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Buy a Villa in Tuscany
To buy and restore a villa in Tuscany is right up there at the top of many people’s list of things they’d love to do. But for most, investing in property in Tuscany remains a dream, they don’t know where or how to start looking (even Tuscany has its “in” areas). They have no idea how the buying process works in Italy (Italy is renowned for its burocracy!) and even if they eventually find their “dream farmhouse” the idea of organising the renovation work from a distance and in another language is just too much to even consider. Crazy Brits selling up and moving to live the good life in Tuscany may make gripping Channel 4 reality documentaries but with the right help and advice buying a Villa in Tuscany can be a stress free and even enjoyable experience.
Listen to a "PODCAST" on Buying a Home in Italy This podcast gives you the lowdown on factors such as the purchase process, legalities, costs, mortgages, taxation, visas and residency, the economy and communications - everything you need to know to help you get started.
Depending on where in Tuscany you’d like to buy, your budget, how much help you’d like etc, here are our recommended professionals. If you’re thinking of investing in property in Tuscany, get in touch with one or more of them for an informal, no obligation chat about your plans, All of them speak English. 
CENTRAL TUSCANYIf you’re searching for a villa in Central Tuscany (Valdarno, round Florence, Chianti over to Siena) then We recommend Valdarno based architect/interior designer Elena Fratini. We’ve known Elena for a number of years (view her CV) and been impressed by her creative design and restoration work. Multi talented, multi tasking Elena’s varied experience includes numerous private and public projects, she even helped renovate the Parthenon in Athens on her Erasmus year at University! Elena can provide invaluable help and guidance through the maze of local rules and regulations in your search for the perfect property (she has great contacts). Once you’ve found your “dream” property, Elena can manage the renovation project. She has a rare mix of talents, on one hand she is “hands on”, down there on the "front line" amongst the mud and rocks on the building site, organising builders and craftsmen on a day to day basis (a task best suited to a woman, she says!) and on the other she never loses sight of the creative side of the project, always suggesting innovative solutions and materials. When the actual building work is complete, Elena is also a talented interior designer - furnishing, colour coordinating, choosing fabrics, even finding just the right objects in antique markets and reclamation yards. Whether you’re looking for a complete package or would like Elena to be involved in part of your project, GET IN TOUCH WITH ELENA >> EASTERN TUSCANY If you’d like to find a property in the Eastern part of Tuscany (Arezzo, Anghiari, Cortona, even over into Umbria) we recommend Anghiari based Estate Agents, Riccardo and Marta Romolini. We first met them a number of years ago when we were selling our first “dream house” (triangular shaped 600 year old apartment that was part of a castle wall, no hot water or shower!!), they impressed us with their friendly, professional way of working (read what others say about them) 
The slideshow below shows a few examples of the types of properties they have available, everything from a barn to restore to a medieval castle, for more info on these and many more - CONTACT RICCARDO & MARTA ROMOLINI >>
SLIDESHOW A European property priced at €200,000 Euros would have cost you £131,795.50 GBP at the beginning on 23rd March 2007. Due to currency movements, that same property would have been £5,566.92 more expensive at £137,362.60 less than two months later. Whether you’re thinking of buying your dream home under the Tuscan sun or even considering investing in Tuscan property to rent out, you will have to make one or more currency transactions to complete the purchase. The issue needs serious planning, If you agree to buy an overseas property without fixing the exchange rate at the outset, you are taking an enormous gamble. MORE INFO ON INTERNATIONAL MORTGAGES >> 
Be sure of your reason for buying – Forget the chat round the kitchen table about throwing in the towel and jetting off to a romantic getaway in the Tuscan countryside. Really think about why you want to buy a villa in Tuscany, it will greatly influence your final choice. Do you want to relax on holiday, invest in a rental property, soak up the city culture, retire etc etc. The search and buying process takes time and you don’t want to make a decision you’ll regret later. Again your Trusted agency or architect should be able to advise you.Be wary of buying with friends/relations – Sounds great, let’s club together and buy a farmhouse in Tuscany. We’ll all get to use it and we can rent it out to cover costs. Mmmm!!! Haven’t met your family, but, I’d be very careful about this choice. Make sure the deal is all written down (by a lawyer preferably) who pays how much, for what, when etc. What happens when it all goes pear shaped. Families, who’d have’em! Location, Location, Location – One of the most important things to decide and the one so many people get wrong. Decide what is important to you – distance from airports, facilities such as hospitals, schools, shops etc or total peace and quiet. Proximity to beaches or ski areas might be your priority. The romantic villa at the end of a 10km track might seem wonderful in mid August, what will it be like in mid Winter. The converted mill with the babbling brook flowing under it might seem different with a raging torrent rushing through. A mountain top view might mean a 2 hour round trip to take the kids to school. Certain areas of Tuscany are more fashionable than others, if you plan on reselling or renting, then do your homework. Most of all, keep your feet on the ground, don’t get carried away by a sunset or the smell of the flowers.
Test drive the location – Don’t make a spur of the moment decision. Minimum, drive round the area, make a list of good and bad points. Better still spend some time in the area, can you imagine living here? does it have enough to do on holiday? How long does it take to get to the airport?What type of property/amount of land – We all have the romantic image of a Tuscan farmhouse surrounded by its own olive grove or vineyard etc (we bought one, it’s a ton of work believe me!) But is that the best solution? An older property may need restoration, maintenance etc. More land means grass to cut, olive trees to harvest etc. An apartment could be easier to maintain, a new property would be low maintenance etc. A small garden might be sufficient. Are you a diy expert, do you want to spend your holidays catching up with maintenance? Are your language skills up to explaining to builders, plumbers etc what you need done? If you are planning on renting, then the type of property becomes even more important. If you need advice on what the rental market is looking for, then
CONTACT US
(either before you look or when you’ve found something you are considering).
Keep an eye on your budget - Although watching crazy folk living in a tumble down shack with holes in the roof makes fun TV, honestly it’s no fun in mid winter (did I ever tell you about our first Christmas in our “new house”!! snow blowing in the hole in the door, just as the builder decided he wasn’t going up on the roof to install the stove chimney). The purchase price of your villa is only part of the total. Calculate on at least a couple of visits to view properties, then various visits to banks, notaries, government offices. These all add to the total expenditure. When buying a property in Italy there are things like purchase tax, notary’s fees, estate agency fees , stamp duties etc to consider. Your trusted professional agency/architect can give you advice on the expenses involved. Don't forget to read our advice above on International Mortgages too, fixing the exchange rate could save you thousands. Once you’ve bought the house there are maintenance costs (note - some will cost more if you are a non resident) such as rates, insurance, utilities, rubbish tax, garden/pool maintenance etc. If you are considering renting your villa then plan carefully, if it’s not ready by a certain time you’ll miss a season. Remember, the time to gaze at the sunset is after you’ve bought the house, keep a clear head when dealing with the costs, it’s easy to get carried away by your dream house and its fantastic view!
Resale/rental value – If you plan on reselling or renting then make sure you get good advice. You may think you have a lovely property but if it’s in the wrong area it just won’t rent. The wrong type of property even in the right location could also be difficult to rent or resell. Don’t buy yourself a white elephant. For unbiased, friendly advice
get in touch with ourselves re rental potential
or your trusted agency/architect if you’re thinking of buying.
Hopefully none of this advice has put you off buying a villa in Tuscany. With the right help and advice you could soon be sitting outside your very own villa, sipping a glass of Chianti, watching the sun go down over the Tuscan hills. It’s a fantastic place to live, the people are friendly, and the climate, food and wine are great.
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