27 Jan 2016

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Acquisition & Occupation Of Real Estate: Basic Legal Framework, Property Rights, Procedural Issues Of Acquisition, Restrictions

The basic legal framework governing real rights in immovable property The right to property, as a fundamental right, is under the protection of the State, as provided in the Greek Constitution, Article 17, whereas it is stipulated that property rights cannot be exercised against the public interest. Within this context, the Constitution imposes a restriction or deprivation of property (expropriation) for the sake of public interest, always under the prerequisite of a prior compensation of the owner. Furthermore, the most significant source of property law lies in the third book of the Civil Code (articles 947-1345). Other provisions and property law rules exist...

04 Nov 2015

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Supporting documents for real estate purchase agreements (2015)

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

1. Real property acquisition title. 2. Copy of construction permit for the real property, validated by the relevant town planning authority, where the permit has been issued after 17 March 1983. 3. Engineer certificate under Law 4178/2013 “on addressing illegal construction”. Where the real property is located in land not zoned, the certificate should also be accompanied by a surveyor’s plan dependent on the Hellenic Geodetic Reference System 1987 (HGRS87), unless it falls under the exceptions provided for in Article 2 of Law 4178/2013 (for example, real property on a beach zone, forest land, historical site, etc.). 4. Surveyor’s plan for the real...

11 Jun 2014

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The investment of N.C.H. Capital Inc. in Kassiopi, Corfu and its complications

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

The full possession and the occupation of the property in question with a surface of appr. 120 acres (489,560 sq. m.) in the area of Kassiopi, Corfu was transferred by an individual to the Greek State without consideration, in order to settle inheritance tax obligations. A little more than half of this property was classified as forest area by means of an act of the Corfu Forest Directorate. The remaining surface of the property was classified as agricultural and grass land. Within the property there is a lake with a surface of appr. 3,5 acres named “Vromolimni”. Moreover, within the 489,560...

10 Nov 2012

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Τhe real estate agency contract, according to recent Law 4072/2012

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

In Greece, the real estate agency contract is governed by the combined provisions of Articles 703-707 of the Civil Code, and the provisions of recent Law 4072/2012, which came into as of its publication in the Government Gazette, on 11.04.2012 (Volume A '86/2012). A real estate agent is defined by article 197 of Law 4072/2012 as the person or the legal entity who provides real estate agency services. Real estate agency service is the suggestion of an opportunity or the mediation for contracts relating to property and especially for contracts of sale, exchange, lease, leasing, establishment of easements etc. The conditions for...

19 Mar 2012

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Acquisition of real estate property in Greece by non residents

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

A. Brief description of the procedure for obtaining real estate property 1. Finding the property - assistance of a real estate agent The buyer may seek the assistance of a real estate agent in order to find a property to acquire. Real estate agents usually provide their services according to a written mandate that they receive from the buyer. This mandate should include the amount of the broker’s fees and should specify the period during which it is binding. Real estate agent’s fees are not statutorily provided, therefore the parties may freely agree on that. However, in practice the fees are usually around...

01 Feb 2012

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Taxation on the transfer of property-exemptions

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

As from 01.01.2006 (only for the buildings for which the building permit was issued after that date), a VAT of 23% is imposed on the first sale of newly built buildings by a manufacturer, or by a person who deals professionally with the construction and the sale of buildings. For all other properties that don’t have the obligation to pay VAT, as above-mentioned, the transfer is charged with real estate transfer tax at a progressive scale (i.e. 8% for a value of property up to 20.000,00 € and 10% on the excess). Exceptionally, the acquisition of a primary residence is...

01 Feb 2012

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Annual taxes on property

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

All properties in Greece, belonging to individuals or legal entities on the 1st of January of every year, are burdened with the Tax of Real Estate, following the provisions of Law 3842/2010. The above-mentioned term property includes: a) the right to full and bare ownership, the usufruct and the habitation on a property and b) the right to the exclusive use of parking spaces, auxiliary spaces and swimming pools, that lie at the jointly-owned part of basement, terrace or non-covered buiding space of these properties. The taxable value of buildings (main and auxiliary spaces) is determined by several factors, such as the...

01 Feb 2012

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Real estate investment companies

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

Real Estate Investment companies are limited by shares companies (i.e. S.A companies), established with the sole aim to acquire and manage real estate property. Their minimum share capital is twenty nine million three hundred and fifty thousand euros (€29.350.000) at a minimum, fully payable upon establishment of the company. Prior to the issuance of permission for establishing a Real Estate Investment Company, permission by the Stock Market Commission is required. A similar permission is required in case an existing company is converted into a Real Estate Investment Company. For granting the establishment permission, the Stock Market Committee evaluates the investment...

01 Feb 2012

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Evaluation of real property

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

The value of land in Greece is assessed according to a so called “system of objective value” (or tax value).This system provides for a minimum value of real property according to objective criteria such as position, size, public facilities in the area, age of a building etc. This system has been imposed so that the tax authorities have a reference minimum value in imposing taxes in relation to land. In cases of transfer of land, the transfer tax is calculated on either that “objective value” or the value agreed in the contract, whichever is the highest. The objective values are...

01 Feb 2012

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Bank finance for the acquisition of real property

Posted by Niki Plyta

in Real Estate, Special topics

Often, in real estate transfers in Greece, the price is paid to the seller by loan, that is granted by the bank to the buyer. In this case and for the discharge of the loan to the bank, a pre-notice of a mortgage is granted, in favor of the bank. In terms of process, the registration of a pre-notice of a mortgage in favor of the bank, at the expense of the buyer of the property, follows the signing of the contract of transfer and the contract of the loan agreement between the bank and the buyer and it takes...

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