece welcomed a record 40.7M international visitors in 2024 (Bank of Greece), generating €21.6B in tourism revenue. That demand drives one of Europe's strongest short-let yields and supports the Golden Visa programme that has channeled €4B+ of foreign property investment since 2014.
Why now
Greek residential prices have grown 15-30% in Athens and the islands since 2021 per the Bank of Greece, while still trading well below Spain, Portugal and Italy on a €/m² basis — a rare combination of momentum and value.
Why a broker matters here
The Greek non-resident lender pool is narrow and rate spreads are wider than elsewhere in Europe. We tender simultaneously and handle the AFM/bank-account paperwork that delays most solo applicants.
Greek mortgage lending to non-residents is thinner than buyers expect, and many purchases here are part-cash. We're upfront about which profiles a Greek bank will finance versus where a cross-border structure makes more sense — no point starting a file that was never going to fund.
— Citadel Mortgages licensed brokerage team, drawn from live experience placing overseas mortgages for Canadian & American buyers.
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Best locations to buy in Greece
Where Canadian and American buyers are placing capital — and why.
Athens
AtticaLowest €/m² of any EU capital, fastest-growing market since 2021. Kolonaki, Glyfada and the Riviera lead.
Indicative pricing: €2,500–€6,000/m² (prime)
Athens mortgage guide
Mykonos
CycladesGlobal ultra-prime island brand, peak summer rates among Europe's highest, very limited new-build supply.
Indicative pricing: €8,000–€20,000/m²
Mykonos mortgage guide
Santorini
CycladesIconic caldera views drive 250+ nights of premium short-let bookings, with strict new-build moratorium protecting value.
Indicative pricing: €6,000–€15,000/m²
Santorini mortgage guide
Crete
Heraklion / ChaniaLargest Greek island, year-round community, best lifestyle-to-price ratio, growing direct-flight network from North America (via Athens).
Indicative pricing: €2,500–€5,500/m²
Crete mortgage guide
Peloponnese
Costa Navarino, ManiEmerging luxury market, dramatic coastline, low density, anchored by major hospitality investment.
Indicative pricing: €2,500–€6,000/m²
Peloponnese mortgage guide
Corfu
Ionian IslandsLush, green, closest island to mainland Europe — strong British and Italian buyer interest, mature rental market.
Indicative pricing: €2,500–€5,500/m²
Corfu mortgage guide
Greece market and tourism stats
Sourced from official government, central bank and tourism authorities.
International tourist arrivals (2024)
40.7 million (record)
Apartment price index YoY
+7.7% (Q3 2025)
Source: Bank of Greece residential property prices (Nov 2025)
Golden Visa property investment since 2014
€4.7B+ (revised thresholds €800k / €400k from Sep 2024)
Source: Enterprise Greece
Tourism
Greece set an all-time record of 40.7M international visitors in 2024 (Bank of Greece), with €21.6B in tourism revenue — over 9% of GDP — making short-let yields among Europe's highest.
Food & culture
Greek cuisine is UNESCO-recognised as a pillar of the Mediterranean diet. 18 Michelin-starred restaurants in 2024 plus a worldwide reputation for olive oil, wine (Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko) and seafood.
Climate
Mediterranean throughout — 300+ sun days on the islands, mild winters in Athens and the Peloponnese, snow-capable mountains in the north for skiing.
Safety
Low violent crime nationwide; standard urban awareness in central Athens. Islands are exceptionally safe.
Live Greece exchange rates
Daily Euro (EUR) reference rates for Canadian and American buyers — sourced live from the European Central Bank and refreshed automatically every business day.
Live EUR rates are momentarily unavailable. View current Euro (EUR) reference rates at the European Central Bank .
Free tool
Greece Mortgage Calculator
Estimate your overseas mortgage payment, deposit and currency exposure in seconds.
How the greece mortgage calculator works
This free calculator estimates the monthly principal-and-interest payment on an overseas mortgage. Enter the property price, your down payment, the interest rate and the amortization period, and it returns your estimated monthly payment, loan amount and total interest over the life of the loan.
It uses the standard amortizing-mortgage formula: M = P × r × (1 + r)ⁿ ÷ ((1 + r)ⁿ − 1), where M is the monthly payment, P is the loan principal, r is the monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12) and n is the number of monthly payments (years × 12).
Worked example: on a €400,000 property with a 35% down payment (€260,000 loan) at a 4.0% annual rate over 25 years, the estimated monthly payment is about €1,372, with roughly €151,700 of total interest over the full term.
