Ralph’s corner – San Vincenzo’s Winter Hidden Gems
We slipped into one of our little macchine (cars) for the five-minute drive down to the Corso. February 28. Our fourth winter here. The darkness still feels different to me in Italy—deeper somehow, more intimate. The air carried a gentle chill, just enough to justify wrapping a comforting sciarpa (scarf) around my neck. It brushed […]
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Selling a Property to American Buyers: Our International Experience in Dallas
Why Focus on the American Market The U.S. real estate market currently represents one of the most interesting opportunities for those looking to sell a property to American buyers. During our stay in Dallas, we confirmed a key insight: Texas, compared to other U.S. states, is responding very well to the current global geopolitical situation. […]
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Ralph’s Corner – A Tuscan Christmas that Warms the Heart
I was seated at the end of a long table, surrounded by fourteen smiling, laughing faces glowing with the unmistakable joy of Christmas. This was il pranzo di Natale, Christmas lunch, in the home of Salvatore and Patrizia—parents of our dear friend Antonio. In true Italian fashion, the entire family was present. Antonio’s wife Mary […]
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Ralph’s Corner – August/September – A Time of Festivals and Change
Campiglia Marittima In Campiglia Marittima, August sets the town alight with Apritiborgo, a medieval festival that transforms the hilltop village into a dream of music and fire. Beneath the old gateway of Porta a Mare, jugglers toss torches against the darkening sky, while masked performers slip through alleys lit by lanterns. Piazza della Repubblica becomes […]
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Delightful Magic in a Bottle
This is Tuscany—a land that has, for centuries, coaxed magic from the soil and sun. And here, in this enchanted corner of Italy, wine is far more than a beverage. It is history. It is memory. It is a love affair in a glass. My Journey Through Tuscan Wines Not long after moving to Italy, […]
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What to See in Campiglia Marittima | A Journey Through History, Mines, and Tuscan Beauty
Introduction Nestled in the heart of Tuscany’s Val di Cornia, between the sea and the hills of the Etruscan Coast, lies Campiglia Marittima, a charming village steeped in history. If you’re wondering what to see in Campiglia Marittima, you’ll find a perfect mix of medieval art, mining archaeology, stunning views, and thermal relaxation. This guide […]
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Spring in San Vincenzo: A Season—and Life—Reborn
Here, strangers become friends over glasses of spritz and platters of seafood, the sounds of local music floating gently on the salt-kissed breeze. The Mediterranean, painted in deep sapphire and aquamarine, stretches out like a dream. As the waves whisper against the shore—a soothing, rhythmic lullaby—you might find yourself wondering about Napoleon’s days on nearby […]
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“L’angolo di Ralph” — San Vincenzo in Winter
Then, suddenly, we emerged into brilliance—a dazzling light piercing through the clouds to reveal theice-crystal beauty of the towering, snow-laden Dolomites. It felt like stepping into a dream as the mountains stood majestically, glowing in the winter sun. This was the start of our first Christmas market adventure, and the magic had already begun.Our seaside […]
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“Ralph’s corner” — Was This a Tuscan Dream?
Another good friend, Alessandro, who is a leading FISAR* sommelier, and his wife, Kristina, drove us to a large, private estate on the outskirts of the charming historic stone city of Campiglia Marittima. The location “Villa Tramonto” – Campiglia Marittima When we entered through the gates and traveled up the private road to the estate’s […]
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“Ralph’s corner” — Siena Palio
Unlike traditional horse races, in the Palio the horse can cross the finish line without a rider and still “win” for the Contrada (the term for the 17 fiercely competing City districts). Also, horses are selected by lot the week of the race, leaving little time for jockey/horse practice. And finally there is strategy among […]
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Ralph’s Corner—San Vincenzo People
Today I felt “special joy” since this day was a “mini mission” to deliver invitations for my 73rd birthday party to some shop-owner friends on my walk to the sea. In my previous article, I listed the reasons that led me to choose San Vincenzo as my new home (here’s the article >>> “Introduction to “Ralph’s Corner” – Coming to San Vincenzo”). I always enjoyed the […]
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Introduction to “Ralph’s Corner” – Coming to San Vincenzo
“Have you ever considered retiring in another country?” I asked Lynn not knowing what to expect, but logically thinking the response would be a safe, emphatic “no”! To my surprise, the mention of Italy seemed to ignite something very exciting within her–as if an electric switch had been flipped, illuminating a path towards a new […]
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What’s the best time to buy a property in Italy?
