I am a single mother working as a teacher and want to purchase a home. But don't think I can afford a home. I am tired of paying rent. Is there a way I can become a homeowner and not pay an outrageous mortgage? Your advice will be greatly appreciated!

It's not a bad time to buy a home as prices have really dropped - just make sure you don't overpay as they could still drop more. I think if you wait til next winter you will be able to find even better deals.

If you're looking to find something for less than it's worth, you might want to try going to your county courthouse to see which homes are in foreclosure and work something out with the homeonwers or bank. Some just want to get out while others will go down with the ship. Another way is to go into an area you want to live and knock on doors and work something out without a realtor involved(depends on the area you live as to whether you can save a lot - in NJ realtor % can be a pretty substantial sum).

You may want to speak with an honest Englishman from London, his business deals with helping and protecting English speakers when buying a home in Italy. He is very informed and kind.

You may leave him a private message on this site; look for 'CJ' Charles L Joseph ,

J.

There is an excellent section and many articles on this topic at the Guardian Online Weekly for Expats, entitled Living Abroad:

http:www.guardianweekly.co.uk/expat

Normally, you have found a property listed in some local Real Estate Agency data base in Italy or maybe you have found a property for sale on the website from a foreign third party Agency.

The first step is avoid what we call the “circle of wolves”. You must of heard the saying “ how many hungry Lawyers is it going to take too make this deal? ” .

1. Find a reputable local Real Estate Agent in the town or area of purchase. One who speaks Italian and English of course! Make arrangements for a site inspection of the property. To save on legal costs at this stage and also speed up the purchasing process.
2. To proceed with the sale of the property have your local working Sales Agent take you to their in house or local Notaio and arrange for a draft of the compromesso (purchase offer) and when ready it should always be signed in a notaio’s office in the town of purchase because he will have done all the preliminary searches and checked that everything is in order faster than an outside lawyer will. A Compromesso copy should be translated in English with the original Italian Compromesso for you to take to your own Lawyer.
3. Avoid Working Backwards …. It is a waste of money and time.

In other words, I recommend you do your business directly in the town of purchase than take your Compromesso Draft before making a deposit and signing it to your own Lawyer for legal advice and overview. Once it has been signed, buyer and vendor are legally committed to the sale, as defined in the document.

Remember and Keep in Mind:
The notaio in Italy is the public official responsible for completing the sale, collecting the taxes and registering the transfer of the property. He is not there to represent either the buyer or the vendor, only to act as a witness for both sides. He is there on behalf of the state to check that the property is the vendor’s to sell, that it is not part of a contested will and does not have any charges against it (such as a prior mortgage or unpaid taxes), and that the property is as described on the land and building registers and conforms to local planning regulations.

Good Luck
Frank Tarsitano
Broker & Land Developer
www.italysouth.org

Here I wrote an article a while ago but I do not think much changed since.
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/real-estate/buying-in-italy.asp

A recent market assessment by Scenari Immobiliar found the market in Tuscany is holding steady with a slight 2% decline in home sales. In other places such as Calabria, Puglia, and Abruzzo lead the way in Italy for foreign buyers with increases in home sales.
Encouraging is the fact that even in this world market turmoil, buyers can still purchase wonderful detached villas or rental income properties with much more land within the local villages and major cities of these regions. The market area is an urban and resort setting offering all the amenities for a comfortable living with prices ranging from 200,000 to 395,000 Euros. Sales forecast in Calabria, Puglia and Abruzzo to rise in 2009.
Smart investors continue to buy and move to “The South of Italy” of the southern regions Calabria still offers the best affordable package for buyers. People are taking advantage of the lower cost of living, healthier lifestyle, less taxes, beautiful demographics offering properties with a combined countryside and seaside views. Calabria continues to consistently provide the warm weather which includes an average of 300 sunshine days.
The cold damp weather is approaching most Europeans and Northern Italians. But I wonder—what are you going to do? Continue to stay and travel in the expensive northern tourist traps of Italy. I suggest if you were planning to buy property or vacation in Italy, fly to Lamezia in “The South of Italy” and discover historically “the first Italia” called Calabria.
“Stay forever”!
The Global Property Group Ltd
www.italysouth.org
Frank Tarsitano
Broker& Land Developer

A recent market assessment by Scenari Immobiliar found the market in Tuscany is holding steady with a slight 2% decline in home sales. In other places such as Calabria, Puglia, and Abruzzo lead the way in Italy for foreign buyers with increases in home sales.
Encouraging is the fact that even in this world market turmoil, buyers can still purchase wonderful detached villas or rental income properties with much more land within the local villages and major cities of these regions. The market area is an urban and resort setting offering all the amenities for a comfortable living with prices ranging from 200,000 to 395,000 Euros. Sales forecast in Calabria, Puglia and Abruzzo to rise in 2009.
Smart investors continue to buy and move to “The South of Italy” of the southern regions Calabria still offers the best affordable package for buyers. People are taking advantage of the lower cost of living, healthier lifestyle, less taxes, beautiful demographics offering properties with a combined countryside and seaside views. Calabria continues to consistently provide the warm weather which includes an average of 300 sunshine days.
The cold damp weather is approaching most Europeans and Northern Italians. But I wonder—what are you going to do? Continue to stay and travel in the expensive northern tourist traps of Italy. I suggest if you were planning to buy property or vacation in Italy, fly to Lamezia in “The South of Italy” and discover historically “the first Italia” called Calabria.
“Stay forever”!
The Global Property Group Ltd
www.italysouth.org
Frank Tarsitano
Broker& Land Developer

I also think that Calabria is a great place to by Frank, I 've been here almost 10 years. Both my parents are Calabrese. I just want to say that whoever is planning on buying here to get a move on! Prices are going up and up! Some villas at local estate agencies are selling for as much as 500,000 euros (have seen one villa for 750,000 euros!) To those who have already bought here "complimenti!!" :)

It goes without saying that you should get independant legal advice before buying a property! Have you found a solution yet Creasy?

It goes without saying that you should get independant legal advice before buying a property! Have you found a solution yet Creasy?

Just consider that this year alone some new laws have been introduced regarding clauses in the preliminay contract, I would say that independent and up-to-date legal advice is a neccessity.