Inside Greek Real Estate Ep. 3 — From Property Purchase to Private Cinema | John Thompsen

🇬🇧 In this episode of Inside Greek Real Estate, I sit down with John Thompsen, an American artist who moved to Greece and, together with his business partner Theo Kalomirakis, turned a property into something truly unique — a private home featuring its own outdoor summer cinema AND a professional indoor screening room.

We talk about why he chose Greece, what the buying process looked like as a foreign buyer, and how a simple property purchase evolved into a full creative vision.

If you've ever wondered what's possible when passion meets real estate in Greece, this episode is for you.

🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/7vhnhkNzWts?si=SqPj0WxTUxdhYLTK
📞 +30 210 8942 570
PMD Real Estate — trusted since 2005 | RICS-regulated & FIABCI-affiliated

🇬🇷 Σε αυτό το επεισόδιο του Inside Greek Real Estate, μιλάω με τον John Thompsen, Αμερικανό καλλιτέχνη που μετακόμισε στην Ελλάδα και, μαζί με τον συνεργάτη του Theo Kalomirakis, μετέτρεψε ένα ακίνητο σε κάτι πραγματικά μοναδικό — μια ιδιωτική κατοικία με δικό της καλοκαιρινό υπαίθριο σινεμά ΚΑΙ επαγγελματική εσωτερική αίθουσα προβολής.

Μιλήσαμε για το γιατί επέλεξε την Ελλάδα, πώς ήταν η διαδικασία αγοράς ως ξένος αγοραστής, και πώς μια απλή αγορά ακινήτου έγινε ένα ολόκληρο δημιουργικό όραμα.

🎥 Δείτε το πλήρες επεισόδιο στο YouTube:https://youtu.be/7vhnhkNzWts?si=SqPj0WxTUxdhYLTK
📞 +30 210 8942 570
PMD Real Estate — με εμπειρία από το 2005 | Μέλος RICS & FIABCI

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:06

Welcome to Inside Greek Real Estate, fueled by PMD. I'm Peter Janakis, managing director of PMD Real Estate, which is based on the Athens Riviera in Greece. Inside Greek Real Estate is a podcast that basically focuses on opening conversations in regards to real estate in Greece, experience from foreign investors or private individuals showcasing their experience while buying a property in Greece. So today I'd like to welcome John Thompson, who's actually from the United States and he's uh he's moved to Greece. So, John, welcome. Thank you for joining us. Thank you very much. It's nice to be here. Great, great. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_02 0:50

Um just a brief just about myself in general? Yeah, just a few things. I grew up in the United States, in the Midwest, lived in uh New York City most of my life for like forty something years. Lived in LA, lived a lot of places in the US. And uh I'm an artist. I've shown work in uh New York, of course, and elsewhere, and sold around the world. Yeah, I've done many things, but I'm sure there are more interesting things to talk about than me. Okay, okay. So what first brought you to Greece, uh John? What first brought me to Greece? I had worked at a magazine called Greek Accent when I first moved back from LA to New York. I'd lived in New York, I moved back then in 1980, and a friend of mine, Theo Kalamarakis, who's like my oldest friend there, and I started a magazine in conjunction with the National Herald newspaper. So I got very interested in Greece because we did articles on history, on food, on the people, on the poets, on the everything. And so when Theo wanted to to take a trip back to Greece, which he hadn't been for many years, I went along and uh we had a great time and discovered Crete and Santorini and Mykonos and all the islands and and it was a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

That's amazing. Yeah. It's amazing how this um Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:34

I who knew that I would get into a Greek American magazine in in New York City. But it was it was great.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

That is great. That is great. So you were based in the United States. Yeah. What was it that made you and you've decided to relocate to Greece? So what was it that made you come to this decision, uh John? Well, you mean actually to move here? Yes, yes, to relocate.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

