The greatest demand concerns apartments costing up to 250,000 euros in large urban centers, holiday homes up to 350,000 euros, but also luxury homes of great value. The return of foreign home buyers to Greece is expected to be dynamic, as the country has received significant positive publicity abroad both due to the management of the pandemic and due to the prospect of significant economic growth in the coming years. At the same time, it has a very significant stock of homes for sale, as a result of the process of liquidation of "red" loans, which is in full swing. In this context, based on the search data carried out by the real estate management company Prosperty, through the relevant electronic platform that it has developed, there is an increased buying interest for acquiring a home in Greece, especially from May onwards. In fact, executives of the company, which has hundreds of residential properties for sale, say that in the coming weeks several meetings are planned with interested foreign investors, who intend to travel to Greece in the near future. The most dynamic countries are the USA, Israel, England, Russia and Germany, while the top ten is completed by Sweden, Ireland, Canada, France and the Netherlands. Those interested have expressed interest in a variety of properties with different characteristics, costs and location. However, the greatest demand concerns apartments costing up to 250,000 euros in large urban centers, holiday homes in the Peloponnese costing up to 350,000 euros, holiday homes in Halkidiki and Crete costing up to 500,000 euros, but also luxury homes of great value. Also, very important buying interest has been expressed for holiday homes in the Aegean islands, especially for those sold at prices up to 800,000 euros. The islands are a timeless destination for real estate markets, with Crete, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu, but also other holiday destinations, such as Halkidiki, Southern Peloponnese, Spetses and Hydra, are in significant demand. According to Mr. Antonis Markopoulos, CEO of Prosperty, "Greece is dynamically returning as a top destination for foreign buyers in the real estate market, who are looking for both returns and the opportunity to spend some days of the year under the Greek sun ». According to the latest data of the BoG, although foreign direct investment in real estate in 2020 moved in a lower context (by 30-40%) than those of 2018 and 2019 respectively, nevertheless amounted to 875 million euros, ie an amount more than double the 415 million euros that had entered the country in 2017 and more than 222 million euros in 2016 and only 152 million euros in 2015. This is a very important development, considering that 2020 was marked by the outbreak of the pandemic, There was a complete absence of investors through the golden visa program and there was investment uncertainty worldwide. According to Prosperty's analysis, "the growing interest in the housing market in Greece is due both to the environment of economic and political stability that improves the confidence and the international image of the country, and to targeted strategic initiatives taken at the central level (tax incentives, digitization of procedures, reactivation of golden visa, etc.) and the improvement of infrastructure (eg airports, etc.) which help Greece to develop in the coming years into a viable competitor to Italy, France and Spain ». Also, Athens remains one of the cheapest capitals in Europe. This fact, combined with the mild environment, adequate air connections and easy access to the Aegean islands, is an important opportunity for foreign investors to buy real estate for both personal use and income (eg short-term leases). . The high-prestige investments that are launched in Elliniko, Asteras Vouliagmeni and Asteria of Glyfada, but also in other parts of the coastal front, create the conditions for attracting a large number of high-income buyers.

The spike in home stay due to the pandemic and global lockdowns has turned those seeking housing into larger homes, making it easier for more than one tenant to coexist. This finding, which in the midst of quarantine was fully realized by those who work remotely and have small children, is confirmed by the research of the advertisement site Spitogatos on the most popular areas of 2020 for searching for a house for rent and sale in Athens and Thessaloniki.

