Golden Visa: Greece’s Top Property Investment Hotspots Revealed

New analysis by Astons, an international expert in real estate, residency, and citizenship through investment, highlights Greece’s most promising property markets, with some areas experiencing annual price increases of up to 28 percent over the past year.

Greece’s Golden Visa program, which grants five-year residency rights to non-EU nationals who invest in Greek real estate, is a major draw for investors. The program operates on a three-tier investment system, offering diverse opportunities across the country.

Understanding the tiered investment system

The tiered system establishes minimum property investment thresholds based on location and property type:

– Tier A: Includes popular areas like Athens, Thessaloniki, and the Greek islands, requiring a minimum investment of 800,000 euros.
– Tier B: Covers other regions of Greece, with a minimum investment of 400,000 euros.
– Tier C: Applies to commercial properties converted into residential use, with a minimum investment of 250,000 euros, regardless of location.

Top performers in Greece’s property market

Piraeus Port.

Among the strongest-performing areas, Piraeus in Attica stands out with property prices rising by 27.8 percent over the past year. Average prices increased from 2,000 euros per square meter to 2,556 euros per square meter, with the typical 120-square-meter property valued at approximately 306,720 euros. As a Tier A location, investments here must meet the 800,000-euro threshold.

In the Kavala regional unit of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, property prices grew by 20.9 percent, from 1,348 euros per square meter in 2023 to 1,630 euros in 2024. This makes Kavala an attractive Tier B option, with average property prices at 195,600 euros and a minimum investment requirement of 400,000 euros.

Other regions experiencing significant price growth include:

– Chios regional unit: 20.6 percent
– Sporades Islands: 19.9 percent
– Grevena: 17.5 percent
– Lakonia: 14.6 percent
– Halkidiki: 14 percent
– Messinia: 13.4 percent
– Achaia: 13.2 percent
– Zakynthos: 11.5 percent

Source: Astons

Expert insight

In an announcement, Alena Lesina, a property expert at Astons, emphasized the importance of considering price growth and investment tiers when selecting property. She highlighted the appeal of redevelopment projects, particularly in areas like Piraeus, Vouliagmeni, and Glyfada, where developers are transforming commercial buildings into eco-friendly residences targeting Golden Visa investors.

“Golden Visa investors have a unique opportunity to align with areas experiencing rapid growth,” Lesina said. “The program also incentivizes sustainable developments, making it attractive for both investors and local economies.”