Buying a property in Italy

If you want to live in Le Marche or in Italy in general, buying a home will be a big and possibly difficult decision to make.

It is best to get to know an area well before buying there and when you plan your buying trip, allow plenty of time for each visit. The agents might have other properties that you want to see and each visit can take some time.

If you decide that you are going to buy a certain property, there are two possible ways to go: one step contract (atto) or two step contract (compromesso + atto).

The "compromesso" is a pre-sale agreement; this "scrittura privata" or private contract between you and the seller is a legally binding document and if you change your mind you will loose the deposit you have paid and usually be liable to pay an additional penalty. The value of deposits varies but is often around 10 to 20% of the agreed price for the purchase.

Contract of Sale, "Contratto di compravendita". The "atto", or contract, will be signed in front of a "notaio", an official who witnesses public contracts. During this step you will normally have to pay the purchase price and any fees due to the notaio and estate agent, or "mediatore".

Notaries perform a public function, they are acting for none of the parties and their fees are set by the state (more about the role of the notary in this page of the Italian council of notaries). Thanks to notarys most of the contracts are exchanged without the need of a lawyer, however if you want, you can get a lawyer ("avvocato") either to check the contract or to act for you.

Useful readings

These are the five main books about buying a property in Italy:

Disclaimer

Whilst we do try and give information to the best of our knowledge, we decline any responsibility as to its accuracy or completeness. Relevant professional advice should be sought.



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