½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

We looked at a lovely place near Borgo Val di Taro and that whole area was quite lovely - green, rolling hills and loads of space. You could try these people, although I have no personal experience of their service: [url]http://www.lacasaemilia.com/[/url]

We bought through lacasaemilia.com and were pretty happy with the service.

Good luck!

Villa minozzo is a lovely area, a few brits already living here.
If you want to buy property here avoid estate agents just go knock on doors, theres plenty available at good prices.(Lots of stuff to renovate.)
If you do use an agent insist on meeting the vendor and ask for HIS PRICE even if its just scribbled on a piece of paper.
A recent visitor did this and found a fifty thousand euro difference in the vendors asking price and the agents price.
Never use their geometre or builder,(lots of money in each others pockets!) get to know local people and get lots of quotes (just as you would in uk)
If you use tradesmen from your village they are friendly and grateful for your custom so will be inclined to do a good job and often with a discount.
The ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs in this area are very helpful and so are the brits.

Dear Bill.
Not Emilia Romagna but I do have a friend who has a wonderful house for sale in Lombardia. It is close to the Alps and Montorfano lake as well as a good golf course. If you are interested, I can put you in contact or send you some more details.
Kind regards
Christine
[email]christinecartey@libero.it[/email]

[QUOTE=herealready]If you want to buy property here avoid estate agents just go knock on doors, theres plenty available at good prices.(Lots of stuff to renovate.) [/QUOTE]

I think this works if you are adventurous and/or reasonably fluent in ½ûÂþÌìÌà and/or have a fair amount of time on your hands. Otherwise I reckon the estate agents do perform a useful function.

[QUOTE] If you do use an agent insist on meeting the vendor and ask for HIS PRICE even if its just scribbled on a piece of paper. [/QUOTE]

I'm not so sure this would work as a way of either getting a smooth sale or a low price. I reckon we paid more for our house than an italian would, but I doubt if that was down to the estate agent. ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs tend to assume that Brits are rich (which may be true in relative terms) so if you cut out the middle man you might get a lower quote to start with but I'll bet the local network will be a-buzz with the prices paid for other properties and suddenly you've find that the cost goes up mysteriously because they want to sell you the kitchen or the bathroom fittings separately at a huge cost.

My advice would be to use a reputable estate agent that someone you trust has recommended and in the absence of a recommendation meet a number of agents and form an opinion based on their general professionalism, and prices etc.

Just my opinion and maybe I'm over cautious, but there can be problems in any contract for property and you want to be in a position to sue someone if they screw up.