Italy has never ceased to captivate people from other countries, especially speakers of English. They begin to see their former homes as sunless and dull, their former lives as restricted and puritanical. They see themselves changing in expected ways, becoming perhaps more alive, even hedonistic or, in other instances, more scholarly or more deeply religious. For a few the changes are intimidating, but often the newcomer begins to see Italy as a new kind of home and looks for ways to stay longer or permanently.  Bureaucratic restrictions aside, Italy is easier for expats than some countries. Although Italians have much to be proud of, they are not snobs. They are gracious and forgiving of foreigners errors and eccentricities. One of their outstanding virtues is that they understand what it means to be human. The language is not difficult, and besides, Italians communicate with gestures and facial expressions more than with words. They touch more than people from elsewhere. While other peoples learn to hide emotions, Italians express them openly. Orson Wells once noted that Italy is full of actors and they are almost all good. Writing in The Italians, Luigi Barzini observes that Italians are always putting on a show, that they regard life itself as a work of art. Flattery is commonplace: the tailor admires your figure; the dentist, your teeth. Polite lies are just as common. The cobbler tells you that your shoes will be ready on Thursday because he wants you to go away content.  - Italy - Beyond the Illusion By Ruth Halcomb

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Real Estate In Italy Real Estate Listings For Italy - Current Listings   -  Prices vary from north to south, you can find bargains in Italy, farm houses in Italy, and cheap places to live in Italy. It is also easy to find prices that are outrageous.  Italy is full of surprises.  One doesn't go there looking for bargains, but for the 'sense of life' that is Italian.  If you find a bargain,  great, there is no doubt that you will find a superior ambience and great food.  - Italy has a diversified industrial economy with high gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and developed infrastructure. According to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the CIA World Factbook, in 2010 Italy was the 7th-largest economy in the world and the 4th-largest in Europe in terms of nominal GDP, and the 10th-largest economy in the world and 5th-largest in Europe in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP. Also see Real Estate in Europe Real Estate By Type - Islands, B&B's, Restaurants List Your Property In The Marketplace Vineyards For Sale Worldwide

Articles on Living & Investing in Italy

Expats Living in Italy By Julie R Butler  -  An interview with 4 expat couples and singles who live in Italy.  - - I’m originally from the United States, and way back when, I came from Georgia. I’ve been married to my active duty military husband for 15 years, so in that time, we’ve lived all over the U.S. His job is what brought me to Naples, Italy, but it’s long been a dream of ours to have an overseas duty station. One of the things I love about living here is the chance to walk among ancient history in my daily life. On any given day, I can walk by a lake where the Roman fleet was headquartered, visit one of the Sybil caves, or snorkel over ruins of grand, Roman villas. Life takes on new meaning when we have the opportunity to see ourselves fitting into a fabric of history only studied about as young schoolchildren. And of course, I love the sheer access to travel throughout Italy and the rest of Europe.  -  MORE > > >

How to get a Permit to Stay in Italy – The Process By Brooke Porter  -  This article details the process for obtaining the most critical document for anyone wishing to stay over 90 days in Italy, the permesso di soggiorno. Compared to the immigration systems of other governments, the Italian immigration process is relatively easy and simplified by different versions of visas and stay permits such as permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay). For this process, reason should be immediately abandoned as the associated scavenger hunt will have you purchasing stamps at cigarette stores and possibly swearing unnecessary oaths. Being married to an Italian helps expedite the process and being married to an Italian with the patience of a Saint helped accomplish the process. To reside in Italy is a pleasure like none other and people stay for a variety of reasons. The visa options reflect this diversity and applicants may choose options ranging from being a foreigner to family or religion. It should be noted that most visitors wishing to stay past a tourist visa are covered by the options afforded by the permesso di soggiorno. Simple geometric order required for basic traffic flow, lines or cues is not one of Italy’s achievements. An antiquity in the states, the ticket dispensers help alleviate throngs common to places of public commerce and are common throughout Italy popping up anywhere from meat counters and flea markets to the post office. For the purposes of simple inquiry or a quick question, it is unnecessary to take a number for cue; in every other case, collect a number.  MORE > > >

Where Can You Find Affordable Retirement Real Estate Around the World? Part Four: Europe By Susan Beverley  -  It’s a myth that all of Italy is overpriced and inaccessible when it comes to property.  There are regions of this fabulously stunning nation where you can afford to buy real estate – such as Abruzzo and Calabria for example.  Abruzzo is a coastal region halfway down the nation, and Calabria can be considered the toe of the boot of the country, (look at a map if you don’t know what we mean!). In Abruzzo you can buy an apartment in a genuine medieval house!  The apartment is ready to move in to, it has one bedroom and perhaps the best thing about it is the original features that it has in abundance.  From vaulted ceilings to natural stone door surrounds this apartment has great character.  It also has stunning views across the village and the valleys surrounding it.  It’s on the market for 62,288 US dollars and it’s in the village of L’Aquila. In Calabria you can purchase a two-bedroom apartment within a communal resort which benefits from swimming pools, an on-site supermarket and bar, and you can have the most fantastic sea views from your large terrace area.  The garden apartment is quite new and therefore in very good condition – and because it is within a ready-made community, you will not struggle to make friends and meet people.  The property is in San Nicola Arcella and it is on the market for 81,874 US dollars.  MORE > > >

