You have decided you want to buy a property in Greece. You have visited a number of times and you love everything about the country: the ambiance, the friendliness, the seemingly endless sunshine…

But once you have decided to buy a property there, the time comes for a reality check. How on earth do you set about buying in what is essentially a foreign land, with rules and regulations you may not be familiar with and perhaps in a language that you don’t understand?

Get you pen and paper out: it’s time for a list! You need to deal with the whole process in a logical and structured way. Here are a few suggestions – once you have looked through mine you may want to add a few of your own to the list.

Get a general idea of exactly where and why you want to purchase in Greece and exactly what you’re looking to achieve from it before you even start looking at properties. There is no point in going any further until you have quite made up your mind on these two things.  The ‘where’ may change as you look at properties – it often does – but at least you have a starting point

Analyse your financial situation. You need to decide EXACTLY how much you want to spend and where the funds are going to come from: savings, the sale or re-mortgage of your UK property or a variety of other sources? Have this written in stone from the outset so that you are not tempted to spend more than you can realistically afford. And remember to factor in each and every purchase cost: ask your estate agent for exact figures at the outset

In tandem with this you need to do very careful research into how you are going to be moving your money across to Greece, if and when you need to. Using a currency company can prove very cost effective: they will give you a far better exchange rate than your high street. Speak to Smart Currency at 0207 898 0541 to discuss this

Research information on Greece: get an idea of prices, types of properties, i.e. a new build, a renovation project, a resale in good condition? \look into aspects such as investment opportunities, the buying process, legal contracts, culture and a bit of the language so that when you arrive there are few surprises and you know how to set about getting exactly what you want.

You can do your research by reading property magazines, going onto the Internet and accessing expat websites, attending property shows, chatting to people who have already done what you want to do…and reading the Greece Buying Guide!

Contact the property professionals: It is important to do your research on this one to make sure you get a reliable and honest estate agent or developer. Always ask for testimonials – ones that you can actually phone and speak to. The Internet can be very useful here, as can expat websites in the area that you are considering. The OGC team also has a few recommendations – just phone 0207 898 0549 for a chat.

Once you have a good agent you can then pick their brains. After all, this is their area of expertise: they should know what they are talking about and be able to advise you and make informed suggestions

Get yourself a local lawyer, one that speaks English, that is not attached to your estate agent or developer and who has contactable references. They will also be able to give you much information and friendly advice from the outset. A lawyer I met on Corfu for instance deems it his duty to inform his clients how the buying process works, how to open a mandatory bank account and so on. Again, contact the OGC Resource Team to see if we can assist you…

Go to Greece yourself and have a good look around - and good luck to you.