Double-digit growth In particular, the demand for rental housing, based on searches conducted in the Spitogatos network in 2020 compared to the same period last year, records a double-digit growth rate in areas outside the Municipality of Athens, with the scepter holding Sounio (+ 47%) , Vilia (+ 45%), Keratea (+ 44%), Ano Liosia (43%) and Markopoulo (+ 42%). In Thessaloniki, the increase in interest in renting a house was small and was observed in a few areas, including Pylaia (+ 7%) and Kalamaria (7%), while demand remained stable in Toumba. However, based on the number of searches for lease (not the rate of change) in Attica, the Ampelokipoi-Pentagon area is at the top, with the top five being completed by Pagrati, Neos Kosmos, the Kolonaki-Lykavittos district and Petralona. Regarding the market, the most sought after area for buying a house in 2020 was Kolonaki-Lycabettus, while most of the corresponding searches were attracted by Ampelokipoi-Pentagon, Pagrati, the historic center and Kypseli. According to Spitogatos' research, during 2020, the popularity of the western suburbs of Attica as a real estate market area increased. In other words, the demand increased significantly in New Philadelphia (+ 35%), Acharnes (+ 35%), Metamorfosi (+ 34%), Ilion (+ 34%) and Kamatero (+ 33%). In Thessaloniki, the most popular areas for both renting and buying a house for 2020 are completely identical. This means that the city center and Toumba are at the top of the preferences of both interested tenants and buyers. In comparison with Attica, where there was an increase in demand in the western suburbs, in Thessaloniki the peripheral municipalities attracted a significant increase in demand, with Panorama (+ 26%), Thermi (+ 25%), Oreokastro (+ 24%) , Mikra (+ 23%) and Pefka (+ 22%) to be at the top of the relevant list.

* The article is republished from the website www.kathimerini.gr

Optimistic for the immediate restart of the Greek real estate market, as soon as the normal functioning of the economy is restored and returns to a growth trajectory, appeared yesterday real estate professionals, in the context of the Prodexpo North conference on real estate in Northern Greece. According to Mr. George Kormas, CEO of Piraeus Real Estate, "the next day will find the country's real estate market starting from where it left off, following the gradual return of economic growth." According to Mr. Kormas, the difference compared to the period before the pandemic is that the factors of green growth and digitization have now entered our daily lives, which are expected to give a boost to the real estate market. For example, as Mr. Kormas noted, "lately we see individuals tending to rent or buy larger apartments than the previously given size of 90-100 sq.m. for a family of four. In fact, they turn to more remote areas, where prices are lower, as they try with the same budget to acquire or stay in a larger property, so that they have the required privacy when doing telework or distance learning. Respectively, Mr. Nikos Manomenidis, honorary president of the Association of Real Estate Brokers and Certified Experts of Greece, noted that during the first quarter of this year there is an increase in the percentage of home purchases by people seeking housing for their families. The relative percentage reaches 34.6% of the total sales, compared to 30.4% in 2020. Respectively, the percentage of purchases made for investment purposes has decreased to 30.7%, from 34.7%, while an increase The share of holiday homes also rises to 22% (from 18.1% last year). Also, the demand for newly built constructions is increased, as this year the purchases of new houses amount to 17.3% from 10.3% in 2020. The winners of the pandemic include logistics real estate, where the investment activity has accelerated in relation to with before the pandemic. According to Mr. Dimitris Karagiannis, COO of the logistics service company Sarmed, the penetration of e-commerce has the effect of increasing the need for logistics real estate, but conversely reduces the need for space in commercial stores, with this trend becoming permanent and after the end of the pandemic. However, it should be noted that new needs in logistics are more likely to be met by new developments than by the reconstruction of existing and older properties, as the cost of doing so is prohibitive.

By Nikos Rousanoglou * The article is republished from the website www.kathimerini.gr

A general increase, with few exceptions, is recorded for 2020 in the requested house prices for sale and rent in Athens and Thessaloniki, according to a survey conducted in January by the advertising site Spitogatos. Nationwide, the sale prices requested by property owners - managers increased by 3.3%, while those for rent by 6.5%. However, there was a significant reduction of (requested) prices, more than 15%, but this concerns minimal areas of the territory, according to the findings of the study. "Although the asking prices for the sale and rental of real estate have increased significantly throughout the country in the midst of the pandemic - a phenomenon that was observed in about 80% of the areas of Attica and Thessaloniki - based on the data we collected from our platform, some areas are visible. exceptions, with more notable some sought-after areas near the center of Athens, where rents are declining. We expect to see how the evolution of the pandemic but also the possible return of tourism - and therefore the restoration of short-term rental housing - will further affect the market ", noted the CEO of the platform Dimitris Melachrinos. In Attica, the asking sales prices increased to 81.2%, fell to 14.5% and remained stable in 4.3% of the regions. The highest asking selling prices, per square meter, are recorded in Filothei (3,440 euros), Sounio (2,562 euros), Legrena (2,325 euros) and Argyroupoli (2,300 euros).

