Are you considering relocating to Italy, for business or pleasure, or perhaps buying a vacation home there? The culture from region to region changes dramatically in Italy, as does its terrain and climate.

Tuscany, located just a bit north of the center of Italy on its west coast, has a great climate and is a beautiful place to live. In this area of Italy, the homes blend seamlessly into the surrounding hills and valleys. You will be enchanted by this part of the country that has both tiny hamlets and large cities. Among the attractions in this area, one can take long strolls in the country and see old farmhouses, vineyards and even castles. The Tuscan area is world-famous for its museums, as well. Daily life in Tuscany is quite sophisticated, yet serene – there are wonderful wineries and food markets to take care of your body and superb spas for a treat for the soul.

Another popular area in Italy is Sicily, a large island with smaller ones surrounding it. Sicily also boasts a multicultural society, having at one time or another been ruled by Asians, Africans and Europeans. You will also find all the art, archeology and folklore you can imagine on this beautifully island.

A wholly different atmosphere can be found in Alto Adige on the northeast coast of Italy. The food and culture are representative of this. There are snow-capped peaks for skiing, alpine meadows and waterfalls in Alto Adige. The mountainous areas here provide recreation all year long, with marvelous ski slopes and hiking trails providing exquisite vistas. Where there are mountains, there are valleys and the valleys here are incredible. These valleys are chock full of fabulous castles where once can spend hours seeing the history of Alto Adige.

Whatever area of Italy you choose – you will find a large variety of home sites. People in Italy live in urban lofts, apartments, old farmhouses (some of which are remarkably refurbished) and of course, Mediterranean style houses or mansions. Consider what amenities you desire nearby before making your final selection.

There are, as you can see, many choices to be made when choosing Italy as a new place to live or take extended vacations. Do not worry about the prudency of making an investment in Italy. Italy has weathered the housing downfall better than many other countries, but there are still very good purchases to be made here. As a matter of fact, a study by Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena indicates that the country is supporting the recovery of the housing market by extending bank credit to new purchasers, making mortgage funds nicely accessible.

There are, however, a few simple rules to follow to purchase land in Italy. Italy extends, via what they call the principle of reciprocity, the right to allow purchase of Italian real estate to countries which participate in this reciprocity.

The two main steps of the buying process are usually as follows. In Italian these are the compromesso and the rogito – the commitment agreement and the execution of the final deed of sale. There are various taxes, including the VAT tax, but these and other small details are easily handled by a good real estate agent who will walk you through the process.

Author Bio: Thomas Moroder is a real estate agent who advises purchasers, sellers and lenders in residential and commercial real estate transactions in Italy. For expert advice on the Italian Real Estate market, visit Italian Real Estate

Category: Real Estate
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