The costs associated with buying an Italian property inluding the translation services of ProssimaCasa

are as follows:

The purchase taxes due vary depending upon whether or not the purchaser intends to take up residency in Italy (this particular scenario is known as 'prima casa' or first house).

If so then the first government tax due is 3% of the purchase price.

N.B. Assuming that it's their intention, the purchaser has the option of declaring that they'll take up residency within 18 months of taking possession.

If instead the house is to be a second home ('seconda casa') then the tax due is 7% of the purchase price. This tax is referred to as the 'Registro' tax.

There are then two further taxes to be paid:

1) Ipotecaria - 2% of the purchase price

2) Catastale  - 1% of the purchase price

Finally we need to add some standard

charges called Bolli and Visure.

We charge 4% of the property selling price in Euros with a minimum charge of €2000 although this fee only becomes payable at the conclusion of a successful purchase.     

N.B. The translations of all the standard documents required to make the purchase are provided at no extra cost.

There then need to be taken into consideration the following standard purchasing costs:

Italian properties are conveyed by a highly qualified solicitor called a Notaio (or Notary in English terms). The Notaio impartially represents the purchaser, the vendor and the Italian government.

The sale of a property is known in Italian as a 'compravendita' and for handling a compravendita the Notaio will present a bill to the purchaser of 2 to 3% the sale price. This fee is payable at the signing of the act of sale which is carried out in the Notaio's office. At this same juncture the Notaio also takes the purchase taxes that are due to the government.

These are only guide examples, the exact list of costs from the Notaio's office including government taxes, only becomes available after there's been sufficient time for the Notaio to study the particular sale in question.

In order to cover all eventual costs, it is recommend to budget for an extra 18% on top of the finally agreed price of any particular property of interest.

Buying property in Italy is generally straight forward however we would always recommend that professional legal advice be sought before entering into any form of written contract. We work with a team of Italian/English bilingual solicitors at the firm of Nick Metta and can thoroughly recommend their services.

Having identified a suitable property on the website the next thing to do is to come out and take a good look at it.  

Buying a first or second home in Italy, whilst fairly straightforward, is by no means a trivial undertaking.

7) An agreement stating that should the purchaser    choose to withdraw from the sale then the    deposit paid will be retained by the vendor.

8) An agreement stating that should the vendor    choose to withdraw from the sale of the    property then the sum of twice the deposit be    repaid to the purchaser.

It's the purchaser's prerogative to choose the Notaio that will handle the final sale. However, we usually find that clients are more than happy for us to provide one.

At ProssimaCasa we work very closely with both a local Notaio and a local geometra (surveyor) to provide all the services you need to successfully buy your new home and all in one place.

Finally, we also provide after sales home restoration translation/interpreter packages.

Consider this: It's often the case that a client would like to buy a property to restore and ultimately let and/or use as a holiday home. But having returned to the UK (or whichever home country) the question is then how to manage the restoration project from afar.

Well, we can do it all for you.  We can handle all the issues associated with purchasing - including council tax, connecting water, electricity and gas lines and having a phone installed.  We then also provide 6 months of translation liaison between the client and the geometra managing the restoration project.

All the client has to do is to pay the restoration bills.   Hmm...

Translation package prices available on request.

If and when convinced that said property must be "bought at all costs" the next step is to reach an agreement with the vendor. In Italy this generally involves the signing of an initial purchase document called a 'Compromesso'.

The Compromesso contains a series of statements summarising the intention of the vender to sell the property in question to the purchaser and of the purchaser to buy it.

The Compromesso can be (and often is) adapted to each and every particular sale but generally contains at least the following:

1) The precise land registry reference of the     property in question.

2) A declaration of intent on the part of the vendor to    sell the property in question to the purchaser.

3) A declaration of intent on the part of the    purchaser to acquire the property in question from    the vendor.

4) A time frame within which the final act of sale is     to be drawn-up and signed.

5) The agreed purchase price of the property in     question.

6) The value of the deposit to paid at the signing of     the Compromesso.