How to Buy Property in North-East Corfu as a Foreign Buyer

A clear, step-by-step guide from first viewing to keys in hand

North-East Corfu has become one of the most competitive coastal markets in Greece. British, German, Swiss and other European buyers love the calm bays, stable rental demand and easy access.

What most people don’t love is the confusion around the buying process:

lawyers, engineers, due diligence, building terms, taxes, timelines.

This guide walks you through the real sequence of steps to buy a villa or plot in North-East Corfu – from first viewing to completion – so you know what to expect and where the risks actually are.

1. Get Clear on

What

You’re Buying: Villa vs Land

Before you fall in love with a view, be brutally clear about your plan.

Buying a ready villa

Best for:

• Buyers who want to use the property immediately

• Those who value certainty over maximising returns

• People who don’t want to manage a full construction project from abroad

Key questions to ask at the start:

• Does the property have a legal building permit and final approval?

• Are there any un-legalised extensions (basements, extra m², pool kiosks)?

• What is the existing rental performance (if it has been rented)?

Buying land to build

Best for:

• Buyers who want a very specific layout/architecture

• Investors targeting higher upside through development

Key questions to ask immediately:

• Is the land inside settlement (oikismos) or outside?

• What is the maximum buildable area (m²)?

• Is road access formal and registered, not just a dirt track neighbours use?

• Does it have sea view and orientation that justifies the build cost?

A good agent in North-East Corfu should tell you these within seconds.

If they can’t, that’s your first red flag.

2. Build Your Local “Core Team” Early

Trying to buy in Greece with only Google and WhatsApp is how people get burnt.

You need three key people aligned before you make an offer:

1. Independent Lawyer (not the seller’s)

   • Checks titles, debts, mortgages, inheritance issues

   • Reviews contracts and protects you in negotiations

    

2. Civil Engineer / Surveyor

   • Confirms buildability and allowed m² on land

   • Checks if an existing villa is fully legal (topos, plans, permits)

   • Flags structural or planning risks that are expensive to fix later

    

3. Local Broker Who Actually Knows the Micro-Market

   • Filters out nonsense before you waste flights and time

   • Understands realistic prices in Kalami, Kassiopi, Agni, Nissaki etc.

   • Has access to off-market or semi-private stock

    

You can change your mind on a property.

Changing your core team halfway through is where deals die.

3. Viewings the Right Way: What to Check on Site

Most buyers focus on furniture and view. That’s the Instagram part.

Here’s what actually matters during a viewing in North-East Corfu:

For villas

• Access & privacy – noisy road behind? shared drive with neighbours?

• Orientation – sunset/sunrise, dominant winds, pool exposure

• Technical room & roof – damp, DIY electrics, old pumps = future costs

• Distances – real driving time to beach, harbour, supermarket, airport

• Neighbouring plots – could someone build directly in front of your view?

For land

• Slope – steep plots look dramatic but can double construction costs

• Existing infrastructure – water, electricity, septic, internet

• Natural buffers – olive trees, level areas, rock conditions

• Noise risks – nearby roads, bars, future developments

Take photos, videos, and notes. After three days of viewings everything becomes “nice view, blue water”. Your future self will thank you.

4. Making an Offer That’s Taken Seriously

North-East Corfu is small. Owners talk. Serious buyers stand out.

To be taken seriously:

1. Show proof you’re prepared

   • Lawyer engaged

   • Approx. budget clear (purchase + taxes + renovation/build)

    

2. Make a written offer with basic conditions

   • Purchase price

   • What’s included (furniture, boat mooring, management contracts)

   • Time needed for due diligence and completion

   • Any key conditions (e.g. confirming buildability, legalisation of extras)

    

3. Move fast when you like something

   The good assets don’t stay quietly on the market. “I’ll think for six months” usually ends with “it’s sold”.

5. Due Diligence: Where Deals Are Won or Lost

Once your offer is accepted in principle, the real work starts.

Legal checks (lawyer)

• Confirm seller truly owns 100% of the property

• Check for mortgages, liens, unpaid taxes or inheritance disputes

• Review all building permits and certificates

• Prepare the pre-contract or final contract in your language + Greek

Technical checks (engineer)

• Topographic plan & boundaries vs real situation

• Maximum buildable m² on land

• For villas: ensure the building matches approved plans

• Inspect pool, retaining walls, septic, access road condition

If any serious issue appears, you either:

• renegotiate the price,

• ask the seller to fix it before completion, or

• walk away and save yourself from a future nightmare.

6. Understanding the Main Costs (Beyond the Price)

Rough ballpark (always confirm with your own lawyer/accountant):

• Transfer tax: usually around 3% of the purchase price

• Notary & Land Registry: roughly 1–1.5% combined

• Legal & engineering fees: around 1–2% depending on complexity

• Annual property tax (ENFIA): based on m², zone, etc.

• If building: construction costs in North-East Corfu for quality builds are significantly higher than in inland Greece – budget realistically.

You don’t need exact numbers on day one, but you must understand the total investment, not just the asking price.

7. Completion Day: What Actually Happens

Completion usually takes place at a notary’s office in Corfu Town.

On the day:

• The seller, buyer (or their lawyers with power of attorney) and notary meet

• Final checks are made that all taxes are paid and documents in order

• Contract is read in Greek and translated

• Purchase funds are transferred / bank cheques exchanged

• Keys are handed over once the contract is signed and registered

From that moment, you own the property.

Your lawyer then registers the deed with the Land Registry / Cadastre.

8. After the Purchase: Turn It into the Lifestyle You Imagined

This is the part most guides ignore, but it’s where the real value is created.

Think through:

• Will you rent the villa when you’re not here? If yes, you need a rental strategy, licensing and management.

• Do you plan to extend, refurbish or rebuild? In North-East Corfu, getting the right architect and engineer early saves money and time.

• Who will handle pool, garden, cleaning, maintenance when you’re abroad?

This is where working with a local partner like Eterna Collection makes the difference between “I bought a house” and “I built the lifestyle I wanted”.

9. Common Mistakes Foreign Buyers Make in North-East Corfu

You can avoid 90% of problems by not doing what most people do:

• Falling in love with a view and ignoring legal/technical reality

• Trusting whoever first answered a WhatsApp message

• Underestimating construction and renovation costs on steep plots

• Believing that “everything can be legalised later” without checking

• Trying to negotiate directly with every owner while living abroad

• Not thinking about future resale or rental appeal from day one

10. How Eterna Collection Can Help

Eterna Collection focuses specifically on North-East Corfu – Kalami, Kassiopi, Avlaki, Agni, Kentroma, Nissaki and the surrounding hillside estates.

We work with a small number of buyers each year to:

• Filter and source serious on- and off-market opportunities

• Coordinate lawyers, engineers and due diligence

• Advise on villa vs land decisions based on your real goals

• Prepare rental and management strategy if you want income

• Keep the process transparent, structured and calm

If you’re considering a purchase in North-East Corfu and want a clear, no-nonsense view of what’s possible in today’s market, you can:

• Browse our current [Rentals] and [Buy] .

• Or contact us directly to discuss what you’re looking for.