Well, I I think it was time, you know, I was almost 75 at that time, and I wanted to uh shake it up a little bit. And I'd been to Greece many times and to the islands, and I knew Greeks, I knew quite a few Greeks, some uh the famous and the infamous, and um I I just liked the country. I loved, you know, the food, I loved the people, I loved the the islands, of course, um, you know, the history, and I wanted to know it better, I think. And also Theo was moving back, and I said, Well, this is a perfect opportunity, you know, to actually move to Greece. Because with him coming also, I didn't feel like I was just adrift in a country, you know, because he speaks Greek and he knows Greece and and so that was helpful. And also we could like um kind of join uh money and forces and really create a house that was like a first class house, smart home, uh which w we did. And uh, you know, so we have the uh the jacuzzi, the uh all kinds of the pergola, two cinemas. There's the outdoor cinema for uh the summer and uh spring, and then the indoor cinema downstairs for uh the rest of the year when it's a little cooler, and have friends over, see movies. It's just a lot of fun. And um I think I told you the story about uh Theo that uh he he used to, when he lived in Greece, he would always go over, because it was near Kolokotroni, where they lived, to the Egli Theater and try to climb up, you know, to see the movies. And sometimes he got some posters from there also, which he saved over the years, and then was able to actually create an area when you go into the movie theater in the back, the outdoor movie theater, where you can um uh show these old posters from I remember seeing them.

SPEAKER_01 5:25

Yeah, yeah, yeah. J just to keep um uh the audience informed, Theo and John they bought a property in Assad in the Linicorn and they trans it's it has a very large garden and they transformed um the large garden into uh Theo made uh open classic Greek summer cinema. Yeah, and uh underground they have an amazing closed cinema. So they have two cinemas because uh they they have a passion for cinema. So I've been lucky I was invited and uh they showed me what they created, which is uh quite amazing. So that story that you mentioned about in the garden where they have the seats, um there are some corners where they have some hidden seats where you can see the uh the movie from a distance, and that's uh Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

There was um where you can go the the the guard the yard, it's in a soyo apartment or uh ground floor apartment. So the yard was pretty much brown when we got there. And so we've created like incredible plants, and that whole jacuzzi area wasn't there, it was just growing up with weeds. And so now that's a gorgeous area with cacti. And then you can go back to the pergola area across the yard and go down, it's like a a little corridor that has some little fruit trees and some plants and and also a couple of seats where Theo always wanted, you know, to be able to see a theater from kind of a hidden place. And so he can go back there and have you know an oozo or something and see the movie just uh fulfill that dream, childhood dream.

SPEAKER_01 7:08

Aaron Ross Powell That's amazing. That's amazing. I I love that story. Yeah. So when you came here, you initially you came with the purpose to invest in property to live here? Yeah. Invest in property and get my uh golden visa.

SPEAKER_02 7:24

So you yes, I remember and yes, you had the advantage of the golden uh visa. And so you have to invest a certain amount. I think maybe now it's more, but it's now it is more. You you were lucky then it was uh it was the I was lucky it was like two fifty or something. Uh and we of course invested much more than that in it. Yeah, and the Alinicon uh park uh area and project, which is like an eight billion dollar project, hadn't started yet. Back then. Yeah. It just started like a month after or something. And so now we've got this whole project going that's of course ups the price of the real estate also. It's changed the whole uh changed the whole area. And uh it's really uh a nice the experience park where I just had a little girl from a friend of friends and took her over to the experience park the other day, to this water thing where the water shoots up and they can run and and the the kids have such a fun time over there. And it's one of the best children's playgrounds, I think, anywhere. In all of Athens, that's yeah. Not just all of Athens, I think, just about anywhere, anywhere where they can just climb and you know slide and that is great.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

Yeah, because that was something that was missing from uh from Athens. Or something like good uh place for children.

SPEAKER_02 8:49

No, and uh people who have come from the States will say, Oh, I wish we had something like that, you know, around so our children could play.

SPEAKER_01 8:56

Okay. Yeah. That's very interesting. Yeah. So you're happy that you made that decision, and actually the location that you chose. Yeah. That was actually you It was a great location. You you you had a vision back then because you looked forward, you guys um decided a Lenny Corps, because you had the you understood that this that area had potential to, you know, for capital gains too.

SPEAKER_02 9:16

It had uh it had a lot of potential, and also I was having trouble with a hip. Oh. And so luckily there's uh a very amazing um Mediterranean hospital nearby where I went, and they did a great job. The doctor there was amazing. And also the reason I got it because of the hip was it's close to one of the biggest supermarkets, it's next to the metro, it's next to the taxi stands. It's I mean, it was like the perfect area. You could just and I didn't want to get a car here and drive around because I figure if you're gonna have a car, I can rent a car, I can, you know, if I want a car sometime. I've got a parking lot that I gave to a woman. So you did? Yeah. And so she's been using it for years now. You're a generous neighbor.

