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Welcome Karen,

You post an interesting question it does seem unusual, doesn't it? I can't answer for anyone else, but can tell you for us it isn't a purposeful matter of leaving out Campania. It's more a matter of moving close to where we have several groups of wonderful friends (though I have some distant relatives that live in Naples).

When having such a vastly stunning country such as Italy, we're actually relieved to have our search narrowed down a bit. We've traveled, researched and looked for quite a long time. We're actually interested further south than where we first considered. We'll be visiting with friends (who have their realtor looking for places for us to check out when we're there) and then we'll be flying to our southern location where we've got a wonderful realtor ready to show us the places we've selected.

That's our story. Nothing political, environmental or judgmental.

Best wishes with your home buying. We hope you'll find a perfect, wonderful nest in beautiful Campania.

John & Dee

From my own research into Campania, as my first region of choice to live in, properties were horribly expensive and generally in short supply (especially anywhere near the coast). That more than anything turned me off the region and I moved my search east to Abruzzo.

Hi Aliena,

Tutta l'Italia e bella !! Including Campania, I'm sure (unfortunately, I've not been... yet.)
I was born in Tuscany, but my family emigrated to South Africa when I was 3, so I've only lived there for the first 3 years of my life.
My desire is to move back to Tuscany, but as you know, you can't touch the properties there - they're so expensive. So I decided to go and live close by, ie. Umbria or Le Marche.
You're not missing anything - just go with your heart. If you love Campania, then let it be.

Good Luck.
Daniela

[QUOTE=HarleyBabe]Hi Aliena,

Tutta l'Italia e bella !! Including Campania, I'm sure (unfortunately, I've not been... yet.)
I was born in Tuscany, but my family emigrated to South Africa when I was 3, so I've only lived there for the first 3 years of my life.
My desire is to move back to Tuscany, but as you know, you can't touch the properties there - they're so expensive. So I decided to go and live close by, ie. Umbria or Le Marche.
You're not missing anything - just go with your heart. If you love Campania, then let it be.

Good Luck.
Daniela[/QUOTE]

I suspect if you had the time to trawl through the area yourself you would still come across the odd bargain in Tuscany - I have seen some advertised in magazines and online through the years so they are still around.

[QUOTE=Sano]I suspect if you had the time to trawl through the area yourself you would still come across the odd bargain in Tuscany - I have seen some advertised in magazines and online through the years so they are still around.[/QUOTE]

In particular, perhaps, take a look in Lunigiana, Northern Tuscany.

Ciao Karen, I've just joined this forum (apart from tripadvisor this is the only one) My wife of 39 yrs. comes from a place called Agerola 700m. above sea level and overlooking the Bay of Salerno we are between Amalfi where my son was married last year and Priano which you will pass through on the way to Positano. We were very lucky to have built 3 flats on a piece of land given by my mother-in-law to her 3 daughters living in London. We have friends who after spending the last ten years holidaying in Sorrento decided to try to buy a house in Agerola, but this has proved very dificult. The Sorrentine Peninsular I think is a very dificult area to buy or build in because the building of new houses is pretty well banned as it is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Our friends were looking at old property to renovate or rebuild, but did not see anything that was suitable, either because of the price or an unsuitable location. I asked a young man who is a giometra if people do pay the prices asked and he said that if the property is in the right place with a nice view then yes as there are a lot of people with cash to spend ( the black economy is very strong in Italy as you probably know). Our friends have decided to sell up in England and rent a property so that they can look for a house to buy. Regarding estate agencies, from what I have seen locally they are almost non-existant , I do know of a couple of places that are advertising, but they are very basic with information placed on notice boards, no photos and no web info, good luck I hope that you are sucessful as it is a lovely area to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life!

For generations my family have lived in Campania, which is a fantastically beautiful, unspoilt region - especially of course the area within the National Park. It has seen great modernisation in the last 20 years with the advent of good motorway connections and better irrigation etc., which is making some less remote and fertile areas quite prosperous - although there are still some very remote rural areas further inland. Have recently bought a newly built property in a mountain village 20 minutes from the coast, 10 minutes from a small but prosperous town (Vallo della Lucania). Properties within and close to the town (which is within the national park - no more building allowed where plans not yet in place) are very expensive - for instance, E200k+ for a smallish 2 bed apartment in a block in a main street. In the area I know well, there are rustico type buildings for sale in countryside or ancient central-village properties (visualise narrow cobbled streets, balconies, almost touching from one side to the other) that need renovation which are still very cheap - say E30-35k for a 2bed 1bath 1cucina 1salone apartment on upper floors with a couple of balconies, livable but needing restructuring. Inland areas are far, far, cheaper. The area is not chic but is authentic. Lots of itinerant markets and roadside stalls selling local produce. Hardly any restaurants, other than pizzerias. As you have an interest in Italy, you will know the classic South/North divide, and Campania is very "South"ish which you either love or you hate. It's not really a place for a typical Brit-style holiday-fest although there are some concessions to the tourist industry (mainly ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs or Germans) in high summer, with "agritourismo" signs going up at farmhouses for B&B, etc. and shops in coastal towns selling beach balls, etc. Its about a 90 minute drive from Capodichino, 3 hours from Ciampino. I have no idea why people disregard Campania, other than it being unknown, with the exception of the more touristy Sorrento/Amalfi/Naples areas, which have their own distinctive "flavours".