Due Diligence Before You Sign: A Greek Lawyer's Checklist

Independence first

The developer's lawyer works for the developer. That isn't a scandal, it's just what representation means. Appoint your own, the cost is around 1%–2% of the purchase 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 archaeology designations can freeze a plot in Greece, and they are not obvious from a listing.
• The developer. Delivery record, and whether their company has filings that suggest strain.

Presale-specific

Off-plan adds two questions a resale purchase doesn't 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 guidance, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and every purchase differs, get a licensed Greek professional to confirm your own position.