SPEAKER_01 10:14

Yeah. I guess. That's very interesting. Yeah. So the location is is great. You you don't need a car. You just move around with the metro or rent a car.

SPEAKER_02 10:23

It's like twenty minutes or something like that into the center of Athens. And you can go anywhere, you know.

SPEAKER_01 10:31

And you were happy with your experience with the surgery that you had and everything.

SPEAKER_02 10:35

The surgery was great. In fact, two years later I had the other Okay. And that was just as good. I mean, it's now I'm climbing mountains and you know, I'm you can't stop me from, you know. Going. I was up in um Thessaloniki area a year ago, I guess. And um went with some friends to Veria. Okay. And um sat where St. Paul sat, you know, these ancient 2,000 years ago or something. And then about a half an hour more, I went to where Philip of Macedon, Alexander's father, Alexander the Great's father, was buried and all of that, and then climbed up to his the palace, which is a long climb, which I never would have been able to do. But yeah, it was so much fun. So you're enjoying the history and the history, the the art, artistry. It's uh pretty incredible.

SPEAKER_01 11:37

I'm glad to hear that. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 11:39

And there was a very nice there was a little village where a friend of mine's uh mother still lives, Monospita, it's called. So we stopped there and had great meals. I mean, she was cooking. Up a storm. Okay. Very nice. Very, very interesting. Yeah. Very interesting. It's a beautiful area. Skiing up there also?

SPEAKER_01 12:03

Yes, yes, you know. Yes. Were there any again when you decided to to proceed with the purchase of a property here? It's uh it's a huge decision for somebody that comes from abroad.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

Were there any considerations um when you decided to to make that not really, because you know, uh money is usually the main consideration of anything. And we had that money, you know, to put into whatever was necessary. And it was fairly easy to get workmen to come and uh So that wasn't the uh problem. We had a good contractor. So yeah, no, there wasn't any major problem I can think of. You know, you have to get a lawyer, you have to get, you know, a r good real estate person in the first place to find the place.

SPEAKER_01 12:52

To find the place and coordinate uh you thank you. To coordinate things for the process. I find it interesting that you had the intention to renovate and upgrade the property that you bought. Yeah. So you were quite brave because a lot of foreigners, most of our clients that come in from abroad, they're a bit uh concerned to get into that process. So they want something that's either ready, brand new, or fully renovated. So you're you're quite daring, you and Theo, um, with this process.

SPEAKER_02 13:23

Well, I think probably I wouldn't have been as daring if there wasn't someone who spoke Greek who was going to be in it with me, which is helpful. Okay. You know. That makes sense. Even though I think if you find a good contractor that you can really trust and, you know, deal with and work with, you know, it uh can work. Of course now, because there's such a a boom in Greece, you know, at that time it was not as many people buying and uh interested in buying in in Greece, but now there are more and more and more, and it's uh I think it's a good thing for people if they want to buy in Greece, it's a good time to do that because it's just keeps getting, you know, more popular. That's uh for good reasons. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:14

Very interesting. How'd you find the process uh the process of b buying a property in Greece and renovating compared to the US if you if you like compared to the US, it wasn't that different, really.

SPEAKER_02 14:31

And I've you know, had a number of homes uh I renovated in the US and New York. And uh it was pretty much the same, you know. You find your contractor, you deal with the contractor, you you know. Like I say, it probably is helpful that Theo could speak Greek here, but you can always find someone to that can help you with that. So yeah, I I didn't have any problems like that. Uh and it was just uh of course in August people leave, so you have to wait for them to come back. And but you know, that's nice. They come back uh ready to go. So the biggest challenge in Greece is August. Yeah. That's a bit of a a challenge. Uh but then you can go away in August too, so it's all good. It's all part of the uh It's all part of the thing. Uh of course, you know, there are always adjustments to any new place. But you know, I moved to Greece or to New York when I was probably twenty. And so from the Midwest in a small community in the Midwest, that was a big adjustment. And so you have to it's like moving here. That's an adjustment, but you can do it.

SPEAKER_00 15:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 15:52

You know, and if I can do it at that age, uh anybody can do it. Anybody can do it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:59

That's very interesting. But looking back, looking back, is there anything that you would have done differently or are you happy of how you handled and uh the whole process and your decision making, let's say?

