Finding Your Place in Greece - Inside The Market With RK Properties’ Renata Koutraki

Greece is attracting a new wave of international buyers, from investors spotting opportunities to people looking to build an entirely new life here.

For Renata Koutraki, founder of RK Properties, helping them navigate that journey has been her focus for the past eight years. After starting her career in shipping, an unexpected encounter led her into real estate, and what began with one client grew almost entirely through word of mouth.

We spoke with Renata about Greece’s evolving property market, what international buyers are looking for, where the next opportunities may lie, and what you should know before making the move.

My professional journey actually began in a very different industry. I worked in shipping as a broker before eventually making the transition into real estate, where I have now been working for the past eight years. In a way, though, the two worlds have more in common than you might think. Both are built around negotiation, understanding people, identifying opportunities and, above all, trust.

Real estate had always fascinated me because it combines people, architecture, investment and emotion. Every property has a story, and every client has a dream. But the way my career in real estate actually began was much more spontaneous than planned.

I remember going to view a property in the southern suburbs, and downstairs at the entrance I happened to meet someone who was looking to buy a home. We started talking, I wanted to help him, and afterwards he sent me a message. I eventually helped him find the property he was looking for.

From that one person, everything grew very organically. He recommended me to someone else, that person recommended me to another, and gradually I built a network almost entirely through word of mouth.

Even today, RK Properties does very little traditional advertising. Apart from our Google Business presence, where I'm very proud of the reviews our clients have left us, most of our business continues to come through recommendations.

That organic growth shaped the original vision behind RK Properties: to create a boutique agency built on trust, transparency and long-term relationships, offering a highly personalised experience rather than simply facilitating transactions.

RK comes from my initials, Renata Koutraki, so naturally the company is very closely connected to me personally and to the way I approach my work.

Today, however, I think those initials have come to represent something bigger: integrity, reliability and personal commitment. My clients know that they are not simply dealing with a large, impersonal agency. They work directly with someone who genuinely cares about understanding what they want and helping them achieve it.

For me, that personal connection is extremely important, and I think the fact that so much of our growth has happened through word of mouth proves the value of that approach.

Greece has really become an international investment destination.

A large percentage of my clients today come from abroad, whether they are relocating to Greece, purchasing a second home or looking purely for investment opportunities. For people moving here, the southern suburbs and the Athenian Riviera are often the number-one choice, particularly among buyers who are also exploring residency options such as the Golden Visa.

At the same time, international investors still see Greece as relatively affordable compared with many other European markets, even though, understandably, property prices can feel very high from a Greek perspective.

We're seeing investors from countries such as China, Lebanon and Israel entering the market, as well as developers purchasing entire buildings, redeveloping them into apartments and then reselling them, including to international buyers.

There is also another category that I find very interesting: people who don't simply want to buy property here, but want to relocate and establish their own business in Greece. So increasingly, real estate becomes one part of a much bigger lifestyle or investment decision.

Personally, I don't expect the market to fall significantly from where it is today. New developments are often being sold from the plans, while in the rental market we have the opposite problem: there simply aren't enough good-quality homes available at reasonable prices. When a genuinely good property comes onto the market, whether for sale or rent, it tends to move extremely quickly.

At RK Properties, we build relationships before transactions. We listen carefully, guide our clients honestly and remain by their side throughout the process and beyond.

Over time, I realised that particularly for someone coming from abroad, finding the right property is only one piece of the puzzle. They may also need a lawyer, notary, engineer, accountant, banking support and guidance through procedures that can be unfamiliar and quite overwhelming if you don't know the Greek system.

That's why I have built a trusted network of professionals around RK Properties, including a lawyer, notary, engineer and accountant, so that we can support a client from the very beginning of the process through to completion.

For example, the lawyer can handle the necessary applications and legal procedures, while the engineer examines the technical characteristics of the property before the deal progresses. Because everyone involved can communicate directly with one another, the entire procedure becomes faster, smoother and much less stressful for the client.

We also collaborate with Alpha Bank and Piraeus Bank in cases where clients need support with financing and obtaining a mortgage.

The idea is essentially to make the process as easy as possible. Especially when you're moving to or investing in another country, you need to know there is someone on the ground whom you can trust.

Beyond location, I always look for character, natural light, functionality, long-term value and that unique emotional feeling a property creates the moment you enter.

But from an investment perspective, you also have to look beyond what the property is today and understand what it could become.

Everyone is looking for an opportunity. Sometimes the smartest investment isn't the finished, perfect apartment; it might be an older property at a better price that can be renovated and repositioned.

The important thing is understanding the end use. The requirements for renovating a home in the southern suburbs are completely different from those of an apartment in central Athens. A student residence has different requirements from an Airbnb, and a property intended as someone's permanent home is different again.

That's why I always advise international buyers and investors to work with someone who really understands the local market. You shouldn't only be asking, "Is this a good property?" You should be asking, "Is this the right property for what I want to achieve?"

Anemoessa Stone House is much more than a hospitality project for me; it is a deeply personal story.

My husband and I are from the area, so Mani already had a special connection for us. It is such a distinctive part of Greece: wild, traditional, incredibly beautiful and, for me, a place with a very special energy.

Even the name Anemoessa reflects that feeling. It evokes the wind and this idea of being free-spirited, which fits Mani perfectly.

When we first discovered the stone house, we immediately felt a very strong emotional connection to it. We both believed in its potential from the very first moment. We eventually decided to transform the it into a traditional stone guesthouse by the sea, creating a warm and authentic place with a great deal of love, care and attention to detail.

