After a two-yr pandemic hold off, the time had occur for Nick Hados and his husband, Ken Cook, to discover an condominium wherever they could retire. The couple, who reside in Tiny Havana in Miami, had fallen in appreciate with Athens, expending their holidays there in a tiny pied-à-terre they experienced owned given that 2016. But by early 2022, they required some thing huge sufficient to stay in comprehensive time.
The suitable condominium would also be their ticket to Greek residency. As American citizens, they couldn’t move to a state in the European Union, which boundaries tourist visas to 90 times. But if they invested 250,000 euros, or about $267,000, in funds on Greek actual estate, they would qualify for a 5-calendar year renewable visa, recognised as the golden visa, so they could live in the state 12 months spherical. (Commencing in Could, customers will have to commit €500,000 in some parts of the state, including Athens, to qualify for the visa.)
“We love traveling, and we want to be someplace where we can pop to Rome or London or wherever,” reported Mr. Cook, 58, a retired company top quality director. “We explained, ‘OK, let’s do this.’”
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The couple experienced developed hooked up to Athens, a lively city steeped in heritage, and one particular that felt household-centric, embracing all people from the really young to the quite previous. Wander down a narrow, meandering street and you are as possible to face a Byzantine church as you are to go a loved ones out to evening meal at 10 p.m. or a pair dancing in a community park. The nation was especially meaningful for Mr. Hados, 59, who is of Greek descent and speaks the language.
“It’s just chock whole of creativeness in this article. There is a good deal of youthful people today, a lot of vitality,” said Mr. Hados, an architect. “In Miami, old folks, they really do not go out, but here, they go out. People today of all ages are walking close to all hours of the working day or night time.”
The couple also observed Greece as a put to retire affordably, with a reduce cost of living. As retired Greek inhabitants, they could devote less on taxes, foodstuff, healthcare and other dwelling fees. The few established their sights on Pangrati, a stylish community in central Athens favored by artists and full of restaurants, cafes, parks and civic gems like the Nationwide Gallery of Athens. The hilly neighborhood also offered streets with amazing metropolis sights, and Mr. Hados required an apartment with a check out of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.
“It is like acquiring a check out of the Eiffel Tower,” he reported. “It is Greece.”
But what’s a view without the need of space to take pleasure in it? So they added outside space to their list of have to-haves. No matter what condominium they chose experienced to be inside of strolling length of the city’s historic web sites. And it had to price no less than €250,000 to assure them a golden visa.
In Athens, contrary to in the United States, genuine estate agents do not have exceptional listings, and quite a few households are sold by the entrepreneurs. So the few did not perform with a real estate agent. As an alternative, they scoured many real estate listing internet sites.
In January 2022, they sold a commercial home in Miami, securing the funds to spend for an condominium. With the revenue in hand and their options narrowed to a couple of finalists they identified online, Mr. Hados flew to Greece in February in look for of their suitable house.
Among their alternatives:
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