SPEAKER_02 16:13

Well, I think a very important thing is to look for I think people coming to Greece, if they don't know Greece well and they don't know exactly where they where they want to be. Do they want to be in Theslaniki, do they want to be in a village, do they want to live on an island, do they want to you know, and and they're not familiar that much with Greece. It's better I would get a car and go around Greece to different areas and see where where do I want to be. I wanted to be in Athens because it's a a great city, you know, uh, and uh it has the theater, it has the arts, it has the things that I'm interested in, and um also the history, and great restaurants, you know, it's got a lot of good things. But if I didn't want to live in Athens and I didn't know where I wanted to live, I would go, I would really take a tour around and stop at different realtors uh around the country and ask, you know, uh them to show me properties. And also I would find out if people around me, if you're English speaking, speak some English, you know, so you don't feel isolated in that way. So uh that I would uh would do. But a realtor, and I'm not saying that because of you, but it's very important and also uh to find a good lawyer. Yes. Uh and oftentimes a realtor can give you names of lawyers too. But uh it's important to find a good lawyer who you can really trust and uh you know isn't going to over try to overcharge, and uh many of them don't. But like anywhere, you have to be careful of all of these things. So it's it's really look around the country if you don't know it well, and say, because some people want to be in the mountains, some people want to be in a village, some people want to be on an island, you know, so you have to really look where do I really want to be?

SPEAKER_01 18:25

And uh that's great information that you're sharing. Yeah. And um yeah, that was something I was gonna ask you, and you just answered yourself. Yeah, you chose why you chose Athens. We get a lot of people that are between moving to Athens or some island, but we've noticed that most of them, most not all of them, but a large amount, they end up preferring Athens for the purpose of they use Athens as a base, and then they can just this easy access to islands, to northern Greece and to other parts of Greece. Yeah, it is, and they can always change and have something new and keep Athens as their base. Yeah. So that's something that I've noticed. And in regards to lawyer choosing a lawyer, always my advice is always get before you make any decision, always have in writing uh what they're gonna charge beforehand. That's my advice to everybody listening. Yeah. With everyone that you deal with, get everything in writing beforehand. Don't just leave uh things open. So in that way, you'll be quite that that'd be quite safe, I think, with uh with any process like that.

SPEAKER_02 19:27

Yes. And like I said, I think my experience with you, for instance, is that if you have a good realtor that they can really set you on the right path or at least give you suggestions that are very helpful. I I think that's a very important thing. Again, it's not because I'm talking to you, but I think it really is. And uh you've even given me names for uh contractors, you know, people that I could use now. So yeah, that that's very important. A lawyer, a realtor, um engineer also to engineer during the process of uh due delivery. And if you need an accountant, which you might after the purchase, yes.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Yeah. Yeah. To help with the with the aftermath. Yes. Annual property tax and uh yeah. Yeah. Okay, great. Interesting. Very interesting. Very nice information you uh you're sharing with us here. I've got to give them information because you know, I know how it is. You love the cinema. I do too. So what what ignited this was it something you uh had in uh a vision beforehand, or did it like what ignited this like to transform the product property?

SPEAKER_02 20:48

Well, I think because uh Theo in the States was called, what do they call him, the father of the home cinema or something, modern home cinema, something like that anyway. And then I think he became the grandfather of the homes. And something like that. But he was like the uh premier cinema builder, and it was something he always dreamed of. I think even as a child on Kolcotroni in the middle of Athens, uh he had like a sheet up on the um roof, you know, and they would project Yeah. Yeah, must have been waiting. I think even I I think maybe Angelopoulos w went there. I know some of the old filmmakers were up there, even uh when he was a kid. I mean a young guy, yeah. That is great. Yeah. Yeah. And so of course it just and then those theaters from the States, people here in Greece heard about them, you know, some of the wealthy people. And so he made theaters for them and for actors and for shipbuilders. Yeah. And um and also in China and all over, really. So that's kind of how the theaters came about. Okay, great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Yeah. That is I find it very interesting. I was very surprised when I visited, they they called me after they finished the transformation of the property, and I was really surprised. It is it is immaculate.

SPEAKER_02 22:23

Yeah, yeah. No, and you think about it, when you think about going to a different country, uh like when Theo was probably twenty one or something, and went uh to the United States, you know, you go and you're basically, you know, cooking eggs or something for people and at first, and then one thing leads to the other, and you know, you have this business. That's quite amazing.

SPEAKER_01 22:54

Yeah, it really is. Did you face any challenges like while you're here, like moving from the United States, living in Greece? Irrelevant of the property purchase, if if there was any challenges with that. But in general, living here, is there anything else?

