Mortgage in Greece or Financing from Israel? How Israeli Buyers Pay
Greek banks lend to non-residents, with limits. Most Israeli buyers finance from home instead. The options, the currency question, and how presale changes the picture.
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Option 1: a Greek mortgage
Greek banks do lend to non-residents, typically 50% to 60% of the property value, at around 3.3% interest as of July 2026. Expect to provide:
- A Greek tax number (AFM) and a Greek bank account.
- Proof of income, tax returns and bank statements, often translated.
- A valuation of the property by the bank.
The catch for presale: a bank lends against a property it can register as security. On an off-plan purchase that usually means the loan can only be drawn near completion, so the construction-stage payments have to come from somewhere else.
Option 2: financing from Israel
Most Israeli buyers use equity, or borrow against a property they already own in Israel, for example with an all-purpose mortgage. In Israel these loans are usually limited to about half of the Israeli property's value. The advantages: an Israeli bank, an Israeli process, and money available from the first payment.
Option 3: the developer's payment plan
A presale purchase is itself a form of staged financing: a deposit at signing, payments at construction milestones, and the balance at delivery. Many buyers combine savings for the early payments with a loan for the balance.
The currency question
The property is in euros. A loan in shekels means your repayments are in shekels while the asset and the rent are in euros. That can work for or against you. Decide deliberately whether to fix the exchange rate for the payments you already know, rather than finding out at each transfer.
Common questions
Can an Israeli get a mortgage in Greece?
Yes, within limits. Greek banks typically lend non-residents 50% to 60% of the property value and require proof of income and a Greek tax number.
Can I get a mortgage on a presale apartment in Greece?
Usually only near completion, when the bank can register the property as security. The construction-stage payments normally come from your own funds or a loan from Israel.
Is it better to finance from Israel or in Greece?
It depends on your Israeli assets, your income and the currency risk you are willing to take. Most Israeli buyers finance from Israel because the money is available from the first payment.
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.
