From the Peloponnese to Crete and Evia, you can still find two–bedroom homes near the sea without stretching your budget. This guide highlights the areas where your money goes further, with clear examples of what you can expect to buy.
Will €300,000 buy a home near the sea in Greece with spare bedrooms to welcome friends and family? In the holiday hotspots you may need to compromise on size, but you usually don’t have to go far out of town to get considerably more house for your money.
If you are selling a property in order to buy in Greece, you may be pleasantly surprised how far your money can go. Countries such as America and the UK have average house prices around the €300,000 mark. So, the question is, what can you get for that in Greece? Well, it is possible to get at least a two-bedroom property for under €300,000 – and you could even fulfil your dream of a sea view!
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Contents
Big islands, big opportunities
Greece’s biggest land masses, after the mainland, are the Peloponnese, Crete and Evia. Because of their size, mild climate, low cost of living and reachability they are excellent for holidays and year-round living. There is a large choice of properties at reasonable prices in traditional villages and countryside locations near the sea.
Can I really get a sea view in Greece for €300,000?
When we were trying to find a cheap property in Greece, we were taken down many rough tracks in the middle of nowhere. We were shown ruins up mountains and expensive apartments in tourist towns. But, with luck and perseverance, we ended up with a large stone house in a seaside village in the Peloponnese.
It isn’t a village that gets inundated with foreign tourists. Visitors are mostly Athenians who drive over for the weekend or catch the hydrofoil. But it has the sea, plenty of waterfront restaurants and is authentically Greek. €300,000 here will get you a two-bedroom, two-storey house in the village, a couple of minutes’ walk to the waterfront restaurants and bars.
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese is a wonderous land with ancient sights and natural beauty. Highlights include Ancient Olympia, the Theatre of Epidavros, Mycenae, Sparta and the nearby abandoned medieval city of Mystica (Mistras), which is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage site. Plus, there are gorgeous beaches, historic castles and relaxing seaside towns.
Two-bedroom property in the Peloponnese for under €300,000
The first provinces you get to when driving from Athens to the Peloponnese are Corinthos and Argolis. Here you’ll find some lovely seaside towns and villages, such as Nafplio, Tolo, Porto Heli, Ermioni and Kranidi. €300,000 will get you a two-bedroom house in Nafplio, with many being around the €250,000 mark. Travel down the coast and you can find three-bedroom detached houses near the sea.
Sea views for less
If you go inland a little, it’s possible to get two- and three-bedroom villas on a good-sized plot with incredible panoramic views of the sea for under €250,000. Other places to look out for near the Corinth Canal include Sikyon and Isthmia.
Countryside property
A short drive from the sea, in the Peloponnese countryside, you can find three-bedroom villas for around €230,000 in areas like Midea and Asini. The Asini area is steeped in history, including the ruins of an ancient acropolis.
West Peloponnese
In west Peloponnese most tourists arrive at Kalamata airport, which is near a lovely town of the same name. However, if you travel around this western peninsula, there are even more great seaside and countryside locations to choose from.
Seaside towns
Among the best seaside towns in the Peloponnese are Methoni and Koroni, both with Venetian fortresses; Pylos which is positioned on a beautiful bay; Kardamyli, known for it’s stone houses, and not forgetting Finkounda and Stoupa for their sandy beaches.
Cheaper down the coast
While Finikounda beaches are well known, there are other delightful villages around the coast and inland. For example, a short drive along the coast is Loutsa, where a two-bedroom detached villa can cost under €300,000. Inland at Lachanada you can find two-bedroom houses for less than €250,000.
Methoni (Modon) is a wonderful seaside town with a Venetian castle, shops and restaurants. But to get a two-bedroom house in the historic part of town will cost nearer €400,000. However, just 10 minutes’ drive away in Evangelismos, you can live peacefully among the olive groves in a two-bedroom house costing only €220,000.
Find more property for sale under €300,000 in the Peloponnese on Your Overseas Home.
How to get to the Peloponnese
Strictly speaking, the Peloponnese is a peninsula because it is joined to the mainland. However, it is only connected by a narrow Isthmus, which the Corinth Canal cuts across. Therefore, you have to drive across a bridge to reach it from Athens.
With flights to Athens year-round, your home in the Peloponnese can be reached at any time of the year. When you live on one of the peninsulas of the Peloponnese it does feel like an island, yet you have the benefits of mainland transport links.
In the western province of Messinia, the main airport is at Kalamata. Here they receive flights mainly from April to October. These include routes from the UK. However, in winter you can fly to Athens, then catch a domestic flight to Kalamata. Aegean Airlines do two flights a week.
