Tag: Mercan Asia

After a period of continuous price increases and robust market demand, Greece’s real estate sector in 2025 presents a “strong on the surface, risky underneath” dual reality. According to the Bank of Greece’s 2024–2025 Monetary Policy Report, while the property market continues to attract investor attention, key indicators have started to show signs of weakening […]

The housing market is currently showing tangible signs of a slowdown, as for the first time in years it seems demand can no longer keep up with the rate of price increases, as some fatigue is setting in. This is estimated to be the beginning of a process of stabilization, possibly even price correction, in […]

The ban on new short-term rental permits in the center of Athens – in particular in the first, second and third municipal districts – is being extended to 2026. Kathimerini understands that the government and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis have agreed not to allow any additional apartments to be created or given for short-term rental […]

As Greece’s real estate market continues to heat up, an increasing number of investors are turning their attention to high-return areas in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other emerging cities. According to data presented at the recent Real Estate Expo in Athens, several traditionally overlooked neighborhoods are now rising as new investment hotspots, especially for the long-term […]

Amid generally high real estate transaction costs across Europe, Greece maintains medium-level property transfer fees, offering a relatively attractive option for homebuyers planning to invest in European real estate. According to the latest data, the total transfer cost for purchasing property in Greece ranges from approximately 5.9% to 8%, giving it a clear advantage over […]

Recently, Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Makis Voridis, publicly stated in Parliament that the Greek government plans to abolish a controversial immigration policy — namely, the provision allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status after residing continuously in Greece for seven years. This proposed reform signals a tougher stance by Greece toward illegal […]

Cruise ship passenger fees will increase from July 1, Kathimerini understands. The fee will be imposed per passenger and per port and its amount will vary depending on the time period. For Mykonos and Santorini during the peak tourism season, it will be set at 20 euros. According to information, the competent ministries are about […]

International passenger traffic at Athens’ main airport has increased by 11% since the beginning of the year, to 8,387,287 travelers, while the number of flights from abroad served by the airport in the same period increased by 11.9% – from 55,078 to 61,653 flights. If domestic flights are also included, aircraft movements in January-May this […]

In recent years, older properties have attracted the most attention from homebuyers—a trend confirmed by 2024 data. According to real estate network RE/MAX Hellas, 66.1% of all property transactions nationwide last year involved homes over 20 years old, while 19.3% of buyers opted for newly built residences (no more than 5 years old). Compared to […]

The Greek government has officially launched a comprehensive digital property registration system aimed at tackling widespread tax evasion in the real estate sector. The system addresses a long-standing regulatory loophole where properties are declared as “vacant” but continue to consume utilities like water and electricity. Spearheaded by Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou, the “Unified […]

As global travel demand continues to rebound, Greece’s tourism market is undergoing a structural transformation. According to a recent survey by Visa and global market research firm Ipsos, high-spending tourists from the U.S., France, and the U.K. are increasingly avoiding the traditional peak month of August and instead traveling to Greece during the “shoulder seasons” […]

According to the latest Economic Outlook report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Greece’s economy is projected to grow by 2% in 2025 and 2.1% in 2026 — nearly double the average growth rate of the Eurozone during the same period. This strong performance highlights Greece’s increasingly solid economic fundamentals and […]

After two years of rapid growth, Greece’s Golden Visa program saw a year-over-year decline in application volume for the first time in April 2025. This has raised questions: is this a sign of waning investor enthusiasm, or merely a temporary slowdown before another surge? Based on the actual data and market trends, it appears to […]

Amidst growing tourism demand, Greece’s short-term rental market officially surpassed the milestone of one million beds in April 2025—three months earlier than in 2024—marking a pivotal moment in the reshaping of the country’s accommodation landscape. According to data released by the research institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE), the number of beds available on […]

Hotel prices in Athens and Attica in general continue to rise, as do arrivals, despite a significant increase in hotels and even more in other available accommodation. Demand for travel to Athens is so strong that in addition to the 715 hotels with a total of 35,000 rooms available, according to data from the Hellenic […]