SPEAKER_02 23:08

The language is something else. I would suggest to anybody moving that they get Duolingo, you know, and study some Greek and all of that. It's not an easy language for Americans anyway. I think some people it's easier for other countries, but certainly for Americans it's a challenge, but so many, of course, do speak English here. But I would get, you know, a good translation incian also, because let's say you have gardeners, like I I have some gardeners who come weekly, and most of them are Egyptian. And so they don't uh speak much English, and they don't speak that much Greek, some of them. So um so you have to y use a lot of, you know, tree, bush, you know. But it's it's not really that bad. It's uh and there's usually a a head guy who speaks some English or some Greek anyway. So it's not that difficult. But uh it's a good thing to to know some Greek. If you can. And if you don't, you'll learn some. Yeah, you have to.

SPEAKER_01 24:19

It's not that but in general, are people like in various, let's say, services in Greece, do most people know English? Are they able to help? Like is it is it like a big issue, not knowing Greek? Like what, for instance? Which uh let's say if you go to a restaurant or if you go to Oh yeah, well that's no problem.

SPEAKER_02 24:36

You can eat all you want.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

Yeah. They were they able to help in English?

SPEAKER_02 24:41

Yeah. In these kind of Yeah. In that way, most people do. Okay. You know, like in any country, I think people might like to speak their own language, but they they're very good about it. When needed, they'll When needed, and they're fine. It's not a problem. And then you learn some and then they're thrilled, you know, if you say hi in Greek, you know. And you say, Pussy, you say they love, oh my God. You know, you're brilliant. So that's nice. And you you're actually you're taking lessons. You're you're you're learning. Oh, I've taken lessons, but I'll tell you, like I was telling you, I I started out with six students at this school in Clefada some years ago, and uh I think I'm the only one that's still trying to learn my best. You know, and they haven't needed to, you know, really, because uh there's enough plenty of English.

SPEAKER_01 25:37

So you're the steady student there, you still go. You're still you're loyal for the course.

SPEAKER_02 25:41

Aaron Powell Well, I'm not loyal to that course. I've done my own courses. Okay. And I think I've made about four hundred and something recordings of Greek words, and now one day I'll have time to play them all back and learn. But uh, you know, it's it's a challenge for sure. It is a challenge. If you But most people don't expect you to speak Greek. I mean, of course it's nice, but it's not necessary.

SPEAKER_01 26:08

It's a challenge for me too. I uh I I came twelve years old to Greece and my I I knew a little bit of Greek. Yeah. But it was a challenge. And I still, even though I've learned quite my Greek is quite good after so many years, I can you know read and write. Well, yeah but still I still have an accent and the the the people that are from here they will uh pick up on the accent. So it's not easy. It's not easy.

SPEAKER_02 26:29

No. Now my accent isn't the problem. Everyone says, Oh, you've got the great accent. If you could just say a little more. That's great. Anyway, that's it's not a problem.

SPEAKER_01 26:40

So, John, has your life changed a lot living in Greece, or are you able to Well, yes.

SPEAKER_02 26:46

There have been changes. The one thing in New York, of course, you know, living there um over the years, all so many years, really, you meet so many people and you can interact, you know, Andy Warhol, Patty Smith, all these, you know, people that you knew as you were growing through the years. So that kind of thing where you're always running into s somebody famous and talking and that's changed. And also all the galleries. Greece has galleries, of course, and I haven't had enough time in Thessaloniki, but I know they have quite a number of museums up there. Yes. But it there's so many in galleries and museums in New York that I would go to all the time. So I missed that sum. But I go here also, and there were some nice ones, Gulandris and uh you know the National Gallery, and there are some very nice ones here too. But yes, that I miss, and just walking around New York is always like something new. But Athens has a lot and it's changed so much over the years, and it's continuing to change for the better in many ways with the restaurants and also the arts, you know, and the Onassa Center and the Arcos. There's much more than when I first came, like I said, in nineteen eighty-three to visit. Yes. Which is amazing. The new museum. Yeah. It's nice to have breakfast there and then go to the museum and hang out. Yeah. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:29

Right.

