For prospective property buyers looking at Europe, Greece sits comfortably around the continent's average in terms of property transfer costs.
Buyers in Greece typically face a total expense ranging from 5.9% to 8% of the property's value—figures that include taxes and transaction fees. However, the final amount can vary depending on the nature of the purchase, especially when it comes to first-time homebuyers.
One of the key benefits for buyers in Greece is the tax exemption for primary residences valued up to €275,000. For amounts above that threshold, a 3% transfer tax applies—significantly reduced from previous years when rates could reach up to 10%. This lighter tax regime is part of a broader effort by Greek authorities to stimulate the real estate market, increase transparency, and discourage the long-standing practice of underreporting property values in official contracts.
This more favorable environment is in contrast with several high-cost European countries. In Belgium, for example, property transfer costs range widely from 7.2% to as much as 17.5%, depending on the region. The United Kingdom imposes up to 15.1%, particularly for second homes or investment properties, while Italy's rates also climb as high as 15%. Other countries with notably high transaction costs include the Netherlands, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany, Malta, and Portugal, where total costs generally fall between 11% and 14.9%.
On the other end of the spectrum are countries like Estonia, Slovakia, and Denmark, where property transfer costs are minimal—starting as low as 0.52% and not exceeding 3%. Within the Balkans, Cyprus and Bulgaria sit in a moderate range, with maximum rates of 10% and 10.5%, respectively.
To put Greece's numbers into perspective, consider the purchase of a primary residence valued at €300,000. Thanks to the €275,000 tax exemption, only the excess €25,000 is taxed at 3%, resulting in a modest €750 transfer tax. When notary fees, legal services, land registry costs, and other administrative charges are included, the total cost of transferring the property falls between €17,000 and €24,000.
Compare this with Belgium, where a similarly priced property could cost a minimum of €21,600 in transfer expenses, and as much as €52,500 depending on the region. In the UK, purchasing a property worth £500,000 (around €580,000) would incur approximately £12,500—or €14,600—in transfer tax alone, with rates rising even higher for additional homes or investments.
Estonia, meanwhile, stands out as a tax-efficient destination for real estate buyers. On a €200,000 property, the transfer tax is just €1,000, making it one of the most attractive options in Europe from a fiscal perspective.
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