January 23, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Real estate: traps and opportunities for buyers


Buying real estate Torses the risks for the buyer. This is due to the fact that, at first glance, A profitable transaction may turn out to be a trapand after the purchase, your real estate may be impossible for the construction, legalization or transfer of ownership

Permissible development parameters – Only part of the data that needs to be checked.

In addition, a potential buyer should consider that urban planning changes are frequent and numerous in Greece, and the data differs depending on whether real estate in the area with the approved development plan or outside it is located.

Proper registration in Toτηmaτολόγιο (cadastre), not classified as a forest/agricultural site For land plots outside the development plan, the current types of land use, the permissible buildings of development are only some of the aspects that should be checked during the legal and technical verification before the completion of the purchase of real estate.

“Athenian news” With the assistance of a company representative Greece Home Invest George Iosifidis presents after 15 questions and answers all the necessary information about the checks that should be preceded by the purchase of real estate so that the buyer does not encounter problems and does not lose his money.

15 questions and answers about real estate verification before buying

  1. What needs to be checked in in Khτηmatology? (Cadastre) It is necessary to check the registration sheets. This check is carried out in electronic form and is absolutely mandatory.
  2. Why is it important? Because there were (in very many cases) errors in the corresponding cadastral sheets or even cases when real estate was mistakenly or due to carelessness Cadastreas a result of which it is displayed as “with an unknown owner.”
  3. What to do next? Depending on the situation, it is extremely important for the potential buyer to be informed about possible errors, and then it is necessary to carry out all the necessary procedures to correct them. For example, correction of obvious errors or adjusting geometric data, etc. All this should be done before the completion of the purchase and sale transaction.
  4. What is checked in forest cards? This verification is carried out if the property is outside the approved building plan. Thus, in order to find out whether the real estate is forestry, it is necessary to check the approved forest map of the region to determine whether real estate is included in it and is classified as a forest.
  5. What if real estate is classified as forest and appealed? In this case, the potential buyer must wait for the decision Επιτροπή ε Didέτασης δασικών αντιρήσεων (commission for the consideration of forest appeals)which will determine the character of the site.
  6. Why is a technical check so important? It is extremely important, as it protects the buyer from an unsuccessful and unprofitable purchase of an object that violates urban planning standards, unsafe or unsuitable for alleged use. In addition, it protects against the possible burden of hidden current or future financial obligations to the state.
  7. An example of a technical problem? The buyer may want to build or change the purpose of real estate to accommodate a professional workshop, which is prohibited in this area. Therefore, it is necessary to get from Πολεοδομία (urban planning) A certificate of existing types of land use.
  8. What else does a technical check include? It includes verification of all urban planning data: a building coefficient, permissible coating percentage, permissible height, as well as the presence of special provisions, such as the obligatory presence of a front yard or gallery, a mandatory roof, etc.
  9. Why are these factors important? Because they can be decisive for the development area that the buyer wants to build. For example, a corner site with an obligatory front yard on both sides has a smaller coverage area, and therefore the opinion of the engineer is of key importance.
  10. What else is checked in the process? It should be checked whether the region is located where real estate is located in the process of changing development conditions or whether there is an appeal in Συμβούλιο της επικρατείας (state council)What can be an obstacle to future development.
  11. What additional aspects should the buyer engineer check?
    • The urban planning legality of the building (verification of the construction permit, plans, applications for a change of purpose, etc.).
    • Compliance of approved plans with the current state and the possibility of suspension of issuing permits.
    • The legality of the extensions to real estate (pantries, parking spaces, etc.).
    • Finding real estate in the area with the development plan or outside it, its suitability and construction conditions.
  12. What is checked if real estate in the area with a development plan? It is checked whether the plan is an old (until 1983) or expanded Ν. 1337/1983and whether the act of application and the availability of special decrees with the conditions of development is approved.
  13. What is checked for plots outside the development plan? It is checked whether the road is recognized by public, suitability and debt on contributions, as well as a visit to Πολεοδομία (urban planning control) For clarification.
  14. What is checked if real estate outside the building plan zone? The absence of extension plans, the classification of the site (forest, biotope, archeology, etc.) and the presence of a master development plan are checked.
  15. What is the role of the electronic passport of the building? It is necessary before signing the contract, allows you to identify unauthorized buildings and prevent future blocking of the transfer of ownership.



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