SPEAKER_02 28:29

I'm very pleased to hear that you're enjoying life. Yeah, yeah. And you see the difference. And there's so many places to go in Greece. I mean, you just go a little ways, you know, take a bus or a plane or whatever, to the Ionian Islands. Yes. And there you can go. Like I was in Corfu one Easter, where they have huge celebrations and uh bands, like I think they had fifteen bands, and they had big Easter the pots. Oh my gosh, yeah, the pots being thrown out of the windows. And I remember on TV seeing last year some girl walking under the windows knowing their pots were gonna be thrown, but you've got to stay away from the windows. And but all those Ionian islands are amazing for Easter or anytime. You know, they're beautiful islands. And the Cyclades, all of you know, Greece has great islands. Beautiful islands. Beautiful, beautiful. And I'm not gonna mention my favorite island because then everyone might you know already. I've mentioned some islands and people keep going there and too many people.

SPEAKER_00 29:37

You prefer it less uh less people. Yes. So we won't mention your favorite island. I I I I know you told me during uh our drive here, so okay, I'll keep it a secret. Keep it a secret. I'll mention yours.

SPEAKER_01 29:51

Has Greece influenced your work as an artist at all?

SPEAKER_02 29:56

Well, it's almost funny because I've been so busy with oh, doing things with the house and then also with my Greek and studies and other things that I'm interested in, that I haven't really been setting up the studio for some time, and now I'm getting lighting in the studio, which is really good lighting, you know, the right lumens, the right CRI, it's called, you know, you have to have a certain CRI. And that's going to be a process now, so that I can really get into more work, probably in September or something like that. But as far as influencing the work, it's not about landscapes or anything. I thought it might be, you know, when I came, but I studied this Greek, the the line the letters so much that I think I might try something using these letters in art. That's interesting. You know, like a design kind of thing. Or um, oh, I want to make I don't know if I'll do it or not, but uh the the idea of making an Ochi poster. I see Ohi Day, you know, every year. It's a big deal. And I see these posters, they're all like blue and they all look very pretty and all of that. And something a little more visceral, maybe, with this OHI thing. That would be letter. Yeah. So yeah, that's kind of the influence, just because I'm with those letters all the time. Yeah, yes. And there's some beautiful letters. I I like the look of a lot of the letters. So we'll see what happens. That is very interesting. Yeah. And I also I got a piano. You know, I brought my piano actually from New York. I thought I would have more time than I have to practice it, and I got a system where you can either play it, where you can hear it, or not hear it. You know, that's uh elaborate. Yeah, you have the earphones, you have a whole lot of some amazing technology that you got there with the piano. But I want to have more time to practice and and things. But there's so much to do. So many things to do.

SPEAKER_01 32:03

You keep yourself very busy in Greece. That's what I've noticed. Very busy. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you're gonna go you're gonna start that possible art project. I'm hoping if you visit that secret Greek island, Greek island that you've just mentioned. You're gonna take a break for someone, obviously.

SPEAKER_02 32:17

Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll take a couple of breaks. Go to Crete for a while. Okay. And uh you know, some of the beaches and places there. I like Crete. It was the first island I ever went to. Theo's brother actually lived in Araklion. He was the head of the archaeological museum. Okay, yeah, yeah. So that was my first experience of the Greek islands, and then took a tour all around not all around Crete, but half around, and really loved the island and always have.

SPEAKER_01 32:50

Very interesting.

SPEAKER_02 32:52

That's not the island though I was talking about.

SPEAKER_01 32:54

I know. Would you like to just briefly uh share that with you? I found that very interesting. If you want. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The difference of how hospitality was back then.

SPEAKER_02 33:14

Yeah, there was a group of us, for instance, just for instance, that went Santorini in that was 83. It was so different then, of course. For one thing, it was all Greek. And uh there were five of us. We stayed in a home, like a couple of bedrooms, I guess, and um it was a just a few drachmas.

SPEAKER_01 33:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:37

And the woman then made beans for us, she ironed the clothes, she did all this. And the thing I remember was seeing a donkey, you know, go up the hill with a scale with tomatoes, and you could wave the things and uh so that was the first form of hospitality back then, how it was then. Very different. And Mikanos, the same kind of thing, you know. You'd get up in the morning, the lady would fix you with warm milk with honey and amazing times.

SPEAKER_01 34:07

So there are various incentives that the Greek government has has applied for foreign investors. We had a chat beforehand. One is, let's say, for people, a pensioner that transfers their tax base into Greece. Yeah. They can have a they can have a tax incentive. You didn't you haven't uh you didn't take advantage of it? No one said anything about it.

