Our Services

Buying a property takes time and requires expertise. You will have to deal with experienced real estate agents who offer properties for sale. Being accompanied by a real estate agent of your choice, who takes care of your interests and who speaks your language as well, will make your negotiating position much stronger. Rely on Italy House Hunting to make buying a house in Italy easy for you.

What is the purchase process like in Italy?

Discover how Italy House Hunting supports you
as your dedicated real estate agent.

Step 1 - Determine your Budget and Location

Determination of Budget.

When calculating the available budget, take into account

• the purchase price,
• the estimated cost of eventual renovation works,
• additional costs: the extra costs related to the purchase of a house or an apartment in Italy, like the agency fees, the fees of the Notary and the taxes.

To avoid surprises, account for an average total extra cost of 10% on top of the purchase price. (This is usually between 8 and 9 percent.) For new constructions, budget for 16% extra: 10% VAT and 5-6% for Notary costs and Agency fees.

If you intend to establish your residency in the property, the extra cost percentage will be lower, due to lower tax or VAT rates.

Determination of Location

Italy is large country with twenty regions. Narrowing down your search to a determined area is essential. We provide statistical data and average prices per square meter and per region, province or municipality (in Italian comune), helping you identify the best area to search for a property that suits your budget.

Step 2. Selection of suitable properties

Once your budget and location are set, we can start our property search.

• Selecting potentially interesting properties for sale on Italian websites
• Collecting missing information from listings
• Preparating and scheduling of property viewings

Step 3. Home viewings

We schedule your home viewings with owners and/or other real estate agents.

• We recommend at least one full day of home viewings, with a maximum of two days. 
• After visiting properties, together we evaluate their characteristics, price-quality ratio, and your level of interest.
• If desired, we can pick you up at the airport and/or dropy you off. Viewings can also be arranged during your holidays in Italy.

Step 4. Negotiating phase

If one of the visited houses meets your requirements, you can decide to proceed to negotiate with the seller.

Italy House Hunging will: 

• conduct a thorough inspection and review of the property documents (cadastre)
• present a binding offer to the seller on your behalf, which usually includes a payment proposal and one or more warranty down payments (deposits).

Step 5. Contract phase

If negotiations are successful, the transaction moves to the final phase, culminating in the signing of the final contract before a Notary Public. This process takes typically two months, but can be completed in a few weeks if all documents are available immediately. 

• The seller must provide all legally required documents to the Notary.
• If you don't speak or understand the Italian language, the Notary will require the contract to be translated in a language you understand, which will incur additional costs (for translations, witnesses, or, alternatively, a Power of Attorney).

What about the commission fees in Italy?

Applicable commission structures may differ from those in your own country.

• In Italy, commission rates are free, not fixed by law. 
• Both the SELLER and the BUYER pay a commission to the real estate agent.

Agency Fees

In Italy, commission rates for the real estate brokerage typically range from 3% to 5% + VAT (currently 22%) of the purchase price.

• Both the SELLER and the BUYER are paying this commission.
• By law, the agent's right to commission arises as soon as an agreement is reached through their mediation.
• Italy House Hunting charge a commission of 3%-4% with a minimum of 4,000 euro. Payment is due within 15 to 30 days.
• If your contract includes a condition precedent (also known as suspensive condition), no commission is due until that condition is fulfilled.

Right of Commission

Important Notice - Italian law states that the agent who first establishes contact between a seller and a buyer is entitled to the commission. Therefore it is crucial that Italy House Hunting inititate the first contact with the real estate agent, offering a property for sale.

• In this case the BUYER will pay commission to Italy House Hunting (not to the agent who is offering the property). 
• The SELLER pays the commission to their agent.
• Exceptions may apply, especially for lower-value properties.

Overview of our services

• Determination of Budget and Location
• Selection of suitable properties
• Home viewings
• Examination of Cadastral documents and Mortgage register
• Written negotiations and Contract writing
• Request of Italian fiscal code
• Mortgage consultancy
• Liaison with translator services and Notary Public
• Presence and assistance at the final deed (closing) with the Notary Public

    Optional services:

• Assistance with Stay permit and Residency request
• Name transfer of energy contracts
• Property tax and Waste disposal tax declaration
• Registration of your home for private rental
• Rental administration