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You probably have done this already but, just in case :Try visiting real estate websites such as immobiliare.it or casa.it and check on prices of similar properties to yours (in neighboring towns, same sq.m, same amount fo rooms, etc...).Keep in mind that the market value here is all over the place. People do not try to sell based on actual market value but they tend to price their properties based on emotional value or based on the work they did to the place, etc...This means that properties stay on the market for a VERY long time. So, pricing is everything!Hope this will be of support :) 

Hi there,
Have you considered Noto? It’s full of history, close to many interesting towns/cities yet small enough that you will not be anonymous & feel safe. Ortigia is also amazing, with tons of little shops and character yet you feel super safe there as well.
Catania...not that much.
If you’re only going to be staying a month, i would recommend renting a place (theough a local agency or via Airbnb) because living in a stranger’s house is not safe anymore, whatever your age group.
Especially in the South of Italy...people are amazing but there is still a backwards mentality about foreign women traveling alone...
Hope you will have a great time!

5% is way too high. The usual agency fee is 3% and you can negotiate: we gave them 2% of the buying price...Also, agents in Italy don’t have a clue what they are talking about & when they tell you they are aware of legal matters etc...I would recommend you double check on everything. If you feel more comfortable working with a 3rd party, follow your instincts.You have to constantly be behind your agent here, you can’t rely on them really. They are untra « old school » in the way they do things & there is zero transparency. The real estate market has crashed a while back & never truly recuperated, It’s a good time to buy however, market demand is low compared to the amount of properties for sale &, there are real estate agencies evey 20 meters in ½ûÂþÌìÌà cities so...don’t let them rock your boat & follow your gutt feeling :)We just purchased a house in Liguria and surpises were still arising while at the notary’s office & handing the sellers a check...I literally recorded the entire signing to make sure I had back up if needed because they say one thing and then turn around and say something different! Lol.   

It really depends on what you do I’d say but yes, as Ugo mentioned, Milan is your best bet. As well as Florence and Rome. 

Right? The top floor is a must!We were lucky enough to get an "all in one" type of family above us: a carpenter who sets up his woodworking in the apt, a kid who seems to enjoy the soft sounds of banging pans on the floor, the throwing out of cigarettes / watering of plants just when white sheets are drying outside, a dog who was granted the gift of non-stop barking...oh and one of them learned how to play only 1 tune on the piano and performs it for us every single day.As for added value, it seems as if they might have cams set up in our apt to make sure the noise they make is perfectly aligned to whichever room we decide to spend time in. Fun times! :)

Hi there,You find good and bad everywhere I'd say. The best way to describe life here is : Liguria is a time warp! It's like France in the 70s/80s! Liguria is beautiful and close to literally everything from Firenze to France so it's convenient in many ways. It's like everywhere else in the world...depends on your lifestyle, how you deal with stress, your budget, if you can travel in and out of the country often, if you are retiring here...or planning on working here, who you know...people are def not as friendly as in the US and it takes literally 10 years for your neighbors to say hello but, if you are hesitating between going back to the UK or coming to Liguria, would certainly recommend Liguria. Nicer lifestyle ;)To answer your question, living here is ok but, I travel a lot for work so, I come and go which makes it easier. However, when I stay home for more than 3 months...I get a bit frustrated.We purchased a few times, investments. It was exhausting. We are currently hunting for our future residence which is a whole other story. You need to be on top of everything, all the time. Double check everything. Things are never what they seem. If you are looking to buy an apartment (and not a house), consider a top floor. You don't want anybody above you.But you get used to everything! And this seems to be your dream so, it could be everything you want it to be! And San Remo has a few good agents (can recommend one if needed) who speak foreign languages and work with an international crowd. Good luck and feel free to reach out if I can help :) 

HI there,Am a New Yorker with a French citizenship ;) Have been living (and hunting for real estate) in Liguria for almost 15 years and, totally agree with you: properties hang out for sale for a very long time. The issues I have been faced with which could be part of the problem are- Abusi: the surface never matches the declared registry (catasto) and many refuse to pay for 100Sqm when they are really buying 65.- Also, the real estate market has gone down a lot in the past 8 years and many owners refuse to align their request to the actual market value...- Agents and websites tend to give false info. Do a lot of internet research and you will find huge differences of pricing for one same property, location is never as mentioned (we once asked to visit a property said to be in Finale and ended turning around because the house was actually in Calizzano! that's almost Piemonte, lol). So customers probably get discouraged. Have literally worked with most agents from Albisola to San Remo and only one was good. Feel free to reach out if you need any support :)Take care

Hi there!You will need to find both an architect and what they call a "geometra" (will deal with getting permits etc...).Keep in mind that 3 times out of 4 they will try to sell you a property in which spaces have been modified without the ok from local entities (this allows them to pay fewer taxes). Make sure the agent/notary give you all the facts so that you do not find yourself having to deal with all that administration later on ;).In order to find an architect and geometra, try looking up "l'Ordine degli Architetti" or "Studio Tecnico Edile".Should you need to access a mortgage, the bank will send a 3rd party to check on the state of the apartment vs. the asking price vs. the amount you will be asking for.Hope this will be of assistance!! It is quite the process buying property here... ;)  

Hi Georgette, Would love to help out if you still need info! We have TONS of property searching stories!! Let me know if you still need them :)Take care,Liz

Hi Josie!Saw this was an answer to somebody else's troubled home search in Italy however, could totally relate to your post!! have been living in Liguria for 15 years now and have been searching for a home for half of that time!Between the agents who don't answer emails - or don't even grace their answer with a "Hello", those who don't bother showing up at appointments, the ones who just stop answering after 2 emails or...the agents who still believe they will sell you a house after 1 visit...I am literally thinking of starting a blog!I mean, you have to live it to believe it! Real estate here is out of this world. Bless you for having found your perfect place!!! Gives hope to the rest of us :))Take care.