In Thessaloniki, they strengthened to 82%, shrank to 14% and remained stable in 4% of the regions, with the highest expected prices being found in Byzantium (1,750 euros), Doxa (1,666 euros), 40 Churches (1,445 euros) and at the Depot (1,422 euros).

In terms of rents, in Attica they increased to 71.8%, decreased to 23.9% and remained stable in 4.3% of the areas, while in Thessaloniki they increased to 86.8%, decreased to 7.9% and remained stable in 5.3% of the areas.

The increase in asking prices is attributed, to some extent, to the return of housing due to the health crisis. "The apartments have shown resilience in the midst of a pandemic, given the restrictions that have been imposed on travel. "Due to teleworking, we see a shift of prospective buyers to older apartments, which as more affordable, compared to smaller older properties, have a larger area, better serving the increased needs for distance employment", explains Giannis to "K" Xylas, head of the company of certified appraisers Geoaxis. Despite the upward trends, the rise in asking prices is opposed to the deterioration of the fundamental dimensions of the economy due to measures to limit COVID-19 but also to the shrinkage of foreign investment. Indicatively, in 2020, only 403 residence permits were issued related to investing in real estate worth at least 250,000 euros, through the "Golden Visa" program, a size that had reached 3,504 in 2019.

* The article is republished from the website www.kathimerini.gr

The islands of the Cyclades, Lefkada, Kefalonia, Athens and the islands of the Saronic Gulf (eg Spetses, Hydra) are today the five most expensive areas for investment in the housing market. Nevertheless, the investment interest from abroad is still very lively and will be manifested as soon as the pandemic is over. According to a relevant research of the British Astons group, which specializes in investment immigration programs, the Greek real estate market remains among the main choices of foreign - and British - investors, as even its most expensive parts are extremely affordable compared to other areas. For example, according to Astons, the average home sale price was 222,348 euros at the end of 2020, an increase of almost 6% compared to 2019, when the average price was 210,000 euros. Even so, the cost remains 85% lower than the average home purchase price in one of central London's most popular neighborhoods, such as Kensington and Chelsea. Respectively, house prices rose by 8.7% last year in Lefkada, with the average cost reaching 165,000 euros, from 151,790 euros at the end of 2019. In Athens, which is the fourth most expensive area, the average cost of homes for sale amounted to 157,415 euros, an increase of 3% on an annual basis. In the whole country, the average price is 131,040 euros, higher by 2.7% compared to 2019, when the relevant cost amounted to 127,600 euros. On the other hand, the lowest price is found in Florina, where the sold properties cost only 43,176 euros (-4.3%), while in Kilkis, despite last year's increase of 20%, the average selling cost does not exceed 50,400 euros. Cheap cities also include Karditsa (51,576 euros), Kastoria (56,000 euros) and Serres (56,868 euros). Astons says the Cyclades islands will remain the focus of foreign investors, especially those with significant incomes, as this category proposes a high quality of life for themselves and their family as the key factor in acquiring real estate. In other words, they prefer real estate in areas that offer the above characteristic, even if it is to the detriment of the annual return on investment. According to the company's analysts, "Greece offers an excellent climate and significantly lower costs of acquiring a home compared to Great Britain, making it a key choice for British investors." At the same time, after the formalization of Brexit, Greece is expected to be an even more attractive destination, as many Britons will want to take advantage of the relevant "Golden Visa" residence permit program. In fact, Astons states that the Greek program is also very affordable, as 252,328 euros (including the relevant costs) are enough to acquire a property and grant a license to the investor and his family members, with the whole process requiring approximately two months.

By Nikos Rousanoglou * The article is republished from the website www.kathimerini.gr

Do you feel trapped in four walls? Do you want to eat them? Try to adjust your space a bit before you freak out. We understand how you can feel if you are in a work quarantine since March. It is soul-destroying to be alone all day with yourself and you definitely feel that the walls are swallowing you. Most likely all you do to change performances in the house is to move from the living room sofa to the kitchen table and to close work with the laptop cuddling in bed. Do not feel bad, you are not much different from other people who spend the day at home with short breaks for the supermarket and walking. But you can make your daily life a little better with these simple adjustments.