And what’s the best moment to search the web? The best moment to buy a property in Italy goes between September & November. Yes, it may look like a way-too-straightforward answer, but let’s delve deeper into the main reasons behind it, which are three: 1# Owners go back to their lives The owner of a […]
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Superbonus 110 – buying or selling a property in Italy!
It’s a question a lot of people ask themselves, probably including you who are reading this In recent weeks we have received many requests from people, both from Italy and abroad, interested in selling or buying a house, asking us how to take advantage of this great opportunity that the Government has made available to […]
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Superbonus 110 – how does it work?
The tax deduction applies to work performed from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022. However, anyone who has carried out works for at least 60% of the total intervention by June 30, 2022 will be entitled to the 110% deduction also for expenses incurred until December 31, 2022. Who is eligible for Superbonus 110? […]
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1 euro house in Italy: how does it work?
1 euro house in Italy: how does it work? what’s the procedure? Let’s start by saying that Italy is rich in small, beautiful villages that, since the first and second post-war period are becoming increasingly depopulated.To save them, here comes the brilliant and desperate idea: sell the houses at a symbolic price, but at a […]
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Renting out a house in Italy: how does it work?
However, there are some aspects that may “slow down” the race to buy in the “Bel Paese”. In the meantime, I would like to start by giving you a figure: When we are contacted by a potential buyer interested in buying a second home, we obviously conduct an interview with the customer, aimed at knowing […]
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Restoring a house in Italy: how does it work? What’s the process?
What is the correct procedure to follow for restoring a house in Italy? Let’s start by saying that I recommend you read this article even before you start looking for a property to buy.Why?When planning about restoring a house in Italy, it is precisely the bureaucracy that discourages and frightens foreign real estate investors, often in […]
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Restoring a property in Italy: how much does a renovation cost?
However, here is the link to the post where I explained all these aspects! In this article, I’ll provide further details: 1 – We will discuss the cost items to restore a property in Italy; 2 – What are the possible constraints to which a property can be subject. It is very important that you […]
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Buy property in Italy: what to ask during the viewing!
If you follow my channels or read my articles, you already know many aspects concerning the correct procedure to search for a property (if you have not done so, here is the link) a list of the preliminary documentation to obtain from the owner of the property you are interested in purchasing. However, in the […]
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Buy a property in Italy: how long does it take?
You have collected the introductory information (where to invest, what are the prices in that area, how much it costs to buy a house in Italy, etc…), but now it is appropriate to know how much time passes from the time you have found the right house and when you will take possession of it. […]
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Buying property in Italy as a foreigner
Well, to buy a house in Italy you have to follow three simple steps: 1 – Purchasing proposal Once you have found the right house, you make a purchase proposal accompanied with a first deposit (even if not very substantial but necessary to demonstrate your genuine willingness to buy the property); The proposal is aimed […]
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Final deed in Italy: how it works?
With this article you will understand exactly how to get to this important moment and which documents, in the preceding weeks, the notary will ask you – what happens and how it happens during the final deed in Italy. Notarial final deed in Italy – hints: Let’s start by saying that the deed, although it […]
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Buy a property in Italy: what to know BEFORE searching!!
Several real estate operators and programmers of websites dedicated to the search for properties in Italy completely overlook this aspect. I’ll start by explaining how Italy is politically divided. The entire Italian territory is subdivided into 20 regions (Tuscany, Liguria, Puglia, Lombardy, Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Emilia Romagna, Marche, […]
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Buy house in a condo in Italy: get the info you need!
