Due Diligence Before You Sign: The Buyer's Checklist

Independence first

The developer's lawyer works for the developer. That is not a scandal, it is simply what representation means. Appoint your own. The fee is usually around 1% to 2% of the price, and it is the cheapest insurance in the transaction.

What gets checked

• Title chain. Who has owned this land, and is every transfer clean?
• Encumbrances. Mortgages, liens, claims, pending litigation.
• Building permit. Does the permit match what is actually being built?
• Planning status. Forestry and archaeological designations can freeze a plot in Greece, and they are not obvious from a listing.
• The developer. Delivery record, and whether the company's filings suggest strain.

Presale-specific

Buying off-plan adds two questions a resale purchase does not have: what happens to your money if construction stalls, and what exactly you can do if the delivered unit differs from the plans. Both belong in the contract, in writing, before any deposit moves.

Power of attorney

Most overseas buyers grant a limited power of attorney so the purchase can complete without flying in. Keep it narrow: specific to this transaction, with an end date.

General information, checked against public sources in October 2026. Not legal or tax advice. Rules change and every purchase differs, so have a licensed Greek professional confirm your own position.