We invested not only financially but emotionally, putting a tremendous amount of love, energy, time and personal care into restoring and completing it. We wanted to preserve the authentic character of Mani while creating somewhere warm, elegant and genuinely welcoming.

Our hope is that every guest who stays with us will experience something of what we felt when we first discovered this special place; the beauty, tranquility and authentic character of the region. We want our guests to truly enjoy their stay, feel the warmth of our hospitality and make the most of the unique setting and the thoughtful amenities our guesthouse offers.

For us, it is more than simply a place to stay. It is a traditional guesthouse created with love and respect for its surroundings, and we hope that everyone who visits will feel the same connection to this special place that we did.

The first thing I would say is: don't rush.

Give yourself a few months to research, understand the market and, most importantly, understand what kind of life you actually want to build here.

Do you want Athens? Do you want an island? Would you be happier somewhere quieter in mainland Greece or in the countryside? The answer isn't the same for everyone, and sometimes people arrive convinced they want one thing and discover that something completely different suits them better.

I recently worked with a British client who came to me with a very clear request: "I want a home in the countryside." We explored what that meant for her, eventually found a house right on the water in Crete, and she relocated there.

That's the kind of process I love. It isn't simply about showing someone properties; it's about understanding the life they're imagining and then helping them work out where in Greece that life can actually happen.

Absolutely. I think one of the biggest mistakes investors can make is looking only at the obvious destinations.

The southern suburbs are almost a category of their own at this point, but beyond Athens there are still places where an investor can find genuine opportunities and spread their budget much further.

I think people need to start looking just outside Athens as well, at destinations that remain easily accessible but aren't necessarily the first names an international buyer thinks of.

Nearby islands such as Aegina or Kea, for example, can be very interesting. And I don't necessarily mean the mainstream islands. There are opportunities in destinations that are easy to reach from Athens, whether by a short ferry journey or even by car, such as Evia or the Peloponnese. 

In these places, the quality of life can be exceptional and the potential return can sometimes be greater precisely because the market isn't as saturated. There is still room to introduce something innovative, perhaps even something that doesn't currently exist locally, and build a successful concept around it.

Around Athens, I also see potential in areas such as Markopoulo, Porto Rafti, Lavrio and Rafina, which combine accessibility with proximity to the sea, ports and airport.

The opportunity isn't always where everyone else is already looking.

My own work is particularly focused on three key markets: central Athens, central Piraeus and the Athenian Riviera.

The historic centre of Athens remains extremely interesting. Areas such as Koukaki, Petralona, Thissio, Pangrati and Exarchia combine authentic Athenian character, culture, restaurants and cafés with strong demand from tourists and long-term residents. For rental investment, areas such as Ilisia and Zografou are also interesting because universities create consistent demand from students and academic professionals.

Then there is Piraeus, which has undergone an extraordinary transformation. There are still opportunities to acquire quality properties at more accessible prices compared with many other parts of Athens, while benefiting from the port, metro connections and growing demand from professionals, students and international companies.

And then, of course, there is the Athenian Riviera, which I consider a category of its own.

The Ellinikon development has fundamentally changed international perceptions of southern Athens. What was once viewed primarily as a summer destination has evolved into a year-round lifestyle and investment market.

International interest no longer stops at Glyfada or Voula either; it is moving further down the coastline towards Sounio.

For international buyers in particular, the combination of the sea, lifestyle, infrastructure, accessibility and investment potential makes the Riviera extremely attractive.

Beyond Athens, I also work with properties in major island destinations including Mykonos, Santorini, Paros and Crete, while my wider focus includes the Peloponnese and the islands close to Athens.

Helping people begin a new chapter in their lives.

Seeing someone receive the keys to their new home is still one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. And because so many of my clients come from abroad, sometimes those keys represent much more than a property purchase, they represent a completely new life in Greece.

There's something very special about knowing that you were part of making that happen.

I think emerging neighbourhoods and secondary destinations still offer excellent value, particularly for investors willing to look beyond the obvious locations.

There is also a very close relationship between buying and renting. Around 90% of the properties I personally handle are sales, but many of those buyers then want to utilise the property as an investment and bring it onto the rental market.

That might mean long-term rental, student accommodation, holiday rental or another model entirely. Each requires a different strategy.

There are also investors specifically searching for older or undervalued properties that they can purchase at the right price, renovate and reposition. There can be excellent opportunities there, but again, due diligence is everything.

The biggest mistake is making an emotional decision without understanding the property, the area, the legal and technical situation and the realistic potential return.

I hope Greece continues to protect the things that make it Greece: its authenticity, hospitality, natural beauty and quality of life, while at the same time embracing sustainable growth.

There is enormous international interest in the country now, and I think that creates incredible opportunities, but development needs to happen thoughtfully.

For someone considering making the move, my advice would ultimately be to research, take your time and find people you trust to guide you. Greece has so many different possibilities that the right answer isn't necessarily Athens, or an island, or the place everyone else is talking about. It's about finding the place that fits you.

That's also what I want RK Properties to represent.

I founded the company with a simple belief: trust is the most valuable investment anyone can make. Every client, every property and every collaboration is an opportunity to build a relationship that lasts far beyond the completion of a transaction.

Whether you're considering relocating to Greece, searching for a home, exploring an investment opportunity or simply trying to understand which part of the country might be the right fit for you, having trusted local guidance can make all the difference.

To learn more about RK Properties and how Renata and her network of professionals can support you throughout the process, you can get in touch with her directly via email at info@rkp-investments.com or WhatsApp at +30 6949938939.