THE IDEAL PLACE TO CALL HOME

Italy is popular to many for very different reasons. Very few people can resist a land where the sun shines brightly. It is never too hot and never too cold. Finding the ideal place to call home is a simple matter of finding the region of Italy that matches your personal preferences. It is simply a question of deciding if you want to live in the city such as in Milan or along the coast like in Liguria. Maybe you prefer to live in the mountains, perhaps on the Northern part of the country such as in Lombardy.

Italy is a country of living history. You will find Medieval, Etruscan and Latin influences in the people and its artifacts. The people are warm, passionate and artistic. They drive fast cars, have delicious, absolutely wonderful food and still keep a very relaxed life style. It is excellent for those who want to just have a holiday home or those who want to retire full time.

No matter what you prefer or your needs, there is a space in Italy that is perfect for you.

CHOOSING A REGION OF ITALY

Italy is a land of regions. This is due to the history of this country. Keep in mind that this country was a land of warring city states that only became one country in 1861. Choosing a property in Italy means choosing a region of the country as well; the flavor of each area being similar on a regional basis and not based on their local dialects.

Northwestern Italy

This area of Italy provides diversity indeed. It is linked to France so it gets quite a bit of traffic. Piedmont or Piemonte is located at the foot of the mountains. It is an area best known for its skiing.

Liguria on the other hand is known as the Italian Riviera. The city of Genoa is the main attraction here. It is the picture perfect sea port often seen on postcards.

While Liguria has seaside resorts, Lombardy has the lakes and the Medieval Towns. It also has the fashion capital of Italy, Milan.

Northeast Italy

Venice is the best known place in this region but there is much, much more to this area than the city of gondolas. If food is your passion then Northeast Italy is where you want to be. Bologna in Emilia-Romagna has the best Italian dishes. This is the home of the Pizza Margherite.

Northeast Italy being near the mountains offers skiing. It also offers chalets, castles and beautiful villas. If you’ve ever dreamt of owning your own castle, take a look around this region.

Central Italy

When many people are asked to describe Italy, they speak of pretty little towns and farms located on hilltops. This is the area of which most of them speak. Tuscany in particular has captured many a visitor’s heart which is why many choose to have their second home here.

This area houses Umbria, Marche and Rome and property here is not as expensive as in Milan or Florence. The scene is more pastoral and most of those who look for homes in this region are those who want less hustle and bustle.

Southern Italy

Italy is shaped like a boot and Southern Italy forms the heel, sole and toe of the country. This is the area that has the kind of Italian people most of us have met living in our neighborhoods. Ironically, quite a number of them come form this region looking for adventure and opportunity, maybe even a change of scene. Thus there are properties available for those visitors tired of living in less hospitable climate.

This is an area for those who want warm weather all year round. The Isle of Capri is located in this region as are Naples and Sicily. Properties available in this area are usually located in the villages and near the mountains. The site of Pompeii is also located here. Beach property is unlikely to be available in this very popular area but there are many little explored villages that may just have what you are looking for.

There are hundreds of reasons why Italy is high on the list of locations for dream homes. This country has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and some of the most passionate people. So you fell in love with the place and have decided to call it home – at least part of the time.

Before you go running off to Italy and buying the first available property for sale, decide where in the country you would like to have your new home. This will help focus on the area you like best.

If you have friends, or family who already have property in the area, ask them about their area. Ask questions as well about the experience they had when they were buying their property. It will help you prepare for the actual process.

Thanks to the internet, you don’t need to go all the way to Italy to go hunting for your piece of paradise. It is far easier for you to use the internet and work with some of the excellent real estate agents available online. That doesn’t mean though that you shouldn’t go and take an actual look at the site you have chosen. Nothing will ever beat seeing any property for yourself.

It takes a minimum of four weeks from the time you sign the compromesso or pre-contract before you may actually own the property of your choice. A compromesso is actually nothing more than an indication that you and the seller have come to an agreement pending that everything is in order. Barring any impediments, you and your seller will meet in front of the notaio for the property sale.

It never hurts to have a lawyer to double check any contracts you sign. With something as important as buying property, it makes absolute sense for you to have not just your personal lawyer, but an Italian lawyer as well. Your Italian lawyer will know the local laws far better than your regular advisor and can better help you ensure that everything is in order with the sale. With any luck you’ll get a great property at a great price without any hassle.

Italy may not occupy much space on a map but it is still one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Once people have visited this beautiful country, they cannot forget her. Some choose to make Italy a permanent part of their lives by finding their piece of this paradise to call home.

One of the first reasons that people buy property in Italy is the weather. There is something to be said for living where the sun shines brightly every day. Something in our bones just responds to the fact that we can feel the warmth of the sun on our face and see its bright rays. It is a healing all its own.

Warm does not describe only the weather in Italy. It also describes the people, which is another reason people choose to call Italy home as well. Italians are a passionate and very voluble people. They can instantly make you feel like they’ve known you for a long time even if you just met.

Food is a major reason why people flock to Italy. Italy has some of the best dishes which are actually quite healthy. There is more to eat in Italy than just pizza and pasta. Their desserts for one are absolutely heavenly.

Many of those who come to Italy do so because they love the flow of life in this country. La dolce vita (the good life) is often the way that life here is perceived. The pace here is not frantic even though Italians drive very fast. Generally people still take their time and a siesta is very much a part of their routine. This is definitely a great place to take a vacation and get away from the normal hurried pace of city living in most countries.

Beauty is a natural thing to Italy. It is in the blood of the people. They make art very much a part of their lifestyle. Everywhere you look, you can see the work of craft masters, from the stone and glass that form the structure of the home to the furnishings that make life comfortable. There are many great Italian painters and their works are on display in many museums. In Italy, you are walking through a living museum of art everyday.

So why not buy property in Italy? There is no reason not to.