Foreign realty buyers ebbing
After a significant decline in Golden Visa applications last year, the trend carries on in 2026.
Last year saw a significant, albeit expected, drop of 22% in foreign investments in the Greek real estate market.
Based on Bank of Greece data on the inflow of foreign capital for the acquisition of real estate, the amount invested in Greek property in 2025 came to €2.05 billion, down from €2.75 billion in 2024, though this still put it among the three best years ever.
As anticipated, the increased investment thresholds for the Golden Visa program, combined with the economic downturn in several key international markets, have led to a noticeable cooling of buyer interest. Increasingly higher sales prices in several parts of the country, especially in the most popular tourism areas, have also played an important part.
BoG figures show that the drop from non-EU countries reached 30.6% compared to 2024, as €1.2 billion was invested against €1.75 billion in 2024. In total, 7,031 new applications for residence permits were submitted through the Golden Visa program in 2025, compared to 9,414 applications in 2024, recording an annual decrease of 25%.
This drop was directly reflected in capital inflows from abroad, especially non-EU countries. Last year, Greece attracted €202 million from countries connected to the Chinese market (China, Hong Kong and Singapore), against €458 million in 2024, a decline of 55.8%.
A drop of 27% was also noted by the Turkish market, with €214 million from €293 million in 2024. Accordingly, a decrease of 31.7% was recorded by investments in the real estate market from Israel, and 32.8% from the United States. Capital flows from the United Arab Emirates also fell by 31%, limited to €67 million in 2025, while investments in the market by British buyers decreased by 10% (€63 million).
The company Elxis-At Home in Greece, which promotes real estate exclusively in foreign markets, also recorded this trend in a recent analysis, noting that it has carried on into this year as well, with demand for Golden Visas falling by 83% compared to 2025.
Source: eKathimerini.com
