Crete Property

The range of Crete property available to buy is very wide. From reasonably priced old stone houses ready for renovation, to luxury villas with swimming pools.

Rules and fees last checked: October 2026. Always confirm with the official source before you act.

Traditional houses, plots of land on which to create your dream home with mountain and sea views, town apartments and maisonettes, coastal beach detached homes - are all on the books of the many Crete estate agents that have become more prominent in recent years.

Everything you could want in looking for Crete real estate including plots of land, old village property in need of renovation, traditional houses, modern apartments, luxury villas with pool, business premises are available on this beautiful Greek Island of Crete.

Check out our What, Where and Why to Buy in Crete Guide

If you have questions or concerns and want to know more about buying Crete real estate and Crete property then take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions.

Crete Property Estate Agents

Crete estate agents, property developers and house builders offer a host of services and a vast array of Crete real estate in the Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion and Lassithi areas.

So if you are looking for a property in Crete as a retirement or holiday home, investment property, permanent residence or ‘Buy to Let’ property, then begin your search now. The 4 areas below each have their own character and property hotspots.

Location, Location, Location

The locations of Crete properties for sale are wide ranging, from harbour towns to quiet inland villages across all 4 prefectures.

Chania Property

Chania property offers plenty of choice. The harbour town of Chania and its surrounding inland and coastal villages in the northwest of the Island are popular with foreign buyers. Vamos, Kalyves, Almyrida and Plaka are always popular.

You’ll find varied Crete properties and plots of land which feature fantastic locations throughout the prefecture of Chania too, such as Platanias, Kissamos Kastelli and Paleochora.

Rethymnon Property

Rethymnon property draws its fair share of foreign homebuyers. The prefecture of Rethymno has some of the finest beaches in Crete, and buyers purchase their Cretan homes in wonderful coastal resorts and villages such as Georgioupolis, Panormo, Kournas, Stavromenos, Bali and more.

Heraklion Property

Heraklion property and land plots are available in fabulous areas such as Malia, Stalis, Hani Kokkini, Agia Pelagia, Amoudara, Hersonissos, Piskopiano and Matala.

Lassithi Property

Lassithi property sits in the prefecture at the eastern end of the Island. It is less densely populated here and is very pretty.

You’ll find Lassithi property covering beautiful locations such as Sitia, Agios Nikolaos, Kritsa, Istron, Kalo Chorio, Sissi, Ierapetra, Elounda, Makrigialos and many more.

If you’re considering a "Buy to Let" option, or hoping to rent out your Crete property then first check out our Buy to Let Guide

You’ll need a good English speaking Crete lawyer too, to help you through the buying process. Check out our Lawyers in Crete list that covers the prefectures of Chania, Rethymnon, Iraklio and Lasithi.

If you already own a Crete property and want to sell or rent it out then see our Crete Resale Section

Costs, Taxes and Rules for Property Buyers

Property buyers in Crete pay transfer tax, need a Greek tax number and must register any holiday let. The 4 points below summarise the current rules, each with its official source.

• Tax number: foreign nationals can own land and property in Greece but usually need a Greek tax number (AFM), according to GOV.UK's Living in Greece guide.
• Transfer tax: the buyer pays transfer tax of 3% of the property's taxable value, plus a municipal levy of 3% on that tax, according to AADE's guide to real estate transfer tax.
• Holiday lets: every short-term let must be registered in the AADE Short-Term Stay Property Registry, which issues a Property Registration Number (AMA) to show on every listing.
• Capital gains tax: the 15% tax on gains from selling property is suspended until 31 December 2026, according to the Ministry of Finance's income tax guide.

Each of these rules has a fuller explanation in our guides. Our guide to buying Crete property lists every buying cost and explains how to document the money you bring in. The FAQ covers non-EU buyers after Brexit, and the Buy to Let guide covers the AMA register and rental tax.

Villages Popular With Property Buyers

Kokkino Chorio, Roumeli and Chorafakia are 3 villages where we have seen homes offered for sale and for rent. Each gives a different setting: a hillside above Souda Bay, a quiet village near the north coast and a peninsula close to Chania town.

Kokkino Chorio

Kokkino Chorio is a hillside village in the Chania prefecture, overlooking Souda Bay. Its name means "Red Village". The village was a main set for the film Zorba the Greek, starring Anthony Quinn.

Views from the village take in Souda Bay, the White Mountains, the Akrotiri peninsula and the sea. Plaka, Almyrida and Kalyves are a few minutes' drive away. Almyrida has clean, shallow sandy beaches, windsurfing, sailing lessons and boat trips. Chania town is about 15 kilometres away, and Chania Airport is about 40 minutes by car.

Roumeli, Near Panormo

Roumeli is a traditional Cretan village about 20 kilometres east of Rethymno, near the centre of the north coast. It lies about 2 kilometres inland from the fishing village of Panormo. Homes on the edge of the village look out over hills and olive groves. Roumeli has kafenions, a bar and a restaurant.

Panormo is the nearest place for the sea and for daily shopping. It has beaches, restaurants, bars, small shops, a baker, a butcher, a chemist and a post office.

Chorafakia, Akrotiri

Chorafakia is a village on the Akrotiri peninsula, a short drive from Chania town. The larger village of Kounoupidiana is about 4 kilometres away and has supermarkets, a doctor, a chemist, a dentist and a vet. Chorafakia has 3 local beaches nearby, and one of them, a sandy beach with safe swimming, is within walking distance. Walks with sea and mountain views start on the edge of the village.

Checks Before You Buy a House or Plot in Crete

A safe purchase in Crete depends on 3 things: working utilities, building permission and a clean legal title. These checks cover all 3:

• Rent in the area for at least 12 months before you buy, so you see the place in every season.
• Confirm that water, electricity and drainage are connected. Not all villages have mains drains, so some homes need a septic tank.
• Budget for connecting a plot that has no utilities, because the cost of connection varies from plot to plot.
• Ask whether building permission will be granted before you commit to a plot. Permits for plots next to the sea are harder to obtain.
• Hire a lawyer who speaks Greek and English, and have the lawyer search the title before you pay any money.
• Expect the sale to be signed before a notary. In our experience, the buyer and the seller each have their own lawyer.

Several of these points come from press coverage of buying in Crete: "Plot your course for a place in the Greek sun" (The Observer, 2004) and "Buyers are tempted by the Greek Islands" (The Times, 2007). Our own guide to buying property in Crete, with top tips covers the legal steps in more detail.