Buyers of property in Italy used to look no further than the hills of Tuscany, but these days the Italian property market has much more to offer. From the mountains of the Alps to the toe of its “boot”, Italy’s diverse regions have an equally diverse selection of property with which to tempt foreigners buying property in Italy.
Tuscany, in particular the Chianti region, has some of the countrys most beautiful and expensive property. Buyers of property in Italy looking for their own idyllic rural property in Italy have subsequently sought cheaper alternatives in the nearby regions of Umbria and Marche. In recent years they’ve been looking further south, with Apulia on the east coast offering an inexpensive option to those buying property in Italy.
Further south still is Calabria, the property hotspot in Italy of the moment. For years a holiday region that the Italians largely kept to themselves, it is being transformed to international acclaim by substantial development with numerous reasonably priced property projects around resorts such as Scalea and Tropea.
For those buying property in Italy with bigger budgets, Italy offers a number of options. The famous lakes of Maggiore, Garda and Como boast stunning scenery and A-list homeowners like George Clooney. Rome and Venice are two of the world’s most cultured cities, with tourism providing a potentially lucrative property rental audience. Campania’s Amalfi Coast is home to some of the most picturesque property in Italy.
Undoubtedly the diversity of property in Italy appealing to foreign buyers today is down to the introduction of countless low-cost air routes, making many regions much more easily accessible. Buying a property in Italy is now within reach of many UK buyers, and they have a daunting choice.
Key Facts
Population: 58,145,321
Capital: Rome
Languages: Italian
Area (km2): 301,230
Currency: euro
Exchange rate: £1 = €1.25
Dialling Code: +39
Emergency services: 112
Embassy in UK: http://www.amblondra.esteri.it/Ambasciata_Londra
Health
The Italian health service is much better than its reputation. For the most part, Italy’s health service is cheap and pretty good, with English-speaking medical staff widely available. That said, many Brits still prefer to take out private health insurance when visiting
Travel
All major airports in Italy are very well connected, with year-round cheap flights available from most regional airports around the UK. Some destinations do not, however, have direct links with the UK as yet, but this could well change in the future
TOP TIP
Be careful when considering taking out an Italian mortgage. Most are only offered on a repayment basis (interest-only mortgages like those common in the UK are not generally available) and are usually for 15 years, rather than the 25 years offered in Britain
The Homes Overseas Guide to Buying Property in Italy has advice on the legal and financial aspects of buying property in Italy, plus regional overviews and information on the process for buying property in Italy.
Read our articles offering independent expert advice about buying or investing in property in Italy:
well as our overseas property news affecting the market for property in Italy, the Homes Overseas Guide to Buying Property in Italy or view our range of property in Italy.