Living In Italy Like An Aristocrat - Lake Como: The Lake of the Rich and Famous  -  If you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake Como, Italy, then get ready for a seriously lavish lifestyle.  From world-class Michelin-starred restaurants to a wealth of yachting and fishing, Lake Como enjoys a well-deserved reputation for five-star fun surrounded by the pinnacle of lakefront luxury. There’s no denying that the most fabulous amenity in Lake Como is its lake sports.  Locals and tourists alike enjoy kite surfing, sailing and wind-surfing, which is perfect for the active older family.  Your waterfront property in Lake Como will allow you unprecedented access to enjoy yachting and fishing; in fact, many locals boast that the fishing from Lake Como is among the best in the world.  You can head out from your lakefront property in the morning, enjoy fishing all afternoon, and bring your catch home in time for dinner in the beautiful Italian twilight.  Note that you’ll need a fishing license from your provincial office. If you consider yourself more of a culture vulture, then Lake Como is right up your alley.  Ancient Roman ruins and mysterious monasteries cut an impressive figure on the hills of Lake Como, adding an air of romance and intrigue to your lakefront property.  Visit the Sacro Monte di Ossuccio, a monastery which contains fifteen chapels (all constructed in the 15th-century Baroque-style) and a dedication to the Coronation of the Virgin.  It’s a UNESCO world heritage site that should be on the must-see of every Lake Como resident.  MORE > > >

Il Mezzogiorno: Southern Italy's Charm By Jamie Douglas  -  If you are drawn to mild winters and warm people, then southern Italy could be for you. Once you get below Naples and Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea or Andria and Bari on the Adriatic Sea, you are in a different Italy that is much more laid back than busy Milano, Rome, and the other industrial centers to the north. Il Mezzogiorno (meaning Midday) as the region is known offers plenty to keep the nomadic expat glued to this historical and scenic area.  Starting in the northern part of this region, we have the picture postcard town of Amalfi, a very popular tourist destination, a fact that somewhat distracts from its natural charm during the high season, what with all the visitors you have to share this UNESCO World Heritage Site with. The Amalfi Coast occupies the southern part of the Sorrentine Peninsula, and is blessed with a mild Mediterranean climate. There is only one way to get here, and it is along the winding Strada Statale 163, 25 miles of breathtaking scenery. While the area offers all the usual tourist services such as hotels and restaurants, it is not really suited for a long term stay unless you are loaded. Strictly commercial would describe it well.  MORE > > >

Before You Become An Expat Find Out About White, Grey, & Black 2nd Passports  -  I am frequently asked by folks about how to acquire a 2nd passport.  As you may imagine there are a multitude of ways to acquire one, some good, some bad, some ugly.  In this article we will discuss a general overview of what I consider the 3 categories of 2nd passports and how they are acquired. For the purpose of this article, I have classified them into 3 categories:  White, Grey, and Black.  Please be advised, this is not a recommendation for either category, only generalized information to help you make the right choice on direction as well as pitfalls to avoid. White 2nd Passport.  A white 2nd passport is divided up among 3 subcategories; ancestral or cultural, naturalization, or economic. Acquiring a 2nd passport through ancestral or cultural methods is typically the easiest and least costly way to go about the process.  For example, if your parents or grandparents are from Ireland, you have the ability to (relatively) easily acquire citizenship and a passport from Ireland.  The same holds true for many European countries.  An EU passport is widely accepted around the world and is an excellent travel document. If you can acquire citizenship and a passport through one of these methods, this is highly recommended.  In many cases it is as simple as filling out some forms and submitting the recommended documentation like birth certificates.

Emigration & Retirement in Italy  -  But what of those buyers looking for a different kind of property in Italy? Where do you look to buy if you are not keen on renovating your own property? Italy is notoriously short of new-build properties on the kind of developments that attract foreign buyers. However, the most traditional part of the country, and the area that is often derided by other Italians as being backward, is leading the way in allowing developers to create coastal projects and build the kind of properties that attract people who are not necessarily Italophiles from the outset. Calabria, along with the other southern provinces of Italy, has been leading the way in these new developments, aiming at a market sector that has previously been left to other countries in Europe to service. Rather than trying to sell the Italian culture or lifestyle, these new developments are aimed at those buyers who are looking for a property in a warmer climate, near the sea, and with good rental potential. Many of these buyers are not concerned by buying in any particular country, and are prepared to be flexible to get the best deal. These new developments are not on the same scale as what can be found elsewhere in southern Europe, but are smaller, more intimate developments of a few villas or apartments set around communal leisure facilities. They are mostly low-rise in nature in order to protect the coast from excessive overbuilding, and being the first into the area, are mostly very close to the beaches. Some properties have been available for as little as €122,355 (£96,650) for a one bedroom apartment.   MORE > > >

