House Hunting in Italy at the Speed of Light

So you want to live in Italy and, perhaps, buy a home there. So do my cousin Sonseere and I.

The purpose of our February trip was to discover places in Italy where we could live.  We each want our own place and hope to live near each other.  We want to experience la dolce vita,the sweet life, of living in Italy.

We both like the sun and sand in southern Italy.  But where would we live? Discovering a locale for our homes was the reason for our Blitzkrieg travel. We had ground to cover and not much time for sightseeing with only two weeks.

As a side note, I have had a Minnesota Real Estate License for over 30 years. I understand buying in the US.  I have had many transferee clients spend a weekend in the Minneapolis area and buy a home that weekend.  I have built homes for over a thousand families and I, personally, have bought and sold 7 homes for myself and daughter.

However, what is it like in Italy?  How do we go about this process?

Some things remain the same.

1. Location! Location! Location! It is just as important in Italy as it is in the USA.  Sonseere and I searched a huge area to reveal our preferences.  What we found out was that Sonseere preferred the east coast in Abruzzo whereas I prefer the west coast between Lazio and Campania. I want a town where I can walk everywhere and where there is an easily accessible train station for quick getaways. Sonseere plans to own a car in Italy.
2. What type of home do you desire? That is the same need everywhere.  In the beginning Sonseere preferred a single family home with age and character. She also wanted to be right on the ocean or with a great view of it.   I prefer a modest apartment with low maintenance and a view of the sea.  Depending on cost, I could forego the view of the sea if I can feel and smell the salt sea air and walk to the beach.
3. What is your budget? This is a defining question in your home search. My budget is quite modest.  I want to be able to fly back to the states a couple times/year to see my daughter and granddaughter. And I want money to travel elsewhere. I could live in a 1-bedroom home if the living room is big enough for a sofa bed or Murphy bed for guests.  And I need Air Conditioning.  Sonseere wants a home big enough for her 3 girls and their families to visit.
4. When will you actually relocate? I set a goal to be in Italy by the end of this year.  Sonseere hopes to be in Italy by summer. Therefore, everything we looked at will probably be gone before we can make the commitment.

Some things are very different.

1. Property conditions vary greatly.  What the Italians consider “acceptable” we often find troublesome.  What’s a little water damage anyway?  Maybe the veranda is falling off—you can fix that, no problem.  Sure you can knock down a wall—an 18” thick concrete block wall. My favorite close by one agent was: “You can live in one corner of the palazzo while you finish the other 8 rooms. Take your time. No problem.”
2. Distance can be deceptive.  Yes, as the crow flies we are only 15 kilometers from the beach.  When you drive to that hill town, you discover it is an hour drive for any sane driver.
3. Home owners are always at the property when you see it.  In the states we strongly discourage home owners from being present during the viewing of their home. It affects how the clients envision the home.
4. There is no multiple listing service. Realtors in the US have access to EVERY property listed by all agents in our area.  We can show any of them with an appointment.  In Italy, you must use several different agents in each area.  Most do not cooperate with other agents.  And when they do, I have a suspicion that they add to the price for the extra commission payout. This is very time consuming and frustrating.

We only had two weeks to hunt.  We went as fast as we could.  We visited at least 10 towns in 14 days. It was quite the learning experience.

I’ll be returning in June to look again.  If I do not find an idea location at that time, I will return and rent a place for a month to search for what I want.  Once I find it, I will lease it or buy it.  And then I will deal with the incredible, overwhelming paperwork process we need to accomplish.  Where is la dolce vita I seek?

Ciao for now!