Italian Property for sale

Property for sale in Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany is an enchanting region of meandering hills, ancient hillside villages, historic renaissance cities with ambient piazzas. Mile after mile of vineyards and olive groves, fields of golden sun-flowers and towering cypress trees. It’s landscapes exude a magical charm, rich in culture and heritage they are bathed in a unique light that has inspired artists for centuries. The warmth and hospitality of the local people and the delicious local cuisine and fine wines are just some of the pleasures that this region has in store for you. Every year we drive thousands of miles to hand pick the properties for our new programme and we have an excellent local knowledge. The only way to appreciate Tuscany fully is to experience it for yourself, and once you do, you will be so enchanted that like most of our clients, you will return time after time.

The Tuscan coast has some of the widest and most immaculate sandy beaches in Italy which are unique in that they are set against a stunning back drop of the marble clad Apuan alps. Italians have enjoyed spending their summer in these elegant resorts since the turn of the century. Beach lovers can spend long sun filled days lazing on an Italian beach, or if a day of sight seeing and shopping appeals more, the Cities of Lucca, Pisa and Florence are accessible from the Coast.

THE PROPERTY MARKET:

Tuscany is still the number one choice for many buyers looking for property in Italy. The mere mention of this beautiful region conjures up images of dining ‘al fresco’ whilst gazing out across a tapestry of vineyards and olive groves. The area also promises inflated house prices as an ever increasing number of ex-patriates buy property in the South of Tuscany. This means that more and more property buyers are looking to other areas in Tuscany which offer equally beautiful surroundings at a fraction of the price. Bagni di Lucca is one of these places and it’s proximity to sought after Lucca makes the area an interesting investment opportunity.

The Tuscan market shows little sign of slowing. Prices differ dramatically depending on the area. We estimate that during the last 12 months prices in Bagni di Lucca have increased by about 8 %.

‘Over building’ is not something you need to worry about. The rural character of the area cannot be spoilt nor the strength of your investment diluted due to the strict building guidelines which are in place in Tuscany.

Visit our property site, Tuscany villas for sale, for properties currently advertised for sale.

Tags: apartments, tuscany, villas in italy

Looking to invest some surplus cash buying a property as a holiday home in Italy well if your can afford to spend more than the average then head to Capri, Forte del Marmi or Portafino. A recent price survey by Italian estate agent conglomerate Tecnocasa, listed the Campanian island as the most expensive seaside resort in Italy, with properties costing up to €14,200 per square metre. The British and Germans head up the top foreign buyers but there has been an increase in requests from Russian clients recently.

Only Tuscany’s Forte dei Marmi and Liguria’s Portofino-neither of which is included in the Tecnocasa report-rival Capri’s pricey primacy. Villas in the heart of the celeb-studded Tuscan resort start from a minimum of €12,200 per square metre and reach up to €14,500, according to the  regional body that monitors prices in the Tuscan province. However when compared to Portofino, the postcard fishing village near Genoa,  prestige homes in the old centre cost start at €18,000 up to €22,000 per square metre according to figures realeased by the Italian Land Registry.

The Northern region of Italy heads the house price chart, with seven of its provinces making it into the top ten list of Italy’s most expensive coastal locations. Varazze, Alassio, Varigotti, Arenzano, Celle Ligure, Santa Margherita Ligure and Finale Ligure all have properties priced between €9,000 and €12,000 per square metre, according to Tecnocasa. Prices are holding up at this level, even though sale times have become longer-Italian entrepreneurs and professionals, and German and British buyers are driving the top end of the market.

However, Italy’s most expensive locations are not necessarily the most active ones. The market is most lively in Calabria, Sardinia and Sicily, reports Tecnocasa. In Calabria, property prices in resorts along the Tyrrhenian coast, in the Cosenza province, went up 5.2% in the second quarter of 2007, with peaks of 6.6% in the mural-covered town of Diamante-home to azure waters and red hot chili peppers-and 7% in pretty Sangineto. Buyers are mostly Italian, however more and more foreign buyers are being tempted by the beautiful coastline and attractive prices.
In Sicily prices rose by an average 1.2% across the island with many of the purchasers come from overseas. Russians, Americans and Northern Europeans are buying around the town of Taormina with its elegant streets where properties can fetch up to €4,000 to €5,000 per square metre.

Sardinia has also seen a rise in prices, which went up by 2.2% across the island. The biggest gain has been in the city of Olbia, up 7.7%, which has markets for both main and second homes. Among the draws attracting buyers to the area is a new marina and surrounding hotels and shopping centre being built at Olbia Mare. Foreigners-English, Germans, and Russians looking for prestige waterside homes-are more present further down the Eastern Sardinian coast, in Villasimius. Properties in or near the village, which counts some of Sardinia’s best beaches, fetch up to €4,000 per square metre. 

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Tags: Calabria, Capri, For Sale, Italy, Portofino, property, puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, tuscany

LEGALITIES - Easy steps to Italian property purchase

Once you have found a property that you would like to purchase be it in Tuscany,    Calabria or any region of Italy then this is what you can expect to happen, in brief, with regard to the legalities:

The first written step in the negotiations is the offer to purchase, by which the buyer will bind himself irrevocably for the period of the validity of the offer to buy the property at a particular price. This offer is normally valid for 14 or 30 days. When the offer has been accepted by the buyer a 10% deposit is paid.

The next stage is the preliminary contract of sale (compromesso). This is the contract by which the interested parties agree in writing on the formalities of the sale, the date by which the completion (il rogito) must be entered into and the name of the Italian notary that will execute the deed. At this stage there is normally another payment of between 20/30%.

The completion ( il rogito) is the definitive passage of the title to the property from the vendor to the buyer by a public document, or by a private contract authenticated by a notary for the purpose of registration.

In the case of purchase of a property from a private citizen, the buyer must pay a registration impost and a land registry tax. If a property is bought from a company, instead of land registry tax IVA (VAT) is normally payable.

If you are still looking for that dream home or hoilday property in the Italian sun click to see whats on offer.

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