Coverage

A buying agent can be for you, the property buyer, the most important tool in finding your property in Italy, especially in terms of location. Often buyers focus on specific properties too early on in the process at the cost of location. Remember, you can remodel a bathroom, landscape a lawn or renovate the facciata, but it is much harder to change the location if you got it wrong at the outset.

- Because we cover such a large area in Italy, we can offer cross the board comparisons between regions and areas within these regions. Because of out in-depth local knowledge we can suggest locations you were not even aware of or considered but genuinely meet your requirements.

- We really listen to what you say and are in a position to give you completely independent advice on not only the best property but also the best location for you.

- We are an honest broker, meaning when there are negatives about a location or property we make sure you are aware of them.



Lombardy

Milan
Italy's finance and fashion capital. There's a buzz of activity in and around the city as it gears up for the Expo 2015, predicted to create around 70,000 new jobs for the 29 million visitors forecast to attend the six-month long event, property values are expected to increase further.

San Pellegrino
With huge investment pouring in, this spa town, home of the famous mineral water, is to become an exclusive 7-star spa resort, up and running in time for the Milan 2015 Expo.

Provincial cities
Termed as cities of art, Lombardy has a wealth of provincial capitals, all with historic centres, offering plenty in terms of art and culture (and shopping). Here is just one example well worth a closer look:

The northern Lakes
Lake Como, in particular, has become a very popular spot to buy. Resale values are good and property prices have risen along the lake. The area does not allow rampant property development so demand is always high for what is available. Take a look at the lesser known Lake Iseo, situated between Como and Garda, which offers all the beauty of Como but is quieter and property prices are lower. Going eastwards, Lake Garda, close to Verona (Sirmione is just 45kms away) remains a perennial favourite.

Oltrepò Pavese
Oltrepò Pavese is an undiscovered wine growing area south of Pavia, known to Italians as ‘Little Tuscany’. The area offers rolling hills and vineyards for much lower prices than more famous regions such as Tuscany. Easily accessible from the Milan airports and being close to the A21 it makes a great base – the Ligurian coast is only an hour away for example.

The Alps and pre-Alps
Lombardy is home to well-known ski resorts like Ponte di Legno – Adamello; with its brand new cable car the resort now gives you 100 kms of skiing without taking your skis off, as well as the ski slopes in undiscovered Valtellina, just south of the Swiss border, in the heart of the Italian Alps. Bormio, a beautiful spa town with outdoor hot pools used even in winter, offers a Liberty-style spa and Roman baths, shops and restaurants.

In summer hiking in the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio, a protected nature reserve, is very popular.

Veneto

Venice
The highlight of the region of Veneto: Not only is there the city itself but its location makes it an ideal base to access skiing in the Dolomites and the coast, and with the mainline railway arriving right on the Grand Canal Milan other cities are easily within reach.

Venice is one of the few cities in the world that can claim a genuine 12-month season and while there are two seasons they are high and very high, making it an attractive buy-to-let destination.

Verona
Here is just one of the cities of art in Veneto well worth closer examination:

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and definitely a ‘city of art’; as such recommended to buy in, with the Arena season running from June to September and that famous Romeo and Juliet balcony. Located in the Veneto region, on the A4 motorway, with its own airport, it’s close to Lake Garda, and the A22 motorway takes you up into the Dolomites for skiing and walking. In the centro storico the market has witnessed demand coming above all from those buying for investment.

Trento

The Alps
In Trento, Madonna de Campiglio offers slopes to suit all levels of proficiency as well as being home to the annual 3-Tre world cup race.

Tuscany

Tuscany, synonymous with rolling hills and Cyprus trees, has become a world-famous location to buy in.

Florence
Florence is one of the most visited cities in Italy, attracting over 10 million visitors annually. Following steep rises in property prices the Florence market is currently stationary and some sources show slight decreases with buyers adopting more of a wait and see attitude. However, properties in the city centre always attract a lot of investors with one and two room apartments being most in demand to rent to tourists, students and business visitors. Highest prices in the centre are in historic palazzi around Santa Croce or Duomo.

Siena
Within the walls of this historic town prices can easily reach over €20k per m2, especially near the famous Piazza del Campo. In addition to foreign buyers, the market is buoyant thanks to the presence of a university, a famous hospital and the many banks. Other towns to consider include Viareggio, with its long, sandy beaches and a popular place for sailing, Grosseto, set in a beautiful area, the Maremma, a nature park close to the sea, Volterra and smaller borghi such as San Gimignano.

Emilia Romagna

The Colline Piacentine
Below Piacenza, at the top of Emilia Romagna, the colline piacentine are made up of three main valleys, Val Tidone, which borders Oltrepò, on the edge of Lombardy, Val Trebbia and Val Nure, with Val D’Arda the closest to Parma.

The landscape at the beginning of these valleys is more gentle rolling hills and vineyards as you leave the plain, but as you progress into the valleys it becomes more mountainous as you get into the Apennines.

Prices for property are very much lower than in Tuscany, and the area is an excellent location for major cities, such as Milan or Parma, up to the lakes and mountains, taking the A21 motorway from Piacenza, or in the other direction, to the sea in Liguria.