Guide for Foreign Buyers in Italy
By Franco Tarsitano
Ciao Tutti
As a Canadian/Italian with dual citizenship and Broker Land Developer in Calabria, Italy, I own, built, bought and sold property and passionately believe that the educated foreign non Italian buyer who knows what to expect and demand from his Agent, Legal Team and Vendor will produce a win / win situation, greatly reducing risk, stress and maximizing the opportunity for success.
Many foreign buyers can not imagine at just how much money and time can be wasted by those buying Italian property – and how much exploitation there is by “so called” professionals. As a result, I am committed in helping non Italian foreign buyers fulfill their dreams and decided to write a guide for you.
The information has been written by me and people in my company who have “been there and done it” the advice is thus relevant, practical and biased only to helping others achieve a successful outcome with their decision. Enjoy!

Italian property guide
So you are thinking of buying a house in Italy. Either to move there permanently or as a second home or to rent? If any of the above, then this is relevant to you.

This information is a guide through and the practical lessons we learnt along the way. It is intended to share with you those lessons in a concise and reference form so that you can reduce the time – and costs – of achieving your goal.

The first consideration is choosing where to look for your Italian property.
There are many factors here – personal preferences, in town or in the country, regional variations in costs of property, proximity to main airports so that you and friends can travel there easily and cost effectively, local planning rules (and restrictions) and so on.

Remember you and visitors need to have the property accessible from home. Airport access is important – say within 90 minutes drive or so.
Also look at roads from the airport to your chosen region to ensure your journey (and those of the many friends who will want to visit) is a pleasurable one – it is a route you will drive many times!

Next is the small problem of finding the right property within your chosen region.

It is vital when buying an Italian property to see the property first-hand and not from a brochure, CD or web-site though these make excellent places to start searching. I have met many frustrated clients during my site inspections tours that were disappoint to find out that the property for sale they researched did not exist or was already sold prior to leaving their home.
Book a Site inspection visit we offer this visit with a minimum one week accommodations, transportation to and from the Lamezia Terme Airport and property showings in Calabria. The reservation fee is deducted from the purchase price of your property.

I truly recommend the only way to do this is to spend at least five days or so viewing. Trying to do it in one-day trips is not possible – it is hard work and inefficient as you spend more time travelling than viewing. Holidays are fine for viewing as you can mix ‘work’ with ‘relaxation’. Our site inspection visits combine the two for an enjoyable experience no matter the outcome.

Either way, it is vital to plan the visit in advance. Just turning up and hoping to see lots of appropriate properties might work but is highly unlikely to. It is necessary to plan which days you are with the agents and they need to know beforehand what type of property you are interested in – size, price, location, etc.
Only in this way, can you make the most effective use of your time and theirs.

Our company The Global Property Group Ltd & Remax International of Italy cover important details in our (full guide)please request a copy. We have a good track record (history), lots of property to choose from someone who offers good choice and also so that they are not trying to push an unsuitable property onto you simply because they do not have any others to sell.

The good news is that it has been done before and people have successfully completed.

Water
In towns and cities you can drink the tap-water but most Italians prefer to use bottled water; there are occasional scares and chemical treatment is often heavy-handed in Italian houses.

The same applies to rural mains water (acquedotto) which is often discolored and undrinkable after heavy rainfall. It is a good idea to look out for the springs from which the locals obtain their drinking water. Italians tend to drink bottled mineral water rather than tap water.

The local Comune is responsible for water supply. If you live in an apartment block water charges are included in your rent.

Homes with a water meter will be billed after meter readings.

Gas

Gas supply is controlled by the local Comune or by an authorized company. Most cookers and central heating systems run on gas – water heaters can be gas or electric, but gas is cheaper and will give you instant hot water. Apply to your local office for connection. Billing is every 2 months, payment at the local offices, post offices or through your bank. For a detached house, supply is from a large cylinder which the gas company will provide free of charge. It is buried below ground - but away from where cars would be driving over it! – And so is hidden from view.

How to ensure value from your investment property

There are many factors that affect the value of a property. The things that are important to you may, or may not, be important to others – and it is vital to distinguish which is which.

Apart from picking an airport that is serviced cheaply (and the likelihood of that continuing in the future) also look at roads from the airport to your chosen region to ensure your journey (and those of the any friends who will want to visit) is a pleasurable one – it is a route you will drive many times – and will affect the re-sell value of the property.

Other factors (apart from loving the region which tends to come first – and the practical details later) which you may find important to take into account include:-

Knowing someone who could manage the refurbishment and look after the property in the future;

Local places of interest for yourselves and your visitors / paying clients to see;

You may want somewhere that is central to Italy and so easier to travel to other Italian regions (North and South) for short visits; perhaps with good road and rail links (North and South) within easy access – though, perhaps, not too close;

The altitude of the region above sea-level may be important; Being higher this makes a place slightly cooler in the summer and, if above about 300, there are no mosquitoes;

Do you want to stay in a tourist or non-tourist region (though, perhaps, within one hour’s drive of these for visitors to see)?

In a region that is likely to increase in value over time. Calabria!


Having chosen a region, the next problem is how to find a house.

One of the first things to decide on regarding cost and resaleability is the size of building.

There are many large, deserted farm houses in central Italy and they are often very tempting – but the costs of renovation and maintenance (not to mention heating in the winter) can be much higher.

Then you should decide how remote you wish to be, in the country or in a town, for example. Country views are tempting, but you will be more isolated (particularly in the winter) and there may well then be land and trees that need to be maintained.

Being in a town suits many as well. Apart from the convenience of having shops and restaurants close by – as well as perhaps railway and bus stations and so reducing reliance on a car – it can be very enjoyable (except perhaps after an evening of too much wine and Lemoncina) to waken to the sound of local church bells and Italian ‘chatter’.

The view is of course important. If going for a rural view, it is advisable to make sure that it is of good, ‘Italian-type’, views (i.e. not just of hills or land which could be seen in other countries too). As well as being more pleasurable for you to look at, this will increase the value of the property and make it easier to sell if or when that time comes.

Other aspects you may wish to take into account (the proprieties will depend on your personal choices) are:-

A choice of good local (food) shops and restaurants;

A larger town within 20 minutes drives – for larger shopping requirements, cinemas, etc. In our case, Viterbo fits this requirement;

In a region likely to increase in value over time;

Good road and rail links (North and South) within easy access – though not too close;

Principle amenities available (electricity, telephone, water), preferably with Broadband available (not so in our case);

Climate – temperatures vary a lot between the north and south of the country and depending on altitude. If you like to sit in the sun, then a south-facing aspect is important – and in a location that is not prone to lots of early morning or autumnal fogs (such as in some of the northern regions, for example). Ask the agent or locals if this is important to you.

To request further information on the Legal process, purchasing and financing an Italian property contact francotarsitano@msn.com
www.italysouth.org
The Global Property Group Ltd
Association of Remax International Italy with over 200 real estate offices located in Italy and thousands around the world.