Find Out Why Being an Expat Is So Fantastic (Hint: Your Expat Taxes!)  -  Imagine if you could live in a tropical paradise US tax free – you can!  There are a number of benefits that you can take advantage of on your expat taxes to save and protect your income.  We will discuss the main ones here, but it is highly recommended that if you want to maximize the savings on your expat taxes you should seek expert expat tax advice. The Foreign Income Exclusion – This allow US expats who are earning money abroad to exclude up to $92,900 of their income from US taxation (this doubles if you are married). This is the most common and arguably the most profitable tax savings tool you can us on your expat taxes.  If you combine this with the Foreign Housing Deduction, which allows you to deduct things like rent, utilities and insurance, they you and your spouse may be able to avoid paying taxes on over $250,000 of income each year! LEGALLY! The Foreign Tax Credit is also a great tool, but unfortunately you will need to be paying taxes to someone to take advantage of it. The foreign tax credit gives you a Dollar for Dollar tax credit for any taxes you have paid to a foreign government.  Basically, if you have a good income someplace like Europe where taxes are high, then this will ensure that you are not taxed by two governments leaving you with the scraps.

8 Signs that the US Government is Making it Harder For You to Become an Expat  -  One of the most common reasons for wanting to expatriate from the United States is the concern about government overreach. Many feel that the expansion of government in recent years has been chipping away at the freedom and liberty that the country was founded upon. What with more and more agencies, regulations, surveillance, and mandates, the right to privacy and self - determination is steadily shrinking right along with financial outlooks. So, are you among the increasing number of people who feel that the only real solution is to get out of the country? Well, using the exact same tactics that are driving you away, the government appears intent on preventing you from leaving. Changes that have recently been put in place as well as proposals for future changes in rules and regulations might be intended to discourage. But they might also drive your resolve to take your destiny into your own hands and do whatever it takes to make your move overseas.

“FOR SALE”: Old Castles in Europe - Fixing-up is in most cases unavoidable. But problems with municipal services, historical building authorities, and countless other unforeseeable issues can create headaches, hence the need for a good and reliable consultant who can handle the job for the buyer. Financing should be in place beforehand so that you can plop down a deposit if you find your dream castle. The purchase process takes about a month and is handled by a notary who in Europe is the equivalent of an attorney. The writer of this article, together with three partners, bought a castle near Leipzig in Saxony and has first hand experience of what is involved in buying and running it. The author of this article, together with associate Manfred Pawlik (specialist in castle restoration) and Englishman Stephen Ferrada, both of whom have valuable experience related to buying and restoring historic property, have all bought their own dream properties in East Germany. The highs and lows of castle ownership, the tears and laughter, have all been experienced.

What’s Motivating You to Move Abroad and How Far Will You Leave America Behind? - According to data from the IRS relating to the number of Americans who renounce their citizenship annually, the numbers are dramatically on the increase. More than 200 Americans turned their back on the United States in 2008, 731 made the exceptionally difficult decision to renounce their citizenship in 2009, and in 2010 1,485 individuals gave up their right to an American passport, according to ‘corrected totals’ from renunciationguide.com. When you consider that an estimated 5.2 million Americans currently live abroad, you would be forgiven for thinking that these figures are an insignificant fraction barely worthy of comment – however, according to the New York Times: “waiting periods to meet with consular officers to formalize renunciations have grown.”  What’s more, where once even just the thought of turning your back on your nation was regarded as treasonous, nowadays the possibility is openly discussed amongst American expatriate groups both online and offline. With this thought in mind, we decided to interview a number of our readers who are currently actively planning their move overseas or who have recently relocated.  We wanted to know what the motivating factors are for each soon-to-be expatriate for their proposed relocation – and whether any Americans now living abroad were considering taking their move to the next level and renouncing their US citizenship altogether…after all, what is it that pushes people to take such drastic action?

	Archive Articles On Living In Italy
	Dream Of Living In Tuscany With Eyes Wide Open -
	Ten Days Under the Tuscan Sun and in the Shade of Umbria -
	A Woman, A Child, And An Italian Hill Town ~ Taking Off For Italy -
	Living In Italy - Beyond the Illusion By Ruth Halcomb  -
	Affording to Live in Italy with an Italian Mortgage -
	Apartment Hunting in Venice: Learning The Ins & Outs Of Renting In Venice
	More Articles On Living & Investing In Italy -