Released by Antonio Anile Today, we’ll talk about how important it is to check the legal situation of the condo in which the house you intend to buy is placed. In the meantime, it is advisable to give you some basic information on what is meant by “condo” (Condominio) in Italy. A building in which […]
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How to apply for a tax code in Italy?
The tax code is very important for a foreigner who decides to live in Italy.Thanks to it you can: The only entity authorized to issue the tax code is the Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate). If you have found your ideal home to buy in Italy, you must have a tax code from the earliest […]
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How to apply for a loan in Italy to buy a property?
Here are the key points: 1) Normally, the evaluation time for this type of loan is longer.In fact, the paperwork is always sent to the central departments and undergoes a more in-depth evaluation process.At least one and a half months is usually required for the evaluation; in addition to this time, we must also consider […]
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Transfer money to Italy to buy a property!
Suppose you are a U.S. citizen who wants to buy his second home here in Italy, or that you want to permanently move here to spend your old age here in the “Bel Paese”. You will, therefore, buy in Euro, but you own Dollars.In any purchasing process (not only in the real estate business), you […]
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Maintaining a property in Italy: tax, bills and so on!!
How much does it cost to have a bank account in Italy? The total cost of a bank account consists of a fixed fee and a part of variable expenses.The main fixed costs are the annual fees, the fees related to any payment cards, stamp duties, and/or the cost of sending communications to the customer. […]
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Buy a property in Italy – costs to face!!
When you buy a property in Italy, what are the costs of the commission for the real estate agency? If you buy a house through a real estate agency, the commission due to the agency is around 3% of the purchase price + 22% VAT. Once the owner of the property has informed the applicant […]
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Search for a property in Italy: hints for a smooth research!
They have contacted me telling me they have read our guide “Things to know BEFORE looking for a house to buy in Italy” and that they have found it particularly illuminating. Luise and Paul have been searching for a property in Italy for a long time, and they already came several times here in Tuscany […]
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Safely buy a house in Italy: how not to fall into “traps”!
You know very well that, in Italy, lawsuits are resolved on average in no less than 4/5 years!So what should be done not to fall into such traps if you plan to safely buy a property in Italy? Let me show you what I would do make sure that the house I am buying is […]
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Property in Italy: the best price is”invisible”!!
I’m not a magician and I don’t foresee the future, but I know you will: At this point, two things can occur: 1. As a result, if you have been lucky you will have identified the property you have been looking for… but it is not over yet: now you will have to focus on […]
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Where to buy a property in Tuscany?
The numerous trips have brought me to know little corners of paradise and less known and more authentic areas of Tuscany. One of these is the Etruscan Coast, which encloses a large stretch of coastline between Livorno and Piombino, and includes the Island of Elba, the real pearl of the Tuscan Archipelago. The name Costa […]
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What are the necessary documents to request before buying a property?
Posting such checks could result in unfortunate inconveniences, like finding out that the estate can’t be freely bought or sold (for instance because of particular constraints or architectural issues). In this case, it could be difficult get the bond back from the owner, especially if the deposit amount of money has already been spent. In […]
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How to open a B&B in Italy?
It is possible that you have been curious about the following: What is a B&B? or How to open a B&B in Italy? Bed and Breakfast (B&B) is a mini hospitality venture that provides nightlong accommodation and only breakfast. In Tuscany, usually a minimum of six bedrooms are provided for commercial use. The national reform […]
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What documents do I need before buying a house?
In some cases, It’s not so easy to obtain all the documents certifying their regularity and often you only realize the irregularities after thorough verification. I know what you are thinking …why does the owner of the property not verify that everything is in order before putting it on the market? There are 2 main […]
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How to look for a House?
How to look for a House? … How the “game” works! You know, it is not easy to look for a house in your city despite having the advantage of knowing market value, the best areas, the services that are present around the property, let alone in a far area from where you live that […]
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Right of Reciprocity
You know, every year hundreds of people from all over the world want to buy a house in Italy and be part of the magic of our country. There are many reasons for this: There is a problem, however.And which is that Italy – although magnificent – has some bureaucratic, procedural and cultural peculiarities that […]
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