Italy's financial crisis does have a high note...it's an excellent time to buy property! Motivated sellers and a flat-lined real estate market are making prices lower than they have been in years. Of course, the top destinations like the Cinque Terre, Lerici and Portovenere are still riding high, but just 10-20 minutes outside these splendid locations are real steals.
Towns like Beverino, Ricco di Golfo, Aulla and Barbarasco (also referred to as the Lunigiana, covering an area of the borders of Tuscany and Liguria) are incredibly desirable locations, located in the supreme peace of the Italian countryside yet only being 30 minutes from some of the top holiday spots and within an hour of the grand cities of Genova and Pisa.
Friends in a small town just 20 minutes from La Spezia are now neighbors with Belgians, Norwegians and Swiss. These families have discovered the benefits (and value) of buying old stone farm houses that sell anywhere from 35-75,000 euros. This leaves plenty of budget for renovations to customize to your taste and have your very own Italian villa for around 100,000 euros.
If you are in the process of looking for property in Italy or are needing some renovation work, small fixes or even complete rebuilding, I can help you through the entire process. From the actual work, to the quagmire of Italian permits and building codes, having a bilingual and trustworthy construction company can make the world of difference.