For a start, keep your home clean

It is perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed if the house has (a lot of) dust. You may not have any appetite to pick it up, it may seem futile "after it sucks again", but really, believe us, you will feel incredible peace as soon as you see it neat and clean. Start with simple tasks: dust the surfaces with a cloth and if you have a sweeper type vacuum cleaner you will clean a lot in five minutes.

Bonus tip: always have a throw on the couch (preferably light colored) and wash it once a week. It is perfect to smell emollient where you sit.

From plants how are you?

If you can not get out, bring it out. You do not need to invest in plants that you have no idea how to care for. In addition to the classic cacti, there are other hardy plants. Indicatively we will mention sansiberia, spathiphyllum, aglaonima and lust.

Do you have an office?

It is difficult to work in the dining room. He struggles for a week, but after a while it becomes tedious. Get an office to do your job - you do not have to pay much. Do not forget to put a pot on it.

The bed in the middle of the room is a pass

The only reason to have the bed in the middle of the room is to have access from both sides and to have a nightstand. We would suggest you to stick the bed to the wall, put a mosquito net on it to make it more cozy and put your desk in the corner of the room. With more space, you can experiment, and most importantly not feel claustrophobic.

Is there plenty of light?

One of the most important features that a quarantine-friendly home should have is light. If you have heavy curtains, put them in the attic and buy thin ones so that light can enter - they will not cost you much, thin curtains cost around ten euros. Keep the windows clean. If you have a mirror, put it somewhere that reflects light.

Finally, play around with the decoration

If you change the curtains, the throws, the carpet and the lighting in one place, you practically have a different house. Try putting an old throw in your closet. Or now that it is winter, put a fleece blanket (they keep the smell of the emollient for a longer time) instead of throwing. Finally, try to put led lights above your curtain or in a corner to give "volume". Voila, you have a new home!

* The article is republished from the website www.in2life.gr

Only for the properties that are within the system of the objective is provided the possibility of their electronic transfer, that is, through TAXISNET.

As clarified in the relevant decision of the head of the Independent Public Revenue Authority G. Pitsilis, system of objective determination of real estate value, are submitted electronically from the second half of the year, while the declarations for the cancellation of the notarial document will also be submitted electronically ”.

Until May 31, the electronic submission of the VAT return. will be optional, ie taxpayers will have the option of submitting the return in paper form, as has been the case so far. From June 1, however, electronic submission will be mandatory.

In particular and in accordance with the provisions of the decision:

The initial timely real estate transfer tax returns (VAT returns) for the preparation of a notarial sale document, which concern real estate located in areas where the system of objective determination of real estate value applies, are submitted electronically. Statements for the cancellation of the notarial deed are also submitted electronically, if the originals have been submitted in the same way. A statement is made per buyer regardless of the number of sellers and the transferred real estate. Declarations concerning any other case of imposition of real estate transfer tax, repetition or correction of a contract as well as sale of real estate in execution of a preliminary agreement are submitted in printed form. In the event that there is no possibility of electronic submission of the VAT return. due to a proven technical weakness, the declaration is submitted in printed form to the Tax Office. at the request of those liable to a statement and decision of the Head of the Capital and Property Tax Implementation Directorate of AADE.

The VAT declaration is completed by the certified notary who will draw up the notarial deed and is submitted by the parties using their personal TAXISnet codes. Regardless of the fact that the declaration is completed by the notary, the submission of it by the parties implies the acceptance of its content and the accuracy of what is declared by them. If an exemption for first residence is requested, the submission of the VAT return. has for the buyer the consequences of the submission of a responsible declaration according to article 8 of law 1599/1986, regarding the assistance of the conditions of the exemption.

When submitting the VAT tax return. fill in all the fields of the attached model 1, which is an integral part of this. With the declaration, the value of the real estate is calculated by the notary, with the completion of the calculation sheets, the exemptions and the tax due, and the legal supporting documents, as the case may be, are submitted together.

With the submission of the VAT tax return. the deed of administrative determination of the tax is immediately issued, which is notified to the taxpayer, as well as the identity of the debtor. After the drafting of the transfer contract, the notary is obliged to register its details and attach it to the above electronic application. Upon submission of a statement for the cancellation of a contract within one year from the submission of the initial one, an individual discount sheet (AFEK) is issued immediately.

