The buying trends in Italy in 2007 and our predictions for 2008

January 6th 2008

2007 was a great year for buying property in Italy and despite the general slowdown in international markets, overseas buyers could not get enough of Italy.

Homes in Italy have compiled a list of the most requested and visited regions in 2007 in terms of property buying and the results were so interesting that we wanted to share them with our clients:

The 2007 hotspots

Liguria has been the most visited region of Italy in 2007 by Homes in Italy’s clients with 25% of clients viewing in this region alone. The Liguria strong points are to be found in the picturesque beauty of its little villages, the proximity to France and the presence of two well served airports nearby (Nice and Genoa).

The appeal of Tuscany does not appear to be on the decline. It may well be the most expensive region in Italy but its offers a rich combination of landscape, art, history, food, and wine. Property in the north of the region, around Bagni di Lucca still remains affordable.

The Northern lakes continue to be of interest to clients even if prices are higher than the average but proximity to northern Cities, skiing and general tourism appeal to buyers.

Puglia is the real newcomer in the list. Puglia’s interest has been boosted by the low prices it offers in comparison to other areas of Italy. Puglia also boasts easy proximity to the sea, good flight connections with the rest of Europe (thanks to the Bari and Brindisi airports), beautiful countryside and many picturesque, traditional properties. Here mass tourism is still far from being established, giving the region an unspoilt environment.

Umbria completes the top 5 listing and a region that still attracts strong demand and a broad range of properties on the market. Direct flights to Perugia airport, have much improved accessibility to the region.

Other areas which have scored highly in terms of viewings and sales are Sardinia with its excellent coastline and rental opportunities and Calabria, which still offers low cost affordable properties within easy reach of the Mediterranean coastline.

The ones that got away...

The least visited regions in Italy through Homes in Italy have been Veneto, Trentino, Piemonte, Emilia Romagna and Le Marche.

Although the number of people visiting Le Marche has reduced, the conversion from viewing to sales is amongst the highest, meaning that the majority do fall in love with the region and like the property they see.

Another surprise to the Homes in Italy team is Piemonte. The region offers some spectacular countryside with vineyards and pretty hill towns with some really affordable property. Again this region is rarely featured in the overseas property focussed media, however those who do visit, rarely decide to buy elsewhere!

Finally, our Italy Manager Eliana Andolfo is moving to Bologna in Emilia Romagna in the new few weeks, so we expect the viewing figures to increase in this region this year!

Here is the top 7 most and least visited areas through Homes in Italy:

Most visited

1. Liguria

2. Tuscany

3. Northern Lakes

4. Puglia

5. Umbria

Least visited

1. Veneto

2. Trentino

3. Emilia Romagna

4. Piemonte

5. Le Marche

And here are our predictions for 2008;

And finally…..