Q: Mina, tell us about your impression of visiting Greece for the first time. Was it love at first sight? Have you already known then that you would stay there to live and work? What surprised you the most?
A: 10 years ago I visited Greece in southern coastal part of Athens and my first impression of Athens was kind of immersion in the world of history, culture and modernity. I fell in love with the blue Mediterranean Sea and wonderful beaches. Athens is an amazing place to visit! It is filled with huge amount of history, architecture, amazing food, Mediterranean climate and lively atmosphere. As I stayed in a beautiful sea view room for a week, I promised myself that one day I will return to Greece and sit in front of this beautiful scenery in my office. What surprised me the most was kindness and hospitality of Greeks. And a constant feeling of peace and safety in this country.
Q: Your work is related to the Greek investment program for foreigners to obtain a European residence permit. What are its features and advantages?
A: Greece has the Golden Visa program which allows foreigners to obtain European permanent residency by purchasing a real estate property of 250,000 Euros. This program covers residency not only for the main applicant but also his or her spouse, children, parents and parents in law. The interesting point of Greece golden visa is that there is no minimum number of days you should stay in the country and you can travel all over Europe visa free. Moreover, it is the only program that grants permanent residency immediately from the very beginning.
Q: Tell us what the Greek golden visa is. What are the basic requirements to obtain it?
A: What does make the real estate market in Greece attractive in comparison to other European markets? After the economic crisis in Greece in 2009 and the subsequent rebirth of the economy, investment opportunities began to rise in different sectors at a growing speed. Real estate market was not an exception. Prices of properties are growing at an average rate of 10 to 15% annually. These days Greece is the world famous destination for investors and the most popular place for having a summer house in.
Q: Is it true that each island of Greece has not only its own “face”, but also its own “character”? And is it true that the weather in Greece will not disappoint in any season?
A: Yes, indeed. Each of the Greek Islands have its own specific characteristics. If you want to party and have fun, you should go to Mykonos. If you want to go for a honeymoon or a romantic trip with your lover, you should go to Santorini. To spend some quality time with your family and children you can go to the all-inclusive resorts in the islands of Crete or Rhodes. To enjoy the neo-classical architecture, you should better visit the island of Corfu or like the way the Greeks call it “Kerkira”. There are hundreds of Greek Islands that you can experience for numerous of wonderful adventures, and wherever you go, you can enjoy the crystal clear water of the Mediterranean Sea and the unbelievable mesmerizing scenery. Don’t forget that one of the most exciting thing to do in summertime is yachting between the Greek Islands. In addition, don’t forget that we are talking about Greece. One of the most ancient countries in the world and definitely the oldest known civilization in Europe. So, wherever you go, you can find incredible monuments and ancient sites. Regarding your question about the climate, definitely one of the privileges of Greece is the weather. All through the year you can enjoy a temperate Mediterranean weather and 300 sunny days. Unlike many European destinations, summer season in Greece starts from April and May and lasts till October and sometimes even November! Thus, there are several months in a year when you can enjoy summer trips.
Q: Which regions of Greece are the most attractive for tourism? What prospects for the development of tourism in Greece do you see in the near future?
A: It is actually very difficult to choose only one region of Greece which is attractive for tourism. All the country is very attractive. Depending on what you like and what your preferences are, there are many islands, different beaches, water leisure, mountain areas, ski resorts, beautiful nature, nightlife, wonderful culinary experiences, and lots of fun wherever you go. Tourism is one of the main industries in Greece. For a country with the population of 10.5 Million, having more than 35 Million tourists annually, which is more than 3 times of the total population, there is something unique and outstanding in European levels. In this regard, the already good tourism infrastructure is improving yearly in Greece. Every year more and more locals and foreigners are investing in the very promising sectors of tourism and hospitality in medium and large scales to make this country even more attractive for the visitors.
Q: Can you explain briefly what does your company do in Greece?
A: My main activity in Greece is property investment and obtaining residency for non-Europeans. We have full VIP services for the investors. We help them to find the properties they desire, help them with the purchasing process, take care of all the legal and administrational formalities till they buy their house and obtain their permanent residency. We also offer a variety of after sales services such as renovation and interior design, short term and long term rentals, and property management. In addition, my husband has a prosperous real estate development and construction company, and also I lead marketing and sales of its projects. What more, I do luxury weddings and events planning for my elite clientele as an extra hobby. As you know, Greece is one of the most desirable destination for weddings and there are many interested clients. But to be honest, due to the unique and special nature of this business, I am very selective to my clients.
Model: Mina Hosseini @minahoss
Photographer: Maral Shaker @maralshakerhosseini
Location: Santorini
PR: @say__media