SPEAKER_02 34:28

So I'll find out more about that.

SPEAKER_01 34:30

Also, there there is a tax incentive for people that transferred their pension to Greece, so we can uh definitely have my accountant to brief you on this.

SPEAKER_02 34:39

Yeah. And uh And uh of course uh I have an accountant also and could ask, you know. But it would be interesting.

SPEAKER_01 34:47

You could be good to look into. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But there's no other incentives. Like the only incentive you actually took advantage of is the the golden visa, let's say that. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 34:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:57

And that whole process you were happy with the process and you're you're happy that this uh Yes.

SPEAKER_02 35:07

Um Well, you know, uh if you get this golden visa, you know, and you get your card, don't lose it anywhere. Because um someone actually s stole mine in uh Paris. In Paris, not here. I mean every big city you have to be careful. But yeah, someone stole it. So it took like a long time, you know, and then you have to go and report and all of this. But the golden visa, like the renewal now. Yes, the renewal? It seems like you're never gonna get another card because it takes like nine months or something or longer to get the renewal. So you're wondering, but it does come. It does actually. You know, eventually it comes. But you're wondering why didn't it come? Yeah, the bureaucracy in that area isn't where it should be. Yeah. Yeah. But they're working on it. So Nobody cared about it.

SPEAKER_01 36:05

Yeah. The advice that I would like to share is for people that need to renew their golden visa to not wait to it expires, start the process at least six months, maybe even a little bit more than that. Okay. So that's good information you shared there in regards to the uh the renewal part that's a little bit uh Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

Because it annoyed you a little bit. Yeah. Well, it it didn't annoy me, it worried me. Yeah. I was thinking is it gonna be even worse. And then they kept saying, No, it's gonna come, it's gonna come, and then it did come. Okay. Uh so I wouldn't have had to worry. But in the in the States, you know, it would have come faster. It would have been the process would have been uh quicker. Yeah. So, you know, every place has its problems. Yes. You know, it's not a big problem because it came.

SPEAKER_01 36:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:51

That's good. I wouldn't worry about it.

SPEAKER_01 36:53

Good. Excellent. What would you do what would you say to somebody from abroad that's considering to move to Greece, purchase a property, anything you'd like to share for somebody that's thinking about it and they're not quite sure?

SPEAKER_02 37:06

Well, I would just say, you know, first of all, you know, like I said before, find a good realtor, and then if you're really interested, get a good lawyer, you know, get get these people that can help you.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

Good team.

SPEAKER_02 37:18

Yeah, yeah. And because there are a lot of properties, there are even in Athens, there are a lot of different areas. You might want to be in the north, the south, the east, the west, you know, so you have to really look around, let's say even in Athens. I had thought at one time it would be nice to be in the center, you know, and it probably is nice to be in the center, you know, if you have the perfect place. But I really kind of prefer where I eventually landed in the southern part, you know, in uh Glifada, Lenico, this area. There are a lot of nice areas in the in those southern suburbs. And it's green, you know, a lot of greenery and open and near the sea, you know. So there are a lot of uh good qualities in in the south. And then in the north, of course, you have beautiful suburbs also. I mean all over Athens you can find something that's beautiful. Different characteristics based on what's different characters and uh and the weather is also different. Do you like the weather here? Well, I'm not saying just uh here in Greece, but in Athens. I mean, if you're in the north, you're gonna have different weather than in southern Athens. So then you have to say, do I want it, you know, a little cooler sometimes? Do I want whatever you want? And find out what area weather wise, because there are a lot of microclimates.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

You're actually correct. Yes, uh 100%. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:52

And my climate is they call it like the Miami of Athens or something, because it's a little warmer. It is. And uh of course in my area, because in my house I have a lot of breeze because there's so much green around and just the way it's set up. Yeah. So it's always nice and breezy for breakfast. You can go out and have your breakfast with a nice breeze. And at night there's a nice breeze coming in. So even during summer, right? Even during the summer, yeah. Some kind of convection current, maybe or something. That's amazing. Whatever it is, it's uh pleasant. Yeah. You know. Um and once the sun is a little lower or has gone down, it's nice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:35

That's very interesting. Very nice, yeah. Very nice. That's something that a lot of people don't actually they miss, they don't understand that in Greece you spend a lot of time outdoors. Like if you have a garden or a large veranda, yeah. You spend a lot of time outdoors.

