When you have found the property you want and all relevant details e.g. property address, contact details of the owner etc. your lawyer must carry out the necessary title search of your property. To have titles means that one has been the legal owner or registered proprietor. All property title searches must be made manually at the relevant local registry which includes checking volume and folio numbers, all related documentation etc. These searches, in accordance with Greek law must be done by a lawyer. The non-existence of a property registry aggravates the purchasing procedure. The Greek government is currently in the process of establishing a computerised land-titles-registry. It is planned that this registry will be completed by the year 2010.

A physical person (i.e. not a company, partnership, co-op etc.) must obtain a certification of his personal current tax status - (that you are up to date) from the local tax office. This certificate must be attached to the original master copy of the contract held by the notary public.

There is a system in Greece by which the tax authorities fix an objective value to a property. Based on this the calculation of the transfer tax payable on fixed "objective values" for property per square metre is done.

As a foreigner (non European) intending to purchase with foreign currency exchanged into euros, you may be entitled to transfer of property (purchase) tax reductions. Therefore, all relevant cash exchange receipts or pink slips need to be collected. (European are obliged to present their tax declaration at their home country).

First time buyers are entitled to complimentary further transfer-of-property-tax-reductions and / or exemption.

It is usual practice for the purchasers to allocate their choice of notary public. The notary public is independent of either the seller or the purchaser. He draws up the contract for transfer of property and the various terms and conditions contained therein. Signature of transfer of property contract. The signed contract is final and binding to the parties involved. The presence of the lawyer is a strict prerequisite according to Greek law.

After signature, the contract is stamped by the competent Bar Association accounts department and a certain amount is payable.

In order to become the registered proprietor of your property its transfer to your name must be officially registered in the area where the property is situated. The notary public usually undertakes this task and provides you with relevant certificates proving you are the registered proprietor "owner" of your property.