Many visitors have had a yearning or hidden dream of buying a property to live in or retire on one of the islands. Many have already chosen to.  But living on a Greek island year-round is a very different experience from visiting for a few weeks or even months in the summer. More often than not, people get confused and think their summer experience will carry over into the offseason. If you talk to the locals, they will explain that life on most Greek islands is very difficult during the months of November through March. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible because there are a few Greek islands that are fully inhabited all year-round. These islands are diverse, ranging from large to small and spanning locations in the west near Italy to the east close to Turkey. Let’s have a look at four very suitable islands for buying a property and which will tick many of the boxes that are so important for buying property on an island.

Crete is certainly worth considering and should be high up on your shortlist. It’s quite unfair to call Crete an island as it covers an area of 3,260 square miles making it the 88th largest island in the world. Whether you’re after natural beauty, ancient ruins or vibrant city living, Crete is the place to look for year-round living. With a population of over 630,000, the island is fully functional 12 months a year. The largest city and capital is Heraklion with a population of over 200,000 and because the island is so big, there are three airports that connect the island with Athens while Chania and Heraklion connect most European cities and beyond throughout the summer months. There is an effective and fully functional medical infrastructure. There are also four colleges and universities in Chania and Heraklion. The student population means that winters are lively and there is a great demand for rentals if you so choose to want the option to rent out your property during the quieter part of the year.

By contrast, we have the much smaller island of Syros that makes the shortlist. If you’re looking for a smaller, more low-profile, culturally diverse island, Syros, about 78 nautical miles south of Athens is worth considering. It is the administrative capital of the island group known as the Cyclades and because of this, it stays open and fully functioning 12 months a year. The island is known for its culture and you can easily find quality art galleries, film festivals, fine dining and theatre in Syros. In terms of diversity, the island is renowned for having the largest catholic community in Greece and which coexists perfectly with the Orthodox denomination side by side. Its architecture is impressive as is its cultural wealth, Cycladic minimalism, medieval charm and neoclassical romanticism.

Furthermore, it is a very safe island with a permanent population of 24,000 many of whom are working age and employed at one of the many ministries. There are 2 universities so the island is a hub of activity throughout the year. Transport links are excellent, too. The island is well-connected to the mainland with its fully functioning domestic airport and there are ferry links which connect all the nearby islands and the Dodecanese islands as well as links to the north and Crete.

Located in the Ionian Sea with close proximity to Italy and Greece, Corfu is another good year-round living possibility and to be considered when buying a property on a Greek island. Corfu was under Venetian rule for hundreds of years and the island has a distinctly Italian feel and influence. While the island is highly dependent on tourism, Corfu has a developing agricultural economy including the export of olive oil, the production of special cheeses and the cultivation of exotic fruits like kumquat and bergamot oranges. It was also a British protectorate and so most of the locals speak English well .

The iconic cricket pitch in the centre of the town is just one example of this connection with Britain as are the many British expats who have chosen to make the island their home.  Corfu was the home of Lawrence Durrell and his family for five years, and with the revival of this story with the British TV series, The Durrells, it has experienced a renaissance attracting many people from all over the world to visit the famous house where he lived.

Furthermore, the island boasts an exceptionally low crime rate and it is a safe place to live. There is an international airport which connects the island to Athens all year round and serves most European cities in the summer. It has an exceptionally mild climate and lots of greenery which makes it particularly attractive. The Ionian university is located on the island and this maintains the town as a hive of activity in the winter.

Located on the eastern side of Greece in the south-east corner of the Aegean, just a few miles from Turkey, Rhodes is another year-round Greek island. Like Syros, Rhodes is an administrative capital serving the island cluster known as the Dodecanese. Rhodes was famous in antiquity for the towering fallen statue of the Colossus of Rhodes that was named one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It is one of the few islands in Greece that features a prolific medieval history with the town of Rhodes forming part of the UNESCO world heritage site and is the oldest inhabited medieval town in Europe.

Like Corfu, there is a major international airport connecting Europe and beyond with the island as well as other domestic destinations throughout the area to the islands and the mainland. Rhodes offers diversity and has a very competitive real estate market. Here, you can explore all possible buying options from an apartment in the town to traditional village houses, seafront properties and luxury villas as well as land for development.

The future is looking optimistic

On each of these islands there are good locations with high rental yields and capital appreciation and enough diversity to find your niche with your Greek island property portfolio. Property prices are competitive and annual property taxes are quite low. With tourist figures expected to rise dramatically in the post-covid era and with businesses planning expansion and major hotels committing to huge investment programmes, there is an air of optimism all around and the wise investor is taking advantage of the current temporary slump brought on by the pandemic.

If you’re considering the Golden Visa route to secure your rights to residency, this is also feasible. For those looking to invest from outside the EU, including UK nationals from 2021, a minimum investment of €250,000 will secure your rights to reside in Greece without length of stay restrictions. This could be one luxury villa or a smaller portfolio of properties. And if you maintain your investment for more than 7 years, there is an option to acquire citizenship.

Furthermore, short-term rentals are on the rise. Property owners are permitted to let their homes out on a short-term basis on platforms such as Airbnb and this has enabled those who do not make full-time use of their accommodation to cover the outgoing costs of their holiday home. With the rise of working remotely and the digital nomad revolution, demand is expected to increase even further.