Real Estate 2025: Slowdown in Sales, Rise in Parental Gifts and Donations

What the Greek Tax Administration (AADE) Data Shows on Property Transfers and Which Areas Logged the Most Expensive Deals in a 2025 Real Estate Review

After a period of strong activity, the real estate market in 2025 shows clear signs of a slowdown in sales, a trend also reflected in public revenues from the property transfer tax. At the same time, however, there is increased activity in parental gifts, donations, and inheritances, as the current tax-free threshold continues to act as a strong incentive for transferring wealth within the family.

Decline in Revenues from Sales

According to AADE data, revenues from the property transfer tax (sales) came to €607.93 million in 2025, versus €656.49 million in 2024. This translates into a decrease of €48.56 million, i.e., -7.4%.

Specifically:

• The transfer tax on buildings (residences, commercial buildings, etc.) amounted to €503.45 million, down from €537.29 million in 2024 (-6.3%).

• For plots and farmland, the decline was steeper, with revenues falling to €104.48 million from €119.2 million, a 12.35% drop.

  
  

Market participants attribute this picture to the faster increase in property prices—due to rising construction and renovation costs—combined with pressure on households’ purchasing power, which curbs demand.

Increase in Parental Gifts, Donations, and Inheritances

By contrast, revenues from parental gifts, donations, and inheritances rose to €266.03 million in 2025, from €235.09 million in 2024, an increase of roughly 13%.

A key factor remains the €800,000 tax-free threshold (in force since 2021) for first-degree relatives—parents, children, spouses, and grandparents—which facilitates the transfer of real estate without tax up to that amount.

How Many Properties Changed Hands in 2025

Based on AADE data, more than 223,000 property transfer tax declarations for sales were submitted in 2025 through the myProperty platform.

At the same time, according to contracts uploaded to the Real Estate Transfer Values Registry, 41,743 properties were transferred, with a total value exceeding €4.2 billion.

The average value of properties transferred in 2025 stands at €100,770.

The Areas with the Most Expensive Transactions

The most expensive sales were recorded in high-demand, investment-grade areas such as Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Elliniko, Alimos, Kolonaki, Filothei, Spetses, and Kea.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Athens ranked first by number of transactions, with 5,816 property sales totaling approximately €626 million.

What the Data Shows by Property Type

Contracts posted to the Registry reflect the following breakdown by property category:

• 21,354 apartments, total value €2.25 billion

• 4,278 single-family houses, total value €451.11 million

• 6,566 plots, total value €729.5 million

• 3,394 commercial properties, value €589.37 million

• 1,958 parking spaces, value €23.8 million

Price Outlook for 2026

The Bank of Greece estimates that the upward trend in prices will continue in 2026, but at a more moderate pace, as the market transitions into a more mature phase.

According to available data, in the first nine months of 2025 apartment prices increased 7.5% in nominal terms, compared with 9.7% in the same period of 2024.

Notably, older apartments (over five years) recorded a larger increase (+7.7%) versus +7.3% for new ones.

By geography, higher growth rates were observed in:

• Thessaloniki: +9.7%

• Other major cities: +8.5%

• Rest of the country: +8.9%

By contrast, Athens moved at a more restrained pace (+6.1%), confirming the trend of a gradual market slowdown in the capital.

What Does This Mean for Owners, Buyers, and Families?

The real estate market remains active but more selective. Before any move (purchase, transfer, parental gift, or donation), it pays to conduct a timely review of costs, tax implications, and timing, so the decision is truly advantageous for the party involved.

Are you interested in selling or acquiring a property in Greece? Our Team of Property, Tax and Legal Experts will take care of everything.

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