What type of property should you buy?

Guide to the property type which is right for you

27 October 2017, 12:57

Italy offers many different types of properties compared with Britain. Before you start looking, you should be very clear on the following:

Why are you buying? (holiday home, investment, somewhere to retire…)
How will you spend your time there? (relaxing, having family come to visit, doing sports…)
Are you going to rent out the property to cover the costs?
New build or a second-hand property? Surrounded by natives or among fellow Brits?
Which is more important for you: budget, location, property type or nearby facilities?

Types of Italian properties

‘Rustici’ Stone cottage: A rustico may be the most romantic of all Italian dream homes, a cottage with land aplenty in the open countryside. Built from local stone in a traditional style, many are now practically in ruins and in need of lots of TLC. Thanks to this, you can pick them up cheap as chips, but be prepared to pay a hefty amount for renovation.

Farmhouses and manor houses: For less of a do-up job, there is the traditional L-shaped farmhouse. Beware that prices will vary between the more expensive north and the cheaper south. Then there is the masseria, a larger, stand-alone manor house with walled-in land.

Country house (casa di campagna) and trulli: A country house on the outskirts of towns and cities normally comes with spacious rooms spread over various floors. A trullo, on the other hand, is the typical construction in Puglia; with stone walls and cone-shaped roofs, living in a house like this is like living in a fairytale, and this charm makes them easy to rent out when you’re not there. It’s generally cheaper to buy straight from Italian sellers than houses already renovated by other ex-pats.

Modern houses, detached houses and apartments: If renovation isn’t your thing, there’s always the option of a stand-alone house or a villa. Buying an apartment may be a great choice if you just want a holiday home as there are some excellent ones along the coast, both new builds and renovated from older properties. The prices will vary accordingly, as well as by size and location.

Whatever you’re looking for, shop around and think carefully before you buy. You’re sure to find the perfect property for you!