Why buy property in the Peloponnese?
- Accessible by car from Athens
- Affordable seaside properties
- Traditional Greek stone houses and single storey villas
- Low living costs
- Authentic Greek villages
- Historic sites to visit
Crete
Crete is the largest island in Greece, with two airports and wonderful large towns near the sea. These include Chania, Heraklion and Rethymno. There are plenty of places to explore, including archaeological sites, beaches and gorges.
Crete is a popular island to buy property, especially for retirees. It has everything you need from beaches to hospitals. There is a growing expat community who enjoy the relaxed way of life and superb weather. Buying a property here can also be a good investment, especially if you rent it out to tourists.
Two-bedroom property on Crete for under €300,000
There are several areas in Crete where you can pick up a three- or even four-bedroom house for less than €300,000. Along the south coast, you can get some real bargains, especially if you look outside the towns. For example, there is currently a four-bedroom sea view villa located on the hillside above Sougia that costs €300,000 (see below). Sougia is great for enjoying relaxing holidays, with its long beach, excellent restaurants and walking trails.
Where to find a home on Crete for under €300,000
Here are some of the wonderful locations on Crete and what you might get for under €300,000:
- Rethymnos – A Sea view villa out of town with four bedrooms or two bedrooms in the village.
- Agios Nikolaos – Four-bedroom properties, close to the sea, amenities and cafes.
- Kalyves – It’s possible to find a two-bedroom house with sea views.
- Chania – An apartment in a holiday complex with views of the Aegean Sea and access to all the amenities.
See more properties for sale on Crete under €300,000.
How to get to Crete
During the summer season, many direct flights come into Heraklion and Chania airports. In winter, you need to fly to Athens and then get an internal flight. Aegean Airlines serves the Athens to Crete routes in winter.
Why buy property on Crete?
- Mild Climate
- Affordable houses
- Lower cost of living
- Heraklion and Chania airports receive direct flights from several countries in the summer months
You may also be interested in “Where to buy in Crete – the ultimate guide”.
Evia
Greece’s second-largest island is Evia, also known as Euboea. It is located east of mainland Greece in the Aegean Sea. Here you can experience authentic Greek island life without the tourist crowds. Fewer tourists also means house prices are very reasonable.
Popular coastal towns include Chalkida, as it’s the main gateway to the island, Aidipsos with its thermal spas, Eretria with its ferry crossing from Oropos, Karystos for its picturesque port, and Limni for its year-round appeal.
Two-bedroom property on Evia for under €300,000.
On Evia, you can find three-bedroom houses in tranquil locations surrounded by greenery a short drive from the sea. If you explore the countryside and villages around the coast, the further you go, the more house you can find for your money. For example, on the east coast you can currently buy a three-bedroom detached house in the Psaropouli area for €276,000.
How to get to Evia
On arrival at Athens airport, you may want a straightforward transfer to your home in Greece. Many people head to Piraeus port, but Rafina port is closer to Athens airport (16km), and you can drive there in about 30 minutes or catch the bus for just a few euros. From Rafina, you can hop on a ferry to Evia.
Parts of the island are so close to the mainland you can drive across a bridge, making it possible to visit year-round. The drive from Athens International Airport to Chalkida, the capital of Evia, can take less than an hour.
Why buy a property on Evia?
- Affordable homes
- Variety of landscapes with trails and thermal springs
- Access to Athens year-round
- Good range of property styles
How to find a Greek home for under €300,000
- Look through the Your Overseas Home property search page for your budget amount.
- Make a list of islands or regions you are interested in.
- Look up the towns on Google Earth and tourism websites.
- Contact a Your Overseas Home advisor, who can put you in contact with an English-speaking estate agent in Greece.
- Go to Greece. Line up a few properties to view with the agent, but also allow time to explore the area yourself. Estate agents are sometimes inclined to assume all foreign buyers want to live together in one small area.
How we found our Greek property
Some of the best value properties may not appear on the online property portals, and some that are, might not still be available. Therefore, nothing beats going to Greece and driving around until you find an area that feels right, then enquiring about property for sale.
That’s how we found ours. We didn’t know the area, but evening was approaching, so we decided to take the next turning off to a town and get a room for the night. We loved the place and found our dream home the very next day! We were keen to get the purchase underway.
This is when it’s good to have expert assistance lined up. This enables you to get the paperwork and building checked out and know the funds are available to pay a deposit. Your Overseas Home advisors can put you in contact with Lawyers, estate agents and Smart Currency Exchange, for your money transfer.
