HI everybody and welcome to the RE forum!
My name is Stefano Calafà and I am an Italian realtor, mainly operating in Umbria. You can view a good selection of our properties for sale on the RE section of Life in Italy. My agency, Via dei Colli Immobiliare, is specialized in dealing with non Italians, so do not be too scared of the ominous bureaucratic hassles; we will take care of them.

Umbria is a small region rarely showing off in glamorous magazines with showgirls and football players. Maybe, this is part of the reason why Umbria still keeps, unadultorated, a mystic and serene halo, left out of time.
Umbrian towns are incredibly old, perched on breeze-stroked hills and floating on a sea of peaceful olive groves.
The region has far more to offer than just the world-famous towns of Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio, Spoleto, Todi, Orvieto, Spello, Monefalco, gems of unchallenged beauty; off the beaten track, dwell an unnumbered amount of equally charming old villages and small hill-towns .
Umbria is the land of Saints, soaked into a sense of mystic that breaks in the skin and fills the spirit with joy, the same joy pervading S. Francis' wonderful Canticle of All Creatures.
Farming heritage still remains well visible, here, in the green heart of Italy; the country is alive and offers tasty, genuine products, laid on the tables of the many restaurants, inns, taverns, markets and ancient village festivals.
Umbria is a land of magic, an enchanting place where to settle or, simply, where to spend some time for vacations. It is a land of hills, woods, vineyards and olive groves, a land where the wind whispers through the leaves, a land of lakes, silence, starry nights, good food and excellent wine, art, culture, history, a land of ancient traditions and simplicity. Umbria cannot just be described in few words.

Are we biased? Perhaps we are, nonetheless Umbria is beautiful! And not dear. Buying a house in Umbria can be a very smart choice in terms of value for money: in most of the region, aside from some expensive areas around Lake Trasimeno, Assisi and Todi, prices are still affordable, nothing to do with the sky-rocketing levels reached in Tuscany.
We bet this gap will eventually fade out. And you?

Hi,

I checked out some of the homes on your website... quite lovely. When I can actually afford one of them, I'll be back in touch! You're right about the prices, they are cheaper than in the Tuscan region.

Can you recommend a good site for good pictures and information about Umbria in general?

Thanks!

Teresa

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Hi Teresa,
you can check out some pictures, travel itineraries and info on Umbria at
http://www.bellaumbria.it/home_eng.htm
http://www.english.umbria2000.it/Default.aspx

Ciao

Stefano

I've tried both websites and cannot find any properties for sale. Could it be my browser or AOL???

Hi Linda
Did you check this website as well ?
http://www.lifeinitaly.com/real-estate/gallery/

Paolo,

These homes make me want to save all my pennies.

Any chance of buying a place that's a little less expensive??

Teresa

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Apart from the purchase price, which depends on the type of property and location, there are other costs you need to think about:

The Imposte: These consist of indirect real estate taxes and registration fees you pay on top of the purchase price at completion. The Notaio sends these taxes along with the deeds and documents to the land registry to ensure that registration of the transaction is complete.

Imposta di registro: This tax is applied whenever there is a new registration of title. Transactions will be taxed either at a fixed amount of €168, or as a percentage of the value declared at the Atto.

Imposta ipotecaria: This tax is applied when applications are made to make changes (cancellations, additions and amendments etc) to the public register and when there is an application to lodge new or to discharge previous mortgages and restrictive covenants etc. Even if you are buying a property without a mortgage for example, the Notaio still has to lodge this information at the public register and so your transaction will be taxed either at the fixed amount of €168 or as a percentage of the value declared at the Atto.

Imposta catastale: This tax is applicable when applications are made to the Land Registry to transfer existing registered titles. Transactions are again taxed either at a fixed amount of €168 or as a percentage of the value declared in the Atto.

Prima casa: If you are intending to live in Italy and apply for resident status at your local Comune, you will be eligible for the agevolazioni per l’acquisto della “prima casa.” This means that you only pay the reduced purchase tax rate of 3% plus the fixed rate imposta ipotecaria and imposta catastale, providing that the property is your principal home for residential use.

“Prima casa” status applies to:

Urban properties (providing they are not classified as luxury properties) intended for residential use, properties that are under construction or renovation which are to be used as your main, non-luxury residence, outbuildings and annexes to be used as garages, parking areas and shelters. By main residence the Agenzie delle Entrate (Revenue Agency) intends a property that is occupied by the owner or his family for more than 50% of its period of ownership.

In order to become eligible for the prima casa tax concession, you will need to apply for residency within 18 months from the date of completion. Moreover, you will need to declare (making false declarations is breaking the law and will lead to the loss of the concession and fines) at the rogito that:

1. The property is your principal home and is located within the municipality where you reside, or intend to establish residency in future, or domicile if this is where your main centre of business activity will be
2. You are not the exclusive owner of any other property in Italy, either via shares or via the matrimonial property regime of community of assets
3.You do not possess rights to use any existing property (to include bare ownership or usufructuary rights) that qualifies for the prima casa concession even, if the property has been purchased by your spouse.
4.The property is not classified as a luxury home

Italian nationals who are either resident (registered in AIRE – Anagrafe Italiani Residenti Estero) or working on secondment overseas are able to qualify for the lower rate tax.

As a guideline the following example should give you an idea: Mr and Mrs Househunter buy a privately owned property for personal residential use for € 100.000. They have applied for residency and this will be their primary home so they are eligible for the prima casa benefit. The tax and registration fees they pay will amount to € 3.656,00 as opposed to € 10.320,00 if the purchased the house as a holiday home .

On top of this you will have to pay agency commission (if applicable) of 2%-3% (sometimes higher – although it is advisable not to pay more than 3%).

The Imposte and other registration fees are paid via the Notary at the Rogito when you complete the purchase.

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CJ
Magical Marche &
Luchetti & Partners Studio Legale Tributario

it may have been 30 years since i visited but your description of umbria rings so true!!!!