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Brit retirees favour Italy for its choice of idyllic locations
| Published: | 10 Mar at 6 PM |
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Italy has traditionally been highly popular with British retirees wanting to combine spectacular scenery, great food and wine and relief from the UK’s miserable weather.
Expat property hunters have an amazing choice of location, whether it’s beachside, lakeside, in fertile valleys or rustic villages or even in the heart of ancient towns founded centuries ago. However, like all lifestyle changes, your retirement dream needs careful thought and preparation, including gathering information on the process of property purchase.
Every possible style of home is there, from apartments and townhouses through villas and even centuries-old village properties. Finding the perfect retirement home is the same anywhere in the world, with the estate agents’ saying, ‘location, location, location’, as important in Italy as it is in the home country. Local facilities such as transport, shops, medical services and suchlike need to be factored into the final decision, especially if you may be thinking of selling and moving on some years in the future.
There’s no prohibition for expats as regards buying a home in Italy, with current prices remaining at sensible levels, especially if you’re prepared to undertake some renovation and modernisation. As a general rule, the older the property the more beautiful, and bargains are frequently had by incomers looking for something different.
Home-buyers here find the process very different from that in the UK, as both the notary and real estate agent are, in effect, working for the purchaser rather than the seller and are both legally obliged to conduct a fair sale. The easiest way to find your dream home is via the services of an agent although, in this digital age, Italian property websites can at least give an idea of regional prices as well as what’s around.
Italian estate agents charge from three per cent of the purchase price to around eight per cent, with 22 per cent VAT added to the bill, but purchasers save on expensive solicitors’ fees due to the aforementioned legal obligation to manage the process in the proper manner. It’s crucial to ensue you’re working with a duly registered estate agent registered with the local Chamber of Commerce, as registration requires passing comprehensive examinations as well as knowledge of land registry and legal issues.
Unregistered agents have no legal responsibility should something go wrong and, more importantly, no insurance.
Expat property hunters have an amazing choice of location, whether it’s beachside, lakeside, in fertile valleys or rustic villages or even in the heart of ancient towns founded centuries ago. However, like all lifestyle changes, your retirement dream needs careful thought and preparation, including gathering information on the process of property purchase.
Every possible style of home is there, from apartments and townhouses through villas and even centuries-old village properties. Finding the perfect retirement home is the same anywhere in the world, with the estate agents’ saying, ‘location, location, location’, as important in Italy as it is in the home country. Local facilities such as transport, shops, medical services and suchlike need to be factored into the final decision, especially if you may be thinking of selling and moving on some years in the future.
There’s no prohibition for expats as regards buying a home in Italy, with current prices remaining at sensible levels, especially if you’re prepared to undertake some renovation and modernisation. As a general rule, the older the property the more beautiful, and bargains are frequently had by incomers looking for something different.
Home-buyers here find the process very different from that in the UK, as both the notary and real estate agent are, in effect, working for the purchaser rather than the seller and are both legally obliged to conduct a fair sale. The easiest way to find your dream home is via the services of an agent although, in this digital age, Italian property websites can at least give an idea of regional prices as well as what’s around.
Italian estate agents charge from three per cent of the purchase price to around eight per cent, with 22 per cent VAT added to the bill, but purchasers save on expensive solicitors’ fees due to the aforementioned legal obligation to manage the process in the proper manner. It’s crucial to ensue you’re working with a duly registered estate agent registered with the local Chamber of Commerce, as registration requires passing comprehensive examinations as well as knowledge of land registry and legal issues.
Unregistered agents have no legal responsibility should something go wrong and, more importantly, no insurance.
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