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Copyright © 2009 Susanna Cardelli
For those that have traveled to Tuscany and fallen in love with the region, it is not uncommon to harbor a dream of buying a home there. Where do you begin when you are in a position to realize the dream? As any decent real estate agent will tell you, there are three things to consider in real estate, "location, location, location." But American real estate agents have never had to deal with Italian bureaucracy. So, in addition to location a very strong idea of the features you will want in the home itself is extremely important. In the same vein of thought, the features of the property as far as landscape and any agricultural features are something you should think about when you are leafing through page after page of houses for sale in Tuscany, Italy.
Location is important wherever you buy property, and when looking at real estate for sale in Tuscany this is no different. Among the things to consider when you look at properties is your intended use. Different locations may better suit a person looking to retire to Tuscany and grow olives and make olive oil for his family than the young couple who wants a vacation home to spend a month every year in. Where a small estate for sale in Tuscany, far from any larger cities or towns may be preferable for the olive grower, the couple and their visiting friends may prefer to by closer to Florence or the seaside. The person not living in Italy full-time may also have to wait for the proper paperwork to own a car so may want to consider being close to a train station when looking at houses for sale in Tuscany. Italy requires more residence documentation to own a car than a home.
After narrowing down the specific regions for your hunt for real estate in Tuscany, you then must narrow down the specifics as far as the features of the home. This is more important than when you are looking at property in the US. You may find the nearly perfect estate for sale in Tuscany and envision a few "minor" alterations, only to find out that it is completely impossible to make them. The likelihood of having restrictions on what can be done to a home increases exponentially with age, and of course the homes with the most character are the older ones. Make sure that if there are changes you have in mind you verify that they can be made. It is better to spend a little more and get exactly the property you want, rather than to get a near idyllic Tuscan farmhouse that turns into an Italian version of "The Money Pit" but compounded with a language barrier.
This caveat also extends to any landscaping features. You may think that those cypress trees would look even more picture posted perfect if they were 30 feet to the right, and perhaps just moving this pathway slightly to the left would give you better views as you walk to the bottom of the hill. As with the home itself, if you have ideas for these renovations speak to your agent first. They know the intricacies of the many regulations, both national and regional, and they can walk you through what to outsiders can seem a minefield of arbitrary rules. They can also lead you to the perfect location, the perfect home and fantastic views, your own slice of an Italian paradise.
About the Author:
After spending some years in a travel agency, Susanna Cardelli is now dealing with real estate for sale in Tuscany, collaborating with many important real estate groups. She is also expert consultant for http://www.intermediacortona.com/ the real estate agency specialized on houses for sale in Tuscany, Italy.
Read more Articles written by Susanna Cardelli.
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