Buying Property in Italy in Venice

A comprehensive guide to finding, securing and buying beautiful property in Italy in the city of Venice

Famous for her canals, gondolas, incredible architecture, fascinating history and all round and splendid ‘old world charm,’ Venice is truly the Queen of the Adriatic.  When thoughts of buying property in Italy come to mind, it’s hard for Venice not to rank high on your list of dream destinations isn’t it?

After all, Venice is considered one of the most romantic cities in the world and its architectural and visual beauty really are unrivalled – so here’s our guide to buying property in Italy in Venice so that you are one step closer to making your dream come true.

Because it is simply impossible to find a city that compares to the draws of this northern Italian paradise of Italy for holiday makers, retirees and expatriates we truly understand your desire for an Italian home in Venice.  Now, if you have your heart set on buying property in Italy in Venice there are a few things about the market you should know…

Venice is and will probably always remain a hotspot for real estate vendors – this is because Venetian properties are in high demand from international buyers and there is generally anything but a “glut” of available properties to buy.  When a property in Venice is available you’re likely to find it is far pricier than in other regions of Italy and even in the villages, towns and cities located within the Veneto region.

Still, if Venice calls, and really it’s hard to imagine why it wouldn’t, there are things you can do to ease a search and even protect your wallet along the way.  Many people who have bought real estate in Venice directly or in the Veneto region suggest that actually being present in the vicinity is the best way to find suitable property.  Some buyers choose to rent while they get to know the region and decide where they want to live and what properties to keep an eye out for.

When you’re looking for property within Venice proper, remember it is a sellers’ market as stated.  It is not impossible to find property in the EUR 250,000 to EUR 300,000 range but EUR 500,000 and upwards is far more likely to be the starting price you’re going to find.

If you do find property you like in Venice it’s important to have a good deposit ready and waiting!  A general initial holding deposit of about EUR 5,000 typically does the trick of getting the property off the market.  The actual purchase process in Italy requires such paperwork as passports, birth/wedding certificates, Social Security card (for Americans) and so on.

To get a mortgage in Italy you’ll need income revenue paperwork, a passport and a bank reference and we recommend you approach Barclays Bank as your first port of call as they are international, have a presence in Italy and understand the market very well.  The next step is a proposal to purchase which involves stumping up around a 30% non-refundable deposit as well as paying taxes and commissions - and finally, remember when buying property in Italy the purchase process can take as long as four months.

Should you visit Venice and find the Venetian landscape is too pricey for your liking you will find the property market in other nearby towns is a little more affordable.  It is possible to find apartments and villas within reasonable distance of Venice for prices a fair amount less than within the city itself!

With its rich history, breathtaking sights and a flavour that’s all its own, Venice really does call out to many people.  Buying Italian property in this city however is not always an easy dream to make reality – so explore the region and really try it on for size before deciding to commit.  It is quite possible a nearby town will become the new dream come true location for you anyway.