We're having a closer look at a tool that allows those who wish to do so to invest in the revitalisation and repopulation of Italy's most picturesque villages.
Real estate crowdfunding in Italy
Real estate crowdfunding in Italy Ozieri Gianni Careddu CC BY-SA 4.0

Real estate crowdfunding is growing and, along with the well known 1-euro house scheme in Italy, real estate crowdfunding in Italy now also aims to revitalise the country's villages. This is the mission of ITS Lending, whose aim is to enable those who wish to do so to invest in the revitalisation and repopulation of Italy's most picturesque villages and areas. But how? And what are the advantages? Here is what Fabio Allegreni, Business Strategy of ITS Lending, explained to idealista/news.

But what exactly is ITS Lending? As you can read on the company's official website, ITS Lending is a real estate lending crowdfunding platform that allows anyone to choose from projects in the Italian countryside. "We’ve built a platform that allows investors to choose from a preferred selection of the properties processed by ITS ITALY that have been already optioned by final buyers. We facilitate the investments in short term loans to co-finance each property project with our Finance Partners". In an interview with idealista/news, Fabio Allegreni explained exactly how this type of investment works.

  • What is ITS Lending and when was it started?

"ITS Lending was launched in November 2021. It is a lending crowdfunding platform whose operator, Crowdvillage, is a subsidiary of ITS ITALY, a lifestyle company founded in London in 2020 to promote investments, both by individuals and foreign institutions, in Italian towns and historical centres, starting from services to people and support to local businesses, to the promotion of tourism and the sustainable recovery of abandoned buildings."

  • What is its objective?

"ITS Lending aims to allow anyone to invest in the revitalisation and repopulation of villages and the most picturesque areas of Italy. The investor does not become the owner of the property whose renovation he finances, but a lender. After the completion of the work and the finalisation of the sale - typically within a maximum period of one year - the investors will in fact be paid an interest rate between 6 and 10%, in addition to the invested capital."

  • How do you differ from other real estate crowdfunding platforms?

"The differentiation lies precisely in the type of real estate transactions offered, of which all are related to properties located in small villages in need of rejuvenation. In addition, one of the strengths of the portal is the relative security for individual investors: the properties to be renovated have already been acquired by the real estate company proposing the opportunity and a final buyer is always identified, who advances a deposit."

  • Why should an investor choose ITS Lending?

"To contribute to the enhancement of Italy's historical heritage and, of course, to obtain investment returns that are attractive compared to market rates and with high turnover."

  • What crowdfunding operations has ITS Lending completed to date?

"To date, 11 operations have been completed, including five in Sicily, two in Tuscany and Apulia, and one each in Sardinia and Emilia Romagna."