Buying Property in Italy Still Appeals

Why buying property in Italy makes for an excellent investment choice even in the face of a global slowdown

Buying property in Italy is a dream come true for many investors.  The ancient attractions, the incredible culture, the beautiful beaches and picturesque countryside all make this Mediterranean country a prize in the eyes of not only investors, but also holidaymakers, expats and retirees.  Recent and continuing growth in the property market in parts of Italy is working well to bolster buyer confidence, even if the cost of living is a tad high in comparison to other investment destinations.

Traditional buying areas, such as Rome and Milan, continue to appeal, but there is a new destination that is really capturing the attention of both buyers and holidaymakers.  The Calabria region in the south of Italy is experiencing rather robust growth at the moment.  In this particular region buyers will find some of the best weather in the whole of Italy and prices that are very reasonable by standards set in other parts of the country.  Prices in this part of the country start at around GBP 60,000.

With Ryanair now offering low-cost flights to Calabria, the market here is expected to see a real surge.  Add to this the fact that Calabria is largely unexplored by holidaymakers and the attraction is evident.

Overall, the Italian property market has been on an upswing for some time.  Over the last six years for example, the growth has been estimated at EUR 30 billion in value.  Whilst growth in recent years has fallen out of the early 2000’s double digits, it is still steadily rising.

Some analysts predict the growth trend will continue for at least a few more years into the future.  Since Italy has all the right ingredients to support investor and holidaymaking interest, it is anticipated that buyers here will see better-than-fair returns for several years to come.

The Italian property market lends itself well to buy-to-let investors, especially in the holidaymaking hotspots.  It is also ripe for buy-to-flip investors looking for decent returns.  Whilst the cost of living in Italy is considered high by the standards of many expatriating and retirement destinations, it is still reasonable for many.  The British expatriate community is rather small, coming in at roughly 35,000, but the holidaymaking market from the UK is very robust with more than 3.5 million trips recorded annually by the British government.

Buying property in Italy remains a strong prospect for investors and retirees.  With newer markets in the country just coming online with low prices and older, proven markets continuing to flourish, the appeal of Italy is not expected to tarnish any time soon.