Tag: getting residency in Italy

Ciao amici (friends)!

First of all thank you for helping us make our Youtube channel so popular! Pete and I are over the moon to be contact with so many people who are jumping in to make their dreams come true and we are blessed that we can help.

Thank you also for your questions because this tells me what you need and want in terms of information and we can then get you the correct data.

All of this data and, in fact, everything you need to know to purchase property and move to Italy are outlined in our online video course and Ebook. The course is light and fun and with the Ebook you can highlight and tab important pages and information so you can refer to it easily. Click here for the details about our course.

Recently many people have written asking what they need to do to retire in Italy, especially in Calabria.

The process is not difficult but as with anything, there are steps.

1. Decide where you want to be.

   Italy is so diverse and every area seems to be wildly different than the other areas. Each has its own personality, culture and climate and somewhere in italy there is a place that is perfect for you.

   To begin, start Googling the different areas. If you want something more Alpine in nature and more Austrian/Swiss in character, look North in the areas of Piedmonte and Lombardy.

   If you want something more Mediterranean in feel, look south to Calabria, Abruzzo, Puglia and Basilicata. This is where you find the stunning beaches, the hot peppers, the very traditional Italian lifestyle. The South features influences from Albania and Greece and was the home of the Magna Graecia. It has a rich history as does all of Italy.

   

2. Find a good real estate agent

   In Italy as anywhere, there are good and bad in terms of real estate professionals. If you are coming in with little knowledge of the local culture and language, you need an agent that speaks fluent English and who is willing to ensure that you understand everything about the purchase process.

   Before you hook up with an agent, interview them to see what their attitudes are. If they tend to brush you off, not respond to emails, or seem impatient, they are not the agent for you.

   

3. Decide what type of property you want.

   All over Italy there are many, many different types of properties available. I could make this article long and boring by listing them all so I won’t. Instead I invite you to indulge in the process of searching.

   The best way to start your search is to create your ideal scene. How do you see yourself living in your new place? Are you on a balcony in a city or a terrace overlooking the sea?

   List this out in every detail. Understand that this will change as you go through the process but you will find the closest thing you can to that ideal scene.
   You cannot start the search for something without knowing what you are looking for. This will save you lots of time and make your agent’s job a LOT easier!

   Things to consider are number of bedrooms, number of baths, whether in a city or elsewhere, what needs to be within walking distance, will you have a car? What are the neighbors like? Do you have a garden, etc.

   Make a detailed list of everything you need and want in your property. It also helps to assign each item a number in terms of priority, for example if you MUST have a sea view, that would be a priority one.
   Once you have this outlined the search can begin!

   

4. Get a feel for the property market.

   To do this we recommend the Idealiste.it site. They have the most listings of any site I have seen. Understand also that many properties may not be listed at all but the local agent will have a list of them. However searching in Idealiste.it will give you an idea of what you can expect to pay and how close you can get to your ideal scene.

   

5. Start your immigration process

   Immigration is not difficult but there are steps involved that must be done in order and there are financial requirements to becoming a resident. You can see the steps on Nick Metta’s website.

   Start this early as the appointments at your local consulate book up quickly and they are booked 6-8 months in advance and you will need this BEFORE you move to Italy.

   

6. Go on a property viewing trip

   At this point you have found your agent and communicated to him or her what you are looking for. Now comes the fun part, looking at all these amazing properties! As you view them you will get a better idea of what living in Italy will be like and your ideal scene, and needs and wants list may change.

7. Choose your property and make an offer

   

   If your property requires renovations, you will need to talk to the local  professionals to see if you can work together. The renovation process has its own steps and these are all outlined in our course.

   It would also be wise to get an idea of the costs of renovation before making an offer. The local geometra or architect can give you a ball park figure and if you can get an estimate from the local builder, that would be best.

   

8. Go through the property purchase process.

   This includes, among other things, the negotiations through your agent, the deposit and the final signing with the Notaio. The Notaio is the person who is a neutral third party and answerable to the state that everything in the transaction is legal according to Italian real estate law. He will ensure that the title is clear and that the final deed gets recorded in your name. DO NOT GO THROUGH A PROPERTY PURCHASE WITHOUT A NOTAIO!

   On the date of signing, you will go through the meeting with the Notaio, money will change hands and you will have the keys to your new home!

Now obviously this is a brief list touching on all of these points. To fully understand every part of the process, you will need to do our course. We have specifically designed it so that you can avoid the pitfalls that could cost you your dream. Also, knowing what questions to ask the various professionals is vital and you will know what to ask as you go through the course.  We also intentionally priced it lower than a half an hour with an attorney so it is very affordable and could potentially save you thousands.

Now all we need is for Italy to open up and we can all go pursue our dreams!

Pete and my dreams consist of helping our friends in Calabria by bringing great people into our towns and villages, and helping great people create their new future in Italy.

Thank you again for letting us be part of your process. Please also go to our contact page and put in your needs and wants so we can get you in touch with the best professionals to assist you.

Ciao and Happy Hunting!