Due to increased demand, in
2004 HOUSES IN TUSCANY is expanding its real estate department.
With its proximity to Pisa airport, served by both BA and Ryan air,
this lovely region of Lucca and the Garfagnana is increasingly popular,
with easy access to both the coast and the whole of Tuscany.
Prices are still lower than in other areas of
Tuscany, though these are rising, so this is a good moment to consider
investing in a property here. There are still bargains to be had,
whether you are looking for a tiny village house perched on a hillside,
a town apartment in Lucca itself, a picturesque stone barn, or a
spacious farmhouse set in its own terraced olive groves.
HOUSES IN TUSCANY will be adding regular sales
property to the site, both in this region, and other parts of Italy,
so keep looking. If you have something special in mind, we are also
able to source property, so please contact us to discuss your needs,
and we will be delighted to help.
Purchasing a property abroad can be a complicated
and daunting experience for those unused to the language and bureaucracy
in a foreign country. Houses in Tuscany does its very best to smooth
the path for you and remove those complications. We will take you through the entire process from the very
moment you start your search for your dream property. We offer a
personal sales service, and if you wish, we can then go on to help
arrange and organise restoration work, property management, and
property insurance. In addition we can arrange for professional
advice and help to rent out your property to provide an income.
HOUSES IN TUSCANY IMMOBILIARE is a fully licensed Estate
Agency, registered with the local Chamber of Commerce and FIMAA.
BUYING A PROPERTY IN ITALY Non Italian residents are able to purchase property in Italy.
In order to do this, you will need to have a tax code number (codice
fiscale) and a bank account, both of which we can arrange for you.
It is always wiser to ensure that your agent is legally registered
and is therefore able to mediate on your behalf. Under Italian law,
both seller and buyer are represented by the same estate agent,
who will mediate between both parties. In addition, both buyer and
seller use the same public notary, whose responsibility it is to
oversee the final sale process, and check, that all documentary
details are correct and that the property has no mortgages or any
similar legal or financial encumbrances on it.
1.
If you wish to purchase a property, it
is possible to draw up a Proposta Irrevocabile D'Acquisto
- basically a promise to buy, and a promise to sell which
is signed by both would-be purchaser and the seller. In this
document are stated details regarding the property for sale,
names of the parties concerned, the purchase price, and the
planned date for signing the preliminary contract of purchase
(compromesso). A cheque deposit for a nominal sum from the
purchaser will then be held by the notary or your estate agent.
This sum will be returned when the compromesso is signed.You
will lose this deposit if you back out of the sale once this
agreement has been made. However, the deposit will be returned
to you if the sale falls through for any other season.
2.
2. The compromesso is a document to be
signed by both parties, which shows all relevant details of
the purchase, including a full description of the property
as it appears in the local land registry, the sale price,
the date of completion, and the deposit that is to be paid
(usually in the region of 30% of the purchase price).
3.
3. The final contract, (Rogito) is usually
signed within three months from the compromesso. The Rogito
takes place at the office of a local notaio, who will have
checked all details regarding the property and the purchase
in advance. All parties are required to be present for the
signing of the final contract, though if this is not possible
(or if the purchaser does not speak Italian well enough to
follow the entire process) then we can arrange to represent
you with a power of attorney.
The balance of the purchase price, purchase taxes
and notary fees are due at this point.
Present regulations set the purchase tax on first residences in
Italy at 4%, but for this to apply the purchaser must establish
residence in Italy. If it is not your first residence here, or if
you do not wish to establish residency here, then the cost will
be 11% for the house and 17% for any land. Please note that it is
normal practise for these taxes to be calculated based on the DECLARED
VALUE of the property.
The buyer will also pay approximately 2% of the property value as
the notary fee.
