| The Italian
Lake District |
| By Lisa
Abdolian |
| Bob and Vicki
Kaiser were living in what many would consider paradise when they visited
the Italian Lake District and fell in love with the place. After some deliberation,
the couple sold their home in Kauai, Hawaii and bought an apartment in
a renovated 17th century villa between lake Como and Lake Lugano in northern
Italy.
According to
Bob Kaiser it was the best move they have ever made.
“We opened
a new chapter in our lives and it’s been great, we love it here,” he
said. “It isn’t easy, it’s humbling to learn a new language and difficult
to express who you are when you can’t communicate well. But we love the
intimacy of the Italian lakes and we love the Italian culture. Our neighbors
have been very welcoming and it is just a great life.” |
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| The Lake District
is one of the most romantic places in Italy.
Surrounded
by majestic snow-capped mountains, the deep glacial lakes provide an oasis
of calm and serenity. Hillsides are covered with olive groves, lemon trees
or date palms and banana trees. Rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and an
assortment of wildflowers provide colourful additions to the green hills
in the summertime.
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The three largest
lakes are Garda, Como and Maggiore. Each has a distinctly different flavor
and appeal. Quaint villages with narrow winding streets and local specialties
products are scattered around the lakes. |
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| And despite
recent purchases by celebrities such as George Clooney and Richard Gere,
the district has retained a small-village feel. Most travel books mention
the Lake District only in passing.
Those who
saw the film Ocean’s 11 were treated to a glimpse of Clooney’s posh Lake
Como house and the stunning views from his terrace. The simplicity
of life in the area is exemplified by the welcome Clooney received by locals.
He was happily embraced as a member of the community without fuss. He only
clashed with long-time residents when his celebrity status began to bring
unwanted attention to the quiet village near his home. They were also riled
when he tried to buy the local public beach. His attempt to alter the community’s
access to the lake caused so much fury that he pledged to maintain it and
to keep it open to the public.
“It is a
different life than in the U.S., much simpler in many ways,” Bob Kaiser
says. “George Clooney lives here and there are some very large mansions. |
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Offshore
Resources Gallery
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| But compared
to Americans, most Italians don’t have as much and they live simpler lives.
Their cars are smaller, most of their homes are not as big, but they are
proud of what they have and they keep it tidy.”
Of course intimacy
and proximity to George Clooney comes with a price. On average, property
costs between 2,000 and 5,000 euros per square meter, depending on the
location.
Lake views
command a higher price. It is possible to find a two-bedroom apartment
for around 180,000 euros, but a nice condo with lake access in a popular
area costs closer to 250,000 euros. Villas are difficult to find and are
expensive. It is unlikely you would find a house for less than 500,000
in the area.
It is not
difficult for foreigners to purchase property in Italy, but hiring
a qualified real estate agent is recommended. It is also advisable to carefully
search for a notary to represent your interests. Ralf Koklar has sold property
in the Lake District for more than 20 years. |
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| He recommends
that buyers hire a notary located two or three towns away from the property
of interest.
“The buyer
has to be very careful that there is not a conflict between the notary
and the property owner,” he said. “Find notary in a different town.
That doesn’t mean you have to go to Milan, but go 20 kilometers away and
ask very specific questions. If you don’t speak Italian, go with someone
who does.”
According to
Koklar the notary will check for future development slated for the area
and issues that might devalue the property. Notary fees are between 2 and
4 percent of the sale price and real estate fees are around 3 to 5 percent.
Most agents will help secure a tax identification number (codice fiscale)
for their clients. |
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| A codice fiscale
is extremely important and is required for nearly every business transaction
in Italy. Additionally, buyers must pay a value added tax of 10 percent
on non-luxury property and 20 percent for the higher end homes.
Koklar also
recommends asking the local tax office or an accountant commercialiste
for the “Valore Castale” (property value). The Valore Castale
may be very different from the sale price, but it will provide information
about the annual property tax rendered on the property, he said.
When purchasing
property in the Lake District, be aware of unanticipated hidden costs.
For example, the Kaisers discovered that while the winters are mild in
their new hometown, their apartment is not well insulated and is expensive
to heat.
“They use
propane to heat here and it’s quite expensive. It’s not like in the U.S.
where you heat every room all the time,” he said. “If we heated
the whole house to say 72 degrees full-time it would cost about 800 euros
a month. Instead, we heat some rooms, but not all and it costs us about
200-300 euros a month.” Space heaters warm in the rooms they don’t
heat.
Additionally,
the move from the U.S. to Italy was not easy. The couple spent a few years
shuttling back and forth from the U.S. to Italy before they were able to
settle visa requirements and obtain full-time permanent residency.
“There is
a lot of bureaucracy you have to deal with,” he said. “You really
have to be sure that you want to do it. If you’re sure it’s the right move
for you, then it is worth the time and energy.”
In order to
become a permanent resident of Italy, you must obtain a certificate of
good conduct. Americans must submit fingerprints to the FBI for a certificate
of good conduct and then apply for residency through an American consulate.
The Italian
government also requires proof that you can support yourself and that you
have a place to live in the country. A lease or property title is sufficient.
Then there
are other less pressing issues to consider -- such as the need to obtain
an Italian driver’s license (tests are given in Italian) within
a year of receiving permanent residency.
“I just
passed the test and it was like being a teen-ager again,” Kaiser said.
“It cost 600 euro because you are required to attend lessons and you
have to speak Italian so you can understand the classes. Driving around
here is really difficult. The roads are narrow and winding and you come
across everything imaginable – women pushing baby carriages, trucks, motorcycles,
and people on bicycles. You never know what’s around the next turn.”
In terms of
the cost of living, the Kaiser’s say food and supplies are less expensive
than they thought they would be. They eat well on a budget of about 320
euros a month.
Deciding
which lake you want to live near is a personal decision that should be
made with care. The Kaiser’s chose a location with relatively few ex-pats
nearby. There are other communities that are filled with native English-speakers,
Germans and Swiss. If possible spend a few months visiting the area before
making a purchase. A two-week vacation in the Lake District is very different
than settling there. Vacations tend to provide romanticized visions of
a perfect life without the reality of day-to-day hassles.
Still, Kaiser
says that while “living here has been very humbling and character-building
it is worth it. We have made friends; we play tennis, hike and enjoy exploring
the area. Lugano Switzerland is about 30 minutes away. We have made some
English-speaking friends and we enjoy playing tennis. Even in the winter
the sun is shining and it’s warm enough to play tennis.”
While the couple
visits the U.S. often, he says “when we visit the U.S. we miss it here
and can’t wait to come back. It’s really become our home.” |
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