SPEAKER_02 39:48

You do, you do. And then you also want to have some idea, especially if you're in an area like mine, which is like a cigrotima, they call it, like a complex of buildings. You want to, you know, just check around and get an idea of the neighbors and the neighborhood and and all of that. And my neighbors have been very nice, and uh, you know, they invited me one family for uh waffles for my birthday recently. And others, you know, are very friendly and chatty. The girl upstairs I do some English Greek exchange with. So, you know, the people are I found them to be quite nice. Welcoming. Welcoming. That's very very important.

SPEAKER_01 40:32

That's very important.

SPEAKER_02 40:32

It's very important. And I don't see people all the time because I'm working, you know, in my studio or whatever, but and I'm uh fairly friendly with people. So uh that probably makes a difference too. Of course. But uh I found them to be very nice neighbors. Yeah. So they're they're hospitable, let's say. Yeah. Yes, and they always bring when they come, you know, for coffee or if they come maybe for a movie or something, they always bring something, like Porto Colopito, or they bring uh, you know, a pie, a cake, uh something. That is and which is kind of unusual for I think a lot of people, maybe a lot of countries, aren't that hospitable in that way. I'm not saying in every way they're gonna be so generous, but in that way it's a very nice tradition, I think. It makes you feel welcome. Makes you feel welcome, and it's a very nice thing to do, you know, to bring something. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:34

It's very, very interesting, very nice to you you're having a great experience. Yeah, yeah, it's very nice. Yeah. Okay. So, John, all this uh your experience is very interesting. It's very nice to hear that you're having uh a pleasant time in Greece. Is there anything negative you wanna highlight that or negative or something that you believe needs improvement in living here about Greece?

SPEAKER_02 41:58

There are sometimes I've seen certain sites where you would like to be able to read, you know, the information better. Maybe the banks aren't too bad, but there should be a little it would help be helpful, a little more English. But you can also go to the bank and talk to people if you have any issues with that. So th that's the only thing, but it's something you can work around or hopefully have some good friends. Like I have one very good friend here who's always helpful, you know, if I have any questions or you know, find a good friend. And if you don't have one, you'll be able to function anyway. The other thing that bothers me, and I wish there was a way to I don't know how it can be solved graffiti. You know, some of these beautiful neoclassical buildings, some of the beautiful old buildings in Greece and new. There needs to be some way to stop and get rid of that graffiti because I've had a couple of friends coming from the US and they said, you know, we've been to a number of capitals, and um there's more graffiti here, you know, in Europe than uh and I don't know why that can't be stopped, and maybe it can be, but um it should be because there are many, many beautiful places that some, you know, little goofball has like done something with. And it's not nice graffiti, it's not good graffiti, it's uh, you know, it's just dumb graffiti.

SPEAKER_01 43:40

Totally agree. It annoys me. It annoys me. And and and I I've heard that from uh from many people. Yeah. I I I just hope that something uh something will happen. I know that I hope so. They they're they're looking into doing something about it, but let's let's hope it happens soon. Yes, uh it's a nice aw. Yeah. It's a nice aw.

SPEAKER_02 43:57

It would be very nice. Uh luckily in many areas you don't have that. Like where I am, yeah. It's almost nothing like that. Or Gleepfather, or any of a lot of these areas. But in the center, you know it's a shame. Or Iksarcia or something. Even though I like Iksarcia. You do. Especially when it's late. Okay. You know, there's a great there's actually a great old movie theater there. It's an outdoor theater called Riviera. Do you know that place? No, I don't. Oh, it's a great old theater. They're in a very nice restaurant right next to it. And uh it's so active at night. People are all sitting around, you know, talking and you know. Uh so you like that vibe? It's a very nice vibe. It's not that I'm a late-night person, but I enjoy it when you're there and you see everybody enjoying themselves.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

Okay, great. Yeah. John, thank you so much for your time today. Very welcome. Your insights are very um uh very helpful, and I'm sure a lot of people that will be listening will find it useful. I hope so. I'm happy that your experience here is positive. Yes, it is. And uh thank you so much for uh being with us today. Well, thank you for bringing me. We've come to an end of yet another episode of Inside Greek Real Estate. I hope you enjoyed the interview with uh John Thompson. I found it very useful and very interesting. If you have any questions for future episodes, feel free to drop a message or send an email to info at pmdrealestate. Thank you for your time.