The pandemic changed the way Italians think about their homes, and that shift has not faded. In 2025, according to an analysis by Tecnocasa Group’s Research Office of property transactions, detached and semi-detached homes — villas, smaller villas, rural homes and standalone houses — accounted for 21.6% of all residential sales. This share was largely unchanged from 2024, yet it remains structurally higher than pre-Covid levels.
In 2019, detached properties made up 19% of transactions, while their share has not fallen below 21% since 2020. The desire for more room, a garden and a front door entirely one’s own has become a lasting feature of Italian buyers’ preferences.
- Larger homes are increasingly popular
- The energy issue: plenty of F- and G-rated homes remain
- Main homes lead the way, while investment in rural homes is growing
- Buyers are getting younger, while families remain steady
- Mortgages take centre stage again: almost half of buyers use finance
- Foreign buyers exceed 17%, with their share continuing to rise
Larger homes are increasingly popular
Homes measuring 101–150 m² make up the largest share of sales in the detached-property segment, accounting for almost 28% of transactions. This is followed by properties of 151–200 m², at 23.3%.
Compared with 2024, sales of larger homes have increased, with properties above 150 m² gaining ground. People choosing a detached home tend to opt for generous proportions, in keeping with the reasons behind this choice: outdoor space, independence and greater privacy.
The energy issue: plenty of F- and G-rated homes remain
When it comes to energy efficiency, detached homes reveal a long-standing weakness of this type of property in Italy. Some 74.3% of homes sold fall into the lower F and G energy classes.
- Just 7.9% belong to the top A and B classes, while 17.8% fall within the middle C, D and E categories.
These numbers reflect the make-up of the available housing stock. Villas, smaller villas and rustici — rural or country properties — are often older buildings with inadequate insulation and outdated systems, while the market for energy-efficiency renovations in this segment remains far from complete.
Demand for efficient homes exists, but supply is struggling to keep pace.
Main homes lead the way, while investment in rural homes is growing
The main use is as a primary residence, representing 79% of transactions. Holiday homes account for 9%, slightly down from 9.7% in 2024, while investment purchases stand at 12%, also showing a modest fall.
One interesting detail concerns the type of investment in this segment. Buyers purchasing a rustico or detached property for income purposes often aim to create tourist accommodation, such as B&Bs, holiday homes or agriturismi — farm stays. These properties can make the most of features that ordinary residential developments cannot replicate.
Buyers are getting younger, while families remain steady
The age profile of buyers points to a market that is becoming younger. The 35–44 age group leads the way, accounting for 28.5% of transactions, followed by under-34s at 27.6% and buyers aged 45–54 at 23%.
Compared with 2024, the share of buyers under 34 has risen, while the proportion aged over 65 has fallen. This is an encouraging sign that younger generations are gradually gaining access to this type of home, probably helped by greater use of mortgage finance than in previous years.
Families remain the main buyer group, making up 79.5% of purchases, while single buyers account for 20.5%. Their share is stable compared with 2024, but higher than the levels recorded between 2019 and 2022, when it did not exceed 19%. This suggests that individual demand for detached homes is also growing, albeit slowly.
Mortgages take centre stage again: almost half of buyers use finance
One of the most significant developments in 2025 concerns access to credit. Purchases made without a mortgage still account for the majority at 50.7%, but 49.3% of sales now involve bank finance. This marks a change from previous years, with a growing share of buyers purchasing through a mortgage.
The figures suggest that demand is widening to include buyers without enough cash to purchase independently. It points to broader access to a type of home that was previously more associated with people who already had well-established assets.
Foreign buyers exceed 17%, with their share continuing to rise
Perhaps the most significant figure looking ahead concerns buyers’ nationality. Almost 17% of sales of detached and semi-detached homes in Italy are made by foreign buyers, a share that has increased steadily over the years.
The trend is being driven by growing international interest in the Italian property market. Buyers are choosing villas, rustici and country homes for personal use, either as second homes or a permanent place to relocate, as well as for investment.
This flow ties in with patterns already observed by other property-industry operators. Rural and independent Italy — its borghi, or historic villages, and countryside — has an appeal for international buyers that the urban market alone could not generate.
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