Holiday Property in Italy

Planning your summer holiday? Why not buy holiday property in Italy instead for investment purposes and a holiday retreat combined!

It’s that time of year again, the Christmas cheer is long gone, New Year’s Eve is but a hazy memory and the reality is that you’re sitting freezing in your boring office wondering how many days until you can go on your summer holidays and enjoy a bit of decent weather!  It’s okay, we understand!

So, it’s time to talk about holiday property in Italy – Italy hasn’t achieved much in the way of property investment returns in recent years simply because its property market is relative slow moving and property prices have pretty much reached an affordability peak.  But there is still so much of value in terms of owning a holiday property in Italy as both a long term investment asset and a short term getaway from the dull grind of everyday working life.

You could say Italy is the thinking man’s alternative to Spain and France in terms of a summer holiday destination!  It has so much more going for it than just sun, sea and sand; it is a short haul destination serviced by a high number of low cost operators, it has dramatic countryside, it has almost as much coastline as Spain and France put together (in case you just want sun, sea and sand!), it has arguably more famous cities for city breaks, fantastic shopping, art, culture and cuisine than either Spain or France and it has a wealth of diverse property stock.

For those seeking a rural retreat then of course Tuscany, home to Florence, Sienna and Pisa and Umbria are evergreen favourites – but really you need to dig deep to afford attractive properties in these regions as they have property markets dominated by wealthy British home counties buyers who have bought every single run down and ruined farmhouse for sale and renovated it to become the perfect home in the sun. Alternatives that have as much charm, are as accessible and offer more reasonably priced holiday properties for sale are Abruzzo, Puglia and Molise for example.

For those seeking romantic coastal spots for their ideal holiday property in Italy then we would always recommend western Italy, especially the Amalfi Coast (pictured) – it has the perfect combination of dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, stunning unspoilt beaches, historic and beautiful towns and villages and some amazing properties from modern apartments to terraced fisherman’s cottages and dramatic cliff-top villas with 360 degree views.

If you’re determined to get the most out of your property in terms of investment returns then the best options available to you at the current time are buying up properties in the northern cities of Italy where you can rent to professionals, students or tourists and generate decent yields especially if you buy and recondition the lower priced properties in a particularly popular area.  Or, if your target is purely short term tourism rental so that you too can get some benefit from your brand new property in Italy then think about Sardinia which is growing in popularity and which offers holiday makers a fantastic retreat or any location near coastal Italy with easy accessibility – after all, who wants to be travelling for hours to get to their holiday home in the sun.