In Italy property sales
Britons’ interest in moving abroad seems to be at an all time high, with expats spreading out from the traditional heartlands of France, such as Provence. Interest in Italy property sales certainly seems to bear this out. At keyitaly.com we’ve found that the 40 years or so after the first British invasion of Tuscany, and after the numerous false starts of ‘new Tuscanys’ (step forward Umbria, Le Marche and Abruzzo), British investors are studying the map rather more closely. We all know that Italy is a ‘boot’ but until fairly recently interest rarely strayed below the knee.
Pick up the Daily Mail and the Daily Express, and dig into the travel and money blogs on the Daily Telegraph website and a disturbing picture seems to emerge … of a UK steadily depleting as pats steadily become expats. Depending on how far to the right your views swing, this is the fault of the Labour Government, rotten British weather, increasing levels of crime, soaring numbers of immigrants, the high cost of living, the impossible cost of property, even the difficulty of finding a parking space. Whatever you believe about the cons of living in Britain (and there are obviously plenty of pros too, or inward migration wouldn’t be as high as it is), it’s certainly true that you’re going to find undreamed of value the further south you go. In Italy property sales are burgeoning precisely because of the terrific value per square foot you’ll find in regions such as Puglia, Calabria and (for the more adventurous) underexplored Molise.
Jon Davey has a unique perspective, having worked as an estate agent (or realtor) for 10 years in south London before upping sticks and moving to Puglia, in the deep south. Jon lives just outside Lecce, a quite beautiful and very ancient town. He has no regrets … well almost none. ‘There are things I miss about London certainly, though that’s not a problem, providing you plan it right. Puglia is lovely, it’s unspoiled, but it does have some big towns, good coastal resorts and a good infrastructure. And crucially we’re within reach of an international airport … and London if we need it.’
Jon reckons that the mistake most expats make is to buy in ‘holiday mode’ without thinking of what it’s like to live in a foreign country 24/7. Sure you’re enthusiastic, bowled over by your trip to see the trulli of Puglia … but slow down. Is there an expat community for support? Can you get the foods you want? Is that dream home plumbed for water, and can you get your English language TV channels. ‘I don’t suggest total immersion in the culture … not at first. You need home comforts to ease the transition. Conversely, nothing seems odder to me than people who move here and live in a ‘little England’ bubble. Give yourself a foothold back in the UK … even if you never go back.’ Jon has worked as a consultant, helping people settle and has found that, in Italy, property sales tend to work best when people give themselves ‘a financial and psychological fallback’. In the coming weeks, we’ll be looking at ways to ease the transition to your new life in Italy.
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