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Free Guide to Hiring a Real Estate Lawyer
Agia Paraskevi is a suburban municipality in the northeastern part of the Athens metropolitan area. Real estate in this area is mainly residential - apartments, detached houses and small apartment blocks - with some commercial properties along main roads. Greek real estate transactions are governed by national law and enforced locally through municipal planning departments, the Hellenic Cadastre - Ktimatologio, local tax offices and the courts. Buying, selling, renting, inheriting and developing property in Agia Paraskevi involves a mix of civil law rules, administrative procedures and tax obligations. Local professionals - lawyers, notaries, civil engineers and surveyors - play essential roles in ensuring transactions are legally secure and compliant with urban planning and registration requirements.
Real estate transactions and disputes often involve complex legal, technical and tax questions. A qualified lawyer can help in many common situations:
- Due diligence and title checks before buying - confirming ownership, mortgages, servitudes and litigation affecting the property.
- Drafting and reviewing sale contracts, pre-contracts and notarial deeds - ensuring terms protect your interests and allocate risks.
- Resolving disputes between co-owners, neighbors or tenants - claims for common-expense debts, partitions, evictions and easements.
- Handling inheritance and succession matters - transferring title after death, tax declarations and dealing with multiple heirs.
- Obtaining or challenging building permits and dealing with unlawful constructions - legalization procedures or administrative appeals.
- Tax planning and compliance - advising on transfer tax, VAT, ENFIA and other fiscal obligations and preparing returns.
- Representing you in litigation or alternative dispute resolution - in local courts, mediation or arbitration.
Key legal and administrative aspects relevant to real estate in Agia Paraskevi include:
- Hellenic Cadastre - Ktimatologio: Most properties must be registered in the national cadastre. A cadastre extract shows ownership, boundaries and registered encumbrances such as mortgages and easements. Unregistered properties pose additional risks and require careful investigation.
- Title and transfer formalities: Transfers of immovable property are completed by a notarial deed executed before a Greek notary. The notarial deed is then registered with the cadastre or local land registry.
- Urban planning and building permits: Municipal urban planning rules control land use, building heights, coverage, floor-area ratios and permitted uses. Any construction, extension or change of use requires local building permits and compliance with zoning rules. Unauthorized construction can lead to fines, orders for demolition or obligations to legalize under specific amnesty procedures when available.
- Mortgages and encumbrances: Mortgages and other charges must be registered. Buyers should obtain encumbrance certificates and searches to ensure the property is free of liabilities.
- Taxation: Different taxes may apply to property transactions. New properties sold by developers are often subject to VAT instead of transfer tax. Secondary market sales are generally subject to transfer tax. Annual property taxation includes ENFIA. Capital gains taxation can apply in certain circumstances. Buyers and sellers must file relevant tax declarations with the competent tax office.
- Condominium law: The majority of urban properties are part of condominiums. Greek law regulates common areas, general assemblies, management of common expenses and reserved rights of individual owners.
- Inheritance and succession: Property passing by inheritance requires succession procedures, payment of inheritance tax where applicable and registration of new ownership. Disputes among heirs are common and may require legal action.
Request the property title or ownership certificate, a recent cadastre extract showing encumbrances, copies of any mortgages, a topographic survey when boundaries are unclear, the building permit and final completion certificate if it is a building, Energy Performance Certificate when applicable, and recent tax clearance or tax receipts. Your lawyer will advise on additional documents based on the transaction.
Ask for a certified extract from the Hellenic Cadastre or the local land registry showing registered encumbrances. Your lawyer can order official searches to reveal mortgages, pledges, annotations of litigation or restrictions affecting the title.
A notary is legally required to execute the final transfer deed for real estate. While a lawyer is not strictly mandatory, retaining a real estate lawyer is strongly recommended to conduct legal due diligence, negotiate contract terms and coordinate the transaction with the notary, tax authorities and cadastre.
Costs typically include either transfer tax or VAT depending on whether the seller is a private individual or a developer, notary fees, registration fees at the cadastre or land registry, lawyer fees and possible real estate agent fees. After purchase, the new owner pays annual property tax (ENFIA). Exact amounts depend on the property value, type and status of the seller.
Request copies of the original building permit and any subsequent amendments or completion certificates. Your lawyer or an independent engineer can verify permits with the municipality s urban planning department and confirm whether the physical property matches the approved plans.
Illegal constructions may trigger fines, demolition orders or require legalization under special procedures when available. A buyer taking possession of such a property may inherit these problems. Due diligence should identify any unlawfully built parts and estimate the legal and financial consequences before purchase.
Disputes can be managed through negotiation, mediation or court proceedings. Common issues include payment of common expenses, use of common parts and partition actions. A lawyer can advise on the best approach and represent co-owners in court if necessary.
Inheritance requires a declaration of succession and settlement of any inheritance or transfer taxes. Heirs must register the property under their names at the cadastre or land registry. If there are competing claims among heirs, legal proceedings may be necessary. An estate lawyer can guide you through documentation and tax obligations.
Yes. Foreign individuals and entities can purchase property in Greece, including Agia Paraskevi, subject to the same requirements as Greek citizens in most cases. Specific rules may apply depending on the buyer s nationality and the property location. Non-resident buyers should obtain a tax identification number and consult a local lawyer for compliance and tax planning.
Timelines vary. After signing preliminary agreements and completing due diligence, the final notarial transfer often takes a few weeks to a few months depending on the complexity of title searches, obtaining tax clearances, preparing notarial deeds and registering the transfer with the cadastre. Unregistered properties or disputes can significantly extend the timeline.
Helpful local and national authorities and organizations include:
- The Hellenic Cadastre - Ktimatologio for title registration and extracts.
- Municipality of Agia Paraskevi - Urban Planning Department for building permits, zoning rules and local planning information.
- Local Tax Office (DOY) and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) for tax matters, transfer tax and VAT guidance.
- Athens Bar Association or the local Bar Association to find qualified real estate lawyers.
- Chamber of Notaries for notary matters and lists of registered notaries.
- Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) and licensed civil engineers or surveyors for technical reports, topographic surveys and building compliance checks.
- Citizens Service Centers (KEP) for certified public documents and administrative assistance.
If you need legal assistance for a real estate matter in Agia Paraskevi, consider the following practical steps:
- Gather basic information and documents about the property: ownership documents, cadastre extract, building permit, tax receipts and any contracts already signed.
- Consult a local real estate lawyer early in the process to conduct due diligence and advise on risks. Ask for a written engagement letter that sets out fees, scope of work and estimated timeline.
- Order official title searches and cadastre extracts to confirm ownership and encumbrances. If boundary issues exist, commission a topographic survey.
- Verify zoning and permit status with the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi and obtain professional reports on the building s compliance if needed.
- Discuss tax implications with your lawyer and the local tax office to budget for transfer tax, VAT, notary fees and annual taxes.
- Use clear contractual terms in preliminary and final agreements to allocate liability for defects, taxes, outstanding charges and potential legalization of works.
- If a dispute arises, seek early legal advice to explore negotiation, mediation and court alternatives. Prompt action is important for preserving rights and preventing escalation.
Real estate transactions in Agia Paraskevi combine national legal rules with local administrative practice. Working with experienced local professionals reduces risk and helps ensure a smooth process. If you are unsure about any document or step, seek a consultation with a qualified real estate lawyer before you sign anything or transfer funds.
Agia Paraskevi, Greece Attorneys in related practice areas.
