Julia Samsonova

Julia Samsonova

Content Writer at Tranio

We will help you thoroughly research the market so that you can make a confident and informed decision
Request consultation
  • About the expert
  • Articles 207

Before joining Tranio, I graduated from university with a degree in linguistics and worked as a content writer in marketing agencies for about a year.

Since 2019, I have worked with Tranio, initially writing and translating short news articles for the website and editing the catalogue. Since 2023, I have been writing various informative and promotional materials about property, investing, and living abroad. I am familiar with the real estate markets in Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Portugal, and Montenegro, as well as European immigration programmes.

Maintaining an apartment in Athens costs between 700 and 1,800 euros per month on average, while villas on the islands range from 1,500 to 15,000 euros. The main expenses are taxes and utilities.

Over the past few years, Turkey has made a major breakthrough in the quality of its healthcare system.

The residence permit for owners of Turkish property is a short-term type of residence permit. It is issued for a period of up to 2 years and can be easily extended through the electronic service of the Migration Department.

When purchasing a Greek property, the buyer pays either a transfer tax or VAT. The same rules apply regardless of whether the property is purchased in the name of a company or an individual.

The mortgage market in Turkey is booming right now. According to official Turkish statistics, 14.8% of residential properties were purchased with a mortgage in April 2025 — over 17,000 units, which is a 147% increase on April 2024.

According to data from the Turkish real estate analytics platform Endeksa, as of the end of February 2025, annual housing price growth in Turkey stands at 11.23% in US dollars. The average price per square metre of housing across Turkey reached 869 dollars. The average price of a single residential property rose, reaching 113,000 dollars in February compared to 106,000 dollars in February 2024.

The cost per square metre in Greece is lower than in most European countries: in some locations the price does not exceed 3 thousand euros per square metre. The price depends on the proximity to the sea, the level of infrastructure development, and transport links. Buyers can find affordable apartments in the centre of Athens for as little as 80 thousand euros, or luxury villas on the coast starting from one million euros.

Living in Greece offers more than just a legal right to stay — it’s a chance to enjoy a mild Mediterranean climate, a lower cost of living than in most of Western Europe, and a high quality of life. Many applicants choose residence in Greece not only for work or investment but also for the relaxed lifestyle, safety, and cultural heritage that the country offers.

Cyprus is increasingly being seen as a place to settle down for the long term. New residents value Cyprus as a jurisdiction with a predictable legal system, European standards of living and access to high-quality education. The government is consistently strengthening this sector. Expenditure on education accounts for around 4.4% of GDP.

In 2025, a family came to us: a married couple and their adult son. Their goal was to obtain a European residence permit. Initially, they were choosing between Cyprus and Greece. Ultimately, the Greek Golden Visa programme was chosen, primarily due to its lower entry threshold and flexible application process.