The competent Tax Office is updated electronically immediately after the submission of the VAT return. and checks the accuracy of the declarations and the assistance of the conditions of exemption within 60 days from its submission. In case additional supporting documents are required, the taxpayer is invited by the Department of Compliance and Taxpayer Relations to submit the additional requested supporting documents within 5 working days, either scanned by e-mail or mailed or submitted to the competent D protocol. Ο.Υ.

The administrative tax assessment act is issued in each case of submission of a transfer tax return, whether it is submitted electronically or in printed form.

This Decision shall enter into force upon its publication in the Government Gazette. Until May 31, 2021, the real estate transfer tax returns, for which it is provided herein, can be submitted without the use of the electronic application. From the 1st of June 2021 the submission of the VAT returns. is done exclusively through the electronic application.

* The article is republished from the website www.realestatenews.gr

The housing market is expected to move at three speeds for the new year, with the new houses in the so-called "good" areas having a comparative advantage as seen last year, as they are clearly less and have shown great resilience in through the health crisis. Overall throughout Greece, as market executives point out, the housing market is projected to have a period of price stagnation or even a slight decline in 2021, due to the fact that the maximum percentage of potential buyers has seen a squeeze in their finances, while there is a general insecurity and uncertainty about future economic developments. For 2020 and based on the official data of the Bank of Greece, house prices continued to rise (s.s. after a decade of declining course of 35% -45% cumulatively in terms of prices that began at the end of 2008 for to start the recovery from 2018 onwards), however over the months and as the pandemic progresses, at lower rates compared to last year, pre-coronavirus: Indicatively for the third quarter of 2020 - when there are latest official data - an increase of 3.2% was recorded, lower than the + 4.1% of the second quarter of this year. In this context, as stated by Mr. Babis Charalambopoulos, former president of the Hellenic Institute of Valuation, it is estimated that the market will continue to move at three speeds, depending on the category of real estate and in particular there will be:

Relative demand in good areas - neighborhoods for new apartments where at the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020 mobility was observed and real estate transfers took place.
Absence of demand in the vast majority (of the old stock) of the country's real estate, but with a slight decline in prices since, due to the previous crisis, prices were already low.
Stagnation in real estate of tourist interest and holiday homes
At the same time, as the market trend remains the reduction of sales, the restriction on the demand for large apartments, while small and older properties are in demand due to the price advantage. Also, the change in rent continues to a point where one can not easily find property in some areas of Attica.

"In the parameters that should still be taken into account for the course of the market and the new year are three more key elements. First of all, the fact that household finances, due to the crisis, are at low levels and can not easily support the purchase of a new home, and also the fact that banks give mortgage loans with the dropper. "Apart from that, the Greeks, having been burned by the red loans, as much as they can, avoid borrowing from banks and think twice before asking for a loan", says Mr. Charalambopoulos.

Another factor that must be taken into account, now in the midst of Covid-19 is the need to have even a small space in the house for those who work with telework in consultation with the company. "This means that there will be a mobility in the house (rentals and transfers) in order to meet these new needs. The renovation of old houses and apartments and their energy upgrade, through the "I save" program, contributes to employment and the supply of old but better quality real estate, at reasonable prices ".

Foreigners, cottages and Airbnb
In relation to the holiday home or the "Airbnb" type houses that moved the market during the previous (financial) crisis, now there is a serious shift from short-term to long-term leases and remains to be seen from the second half of 2021 and after which the market will balance after even the gradual recovery of air and road travel.

"Besides, the holiday home is moving at low to zero rates in terms of demand from both foreigners and Greeks and this is a result of the pandemic. There was little demand from some Greeks to stay out of cities during the restrictive measures. However, in 2018 and 2019 there was a relative increase, while now the specific category of real estate is in a state of waiting.

"In the midst of a pandemic, the inaction in the real estate market with the" golden visa "program is also remarkable, where" Chinese, Russians and others acquire properties over 250,000 euros and obtain a residence permit ".

Finally, the launch of Elliniko's megaproject, which spans many years, will signal a series of positive developments. Therefore we will have a strong guide that will contribute significantly to the development of the region and will be a magnet for other investments.