Italy is one of the most enchanting countries in Europe and possibly the most alluring of all, with more than its fair share of ravishing landscapes and stunning towns. As a location for a holiday, retirement or permanent home it has few rivals, and in addition to a wide choice of properties and generally good value for money, it offers a fine climate for most of the year. After having decided to buy a home in Italy, your first tasks will be to choose the region and what sort of home to buy. If you’re unsure where and what to buy, the best decision is usually to rent for a period.

Among the many things that attract homebuyers to Italy are the good value for money of rural property (provided you avoid the more fashionable areas) and the wonderful architecture and character of Italian homes. Architecturally, Italy is among the most beautiful countries in the world and many foreigners cherish the neglected 17th to 19th century buildings that abound throughout the country.

Many Italians have a city apartment (which may be rented) and a weekend house in the country, although they tend to choose modern homes rather than the old farmhouses and village houses favoured by many foreigners. 

There’s a steady demand in Italy for retirement and second homes, from both Italians and foreigners, although there are few purpose-built, holiday-home developments, such as are common in France, Spain and the USA.

Italy boasts a huge range of properties to suit every pocket and taste. A slice of la dolce vita needn’t cost the earth, with habitable cottages and terraced village homes available from around Lit. 90 million, modern apartments from around Lit. 100 million and large country homes from as little as Lit. 140 million. However, if you’re seeking a home with a large plot of land and a swimming pool you will need to spend at least Lit. 250 million (depending on the area); for those with the financial resources the sky’s the limit, with luxury apartments in Rome and villas on the Italian Riviera costing billions of lire.

From a legal point of view, Italy is one of the safest countries in Europe in which to buy a home and buyers have a high degree of protection under Italian law. However, you should take the usual precautions regarding contracts, deposits and obtaining proper title.

Many people have had their fingers burnt by rushing into property deals without proper care and consideration. It’s all too easy to fall in love with the beauty and allure of Italy and sign a contract without giving it sufficient thought. If you’re uncertain, don’t allow yourself to be rushed into making a hasty decision, e.g. by fears of an imminent price rise or because someone else is interested in a property.

Although many people dream of buying a holiday or retirement home in Italy, it’s vital to do your homework thoroughly and avoid the ‘dream sellers’ who will happily prey on your ignorance and tell you anything in order to sell you a home.

The vast majority of people who buy a home in Italy don’t obtain independent legal advice and most of those who experience problems take no precautions whatsoever. Of those who do take legal advice, many do so only after having paid a deposit and signed a contract or, more commonly, after they have run into problems. 

The most important point to bear in mind when buying property in Italy (or anywhere) is to obtain expert legal advice from someone who’s familiar with Italian law. As when buying property in any country, you should never pay any money or sign anything without first taking legal advice. You’ll find the relatively small cost (in comparison with the cost of a home) to be excellent value for money, if only for the peace of mind it affords. Trying to cut corners to save a few lire on legal costs is foolhardy in the extreme when a large sum of money is at stake.

Italian homes and living standards used to be very basic, particularly in rural areas, where many homes had no bathroom or toilet. However, with the huge rise in the standard (and cost!) of living in the last few decades, Italian homes have been transformed and today’s average Italian is better housed than many other Europeans. In cities, people generally live in apartments, houses being rare and prohibitively expensive.

Italian apartments are usually surprisingly small and it’s unusual to find apartments with four or more bedrooms and even three-bedroom apartments aren’t easy to find. Most do, however, have two bathrooms. New detached homes (called villas) are generally luxurious internally, but often have bland or even ugly exteriors. In contrast to modern homes, old buildings are an architectural delight and contain a wealth of attractive period features. Whether old or new, Italians take great pride in their homes and no expense is spared to make them comfortable and beautiful.

Homes in Italy are as varied as the climate and people, but one thing they all have in common is sturdy building materials.

Bathrooms are usually fitted with a toilet, washbasin (lavandino), bidet and a shower (doccia) or bath (vasca), or perhaps a bath with a shower attachment. Luxury homes often have a Jacuzzi (idromassaggio). When there’s no separate utility or laundry room (lavanderia), the hotwater heater (scaldabagno) and washing machine (lavatrice) are usually stored in the main ‘service’ (servizio) bathroom.

Italian homes are completely empty when purchased, except perhaps for the bathroom porcelain and the kitchen sink. All the furnishings, appliances and white goods are chosen and bought by the new owner, who can have the kitchen fitted by a local carpenter-artisan or buy factory-produced kitchen cabinets. 

Ovens may be electric or mains gas (which is available in most urban areas) and country properties may also have an outside pizza/bread oven (forno a legna) and sometimes a tinello or taverna that acts as family room or a summer kitchen/dining room. Very few Italians use clothes dryers (the sun and wind suffice), but washing machines are as common as TVs. If you live in a rural area you may find a public washhouse (lavatoio), which is good for washing voluminous things such as curtains in addition to being a good place to catch up on local gossip and for summer swimming for children.

In old rural homes, the fireplace (camino) plays an important role, being used for heating and cooking as well as for atmosphere. (Most city dwellers dream of having a fireplace, while many country homeowners would like to have central heating!) Sometimes the fireplace surround is missing as old buildings are often ‘stripped’ of architectural detail, although replacements can be bought from architectural salvage dealers. However, an old fireplace surround in marble or peperino will cost between Lit. 3 and 10 million, although a local artisan can make a new one to order for much less. If you suspect that a room once had a fireplace, you can ‘sound’ the walls to find the flue, which can then be reopened. Windows are usually protected with shutters, which are usually closed at night to keep the heat in and prying eyes out. In city apartments they are known as tapparelle or avvolgenti (rolling shutters) and are made of metal, wood or plastic slats.

Before deciding to buy a home in Italy, it’s advisable to do extensive research and read a number of books especially written for those planning to buy real estate, or live or work there, such as Buying a Home in Italy and Living and Working in Italy, both published by Survival Books (www.survivalbooks.net). Bear in mind that the cost of investing in a few books or magazines (and other research) is tiny compared with the expense of making a big mistake. However, don’t believe everything you read!

The author - David Hampshire is the author or numerous books on living, working and investing overseas. His website features his highly - acclaimed, best-selling series of Survival Handbooks - C L I C K   H E R E