They Wished to Reside in Greece Full Time. However What Would They Discover for $300,000?

After a two-year pandemic delay, the time had come for Nick Hados and his husband, Ken Prepare dinner, to seek out an residence the place they may retire. The couple, who stay in Little Havana in Miami, had fallen in love with Athens, spending their holidays there in a tiny pied-à-terre they’d owned since 2016. However by early 2022, they needed one thing sufficiently big to stay in full time.

The proper residence would even be their ticket to Greek residency. As Americans, they couldn’t transfer to a rustic within the European Union, which limits vacationer visas to 90 days. But when they spent €250,000, or about $267,000, in money on Greek actual property, they might qualify for a five-year renewable visa, often known as the golden visa, so they may stay within the nation 12 months spherical. (Starting in Could, consumers should make investments €500,000 in some components of the nation, together with Athens, to qualify for the visa.)

“We love touring, and we wish to be someplace the place we will pop to Rome or London or wherever,” stated Mr. Prepare dinner, 58, a retired company high quality director. “We stated, ‘OK, let’s do that.’”

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The couple had grown hooked up to Athens, a vibrant metropolis steeped in historical past, and one which felt family-centric, embracing everybody from the very younger to the very previous. Wander down a slender, meandering avenue and also you’re as more likely to encounter a Byzantine church as you might be to move a household out to dinner at 10 p.m. or a pair dancing in a neighborhood park. The nation was notably significant for Mr. Hados, 59, who’s of Greek descent and speaks the language.

“It’s simply chock filled with creativity right here. There’s a number of younger folks, a number of vitality,” stated Mr. Hados, an architect. “In Miami, previous folks, they don’t exit, however right here, they exit. Folks of all ages are strolling round all hours of the day or night time.”

The couple additionally noticed Greece as a spot to retire affordably, with a decrease value of dwelling. As retired Greek residents, they may spend much less on taxes, meals, healthcare and different dwelling bills. The couple set their sights on Pangrati, a classy neighborhood in central Athens favored by artists and filled with eating places, cafes, parks and civic gems just like the Nationwide Gallery of Athens. The hilly neighborhood additionally supplied streets with incredible metropolis views, and Mr. Hados needed an residence with a view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

“It’s like having a view of the Eiffel Tower,” he stated. “It’s Greece.”

However what’s a view with out room to get pleasure from it? In order that they added outside area to their record of must-haves. No matter residence they selected needed to be inside strolling distance of town’s historic websites. And it needed to value at least €250,000 to guarantee them a golden visa.

In Athens, in contrast to in america, actual property brokers don’t have unique listings, and plenty of properties are offered by the homeowners. So the couple didn’t work with an actual property agent. As an alternative, they scoured numerous actual property itemizing websites.

In January 2022, they offered a industrial property in Miami, securing the funds to pay for an residence. With the cash in hand and their choices narrowed to a couple finalists they discovered on-line, Mr. Hados flew to Greece in February in the hunt for their best dwelling.

Amongst their choices:

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