According to Greece’s Ministry of Finance, revenues from property sale transactions dropped by nearly 5% in the first seven months of 2025, while the number of intra-family property transfers rose by 11%. Amid rising real estate prices and a potential revision of the tax base, many property owners are choosing to transfer assets in advance. This allows them to lock in the current property valuation and avoid higher tax liabilities in the future.
What Is a Parental Transfer?
A parental transfer is a tax-free transfer of ownership (typically of an apartment, house, or land) from parents to their children or other close relatives.
This mechanism simplifies inheritance planning — once the property is already registered in the children’s names, there’s no need for complex and costly inheritance procedures. Parents can retain lifetime usage rights, remaining in the property as effective owners for life. This ensures the asset stays within the family and is protected from potential changes in tax policy.
Key Advantages
- No VAT applies (for resale or older properties);
- Tax exemption: no gift tax is charged if the property’s value does not exceed €800,000 per recipient;
- Digital process: registration is handled notarially through an online platform;
- Faster completion than standard sale transactions — typically 2–3 weeks.
For foreign investors, this trend highlights the continued stability and activity of the Greek real estate market, even as the structure of transactions evolves. Greek property remains a reliable and appreciating asset, with both local families and international buyers eager to secure ownership before the next price surge.