Results are indicative only and depend on the lender, currency and final approved rate. Most overseas mortgages for non-resident Canadian and American buyers require a 30–40% down payment.
How greece mortgages work
1. AFM & bank account
Obtain a Greek AFM (tax number) and open a Greek bank account.
2. Pre-approval
Greek lender reviews your file; debt service typically capped at 30–35%.
3. Legal & valuation
Greek lawyer conducts title search; bank orders independent valuation.
4. Notary signing
Sign before a Greek notary (symvolaiografos); mortgage funds release in euros.
Eligibility for Greece
Typical requirements for Canadian and American buyers financing property in Greece.
| Age | 18–70 at end of term |
|---|---|
| Income | Debt service ≤ 30–35% of gross monthly income |
| Deposit | 40–50% of price plus 8–12% taxes and fees |
| Property | Urban or island residential; some restrictions in border zones |
| Golden Visa | Available for qualifying property purchases — thresholds vary by region |
Documents you'll need
Have these ready before your application to keep timing tight.
- Passport + AFM certificate
- Last 2 years tax returns
- Bank statements + pay stubs
- Greek lawyer power of attorney
- Notarised purchase agreement
- Bank valuation
Process timeline
Typical end-to-end timing from pre-approval to funded mortgage.
Week 1–2
AFM, bank account, pre-approval.
Week 3–6
Title search, valuation, full underwriting.
Week 7–10
Notary signing and funding in euros.
Ready to start your Greece mortgage application?
Get pre-qualified in minutes through our partner Upscore — no impact on your credit score.
Official Greece sources
For independent verification, refer to these official regulators and authorities:
- Bank of Greece — Greek central bank
- ELSTAT — Hellenic Statistical Authority
- AADE — Greek tax authority
- Enterprise Greece — Golden Visa
- Greek Consulate-General in Toronto
- Visit Greece — Greek National Tourism Organisation
- Citadel Mortgages — licensed Canadian brokerage
- Upscore — cross-border mortgage technology partner
Greece mortgage FAQs
Common questions from Canadian and American buyers financing property in Greece.
Can North Americans get mortgages in Greece?
Yes — several Greek banks lend to non-resident Canadian and American buyers up to 60% LTV on residential property.
What is the Greek Golden Visa?
A 5-year renewable residency permit tied to a qualifying real estate investment. Thresholds were raised in 2024 and now range from €250,000 to €800,000+ depending on region.
What are typical Greek mortgage rates?
Non-resident rates are generally Euribor + roughly 2.0% to 3.5%. Both fixed and variable options are offered.
Are there border-zone restrictions?
Yes — properties in designated border areas (some islands, parts of northern Greece) may require additional Ministry of Defence approval. Your lawyer will identify these.
What are the total purchase costs?
Budget around 10–12% of price for transfer tax (3.09%), notary, lawyer, registration and bank fees.
Can I sign by power of attorney?
Yes — Greek lawyers routinely sign on behalf of foreign buyers, both for the bank file and the notarial deed.
Where do North Americans buy in Greece?
Athens and the southern Athenian Riviera, Crete, the Cyclades (Mykonos, Santorini, Paros), Corfu and the Peloponnese.
Quick answers — Greece mortgages
Clear, straightforward answers to the questions Canadian and American buyers ask most about financing a home in Greece.
- Can Americans buy property in Greece?
- Yes, Americans can buy almost any residential property in Greece, and Greek banks lend to American non-residents up to 60 percent of the property value.
- What is the Greek Golden Visa minimum investment?
- From 250,000 euros in low-density regions up to 800,000 euros in Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and parts of Thessaloniki.
- Is it safe to buy property in Greece?
- Yes, Greece has a transparent land registry and notary system, and the Bank of Greece regulates all mortgage lending.
A brand of Citadel Mortgages · Overseas financing through Upscore
Global Property Mortgages is a brand of Citadel Mortgages, a licensed Canadian mortgage brokerage. Citadel Mortgages gives Canadian and American clients the ability to finance property abroad through Upscore, our cross-border mortgage technology partner, and its international lender network — Citadel Mortgages does not broker the overseas mortgage itself.
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Other countries we cover
Compare overseas mortgage programs across every country in our international lender network.
Finance your Greece property with Global Property Mortgages
Free, no-obligation review. We'll match you with the right Greece lender for your profile — through Upscore, our cross-border application partner.
