My name is Bibi Barberi, I am real estate consultant and a fully certified broker. I speak fluent Italian, English (I am Canadian), French and Spanish. I’ve been living and working in Umbria for over 25 years and have the good fortune of turning my passion for property into a successful career.

Since you are visiting our website then you’re most likely searching for a special property which doesn’t necessarily cost a fortune to buy. Ask yourself what you really want from this property and what you expect from Italy and then we can start closing in on location, property type and other key criteria.

Of course, I’d be happy to give my opinion regardless of who lists a property. Furthermore once you have a clear idea of the types of properties that suit your requirements I’d be pleased to contact trusted colleagues who represent similar properties in terms of location and quality. That way we can be sure to make the most of your time in Italy.

Anytime, simply contact us for a viewing.

Just send us an email. We will gladly send you additional information that we chose not to make available on the Internet.

Yes I am an agent and my commission is 3% + IVA (Italy’s value added tax). For properties under €100,000 my commission is a flat fee of €3,000 + IVA.

Only on occasion a few restrictions may apply. International real estate laws are based on reciprocity. According to your country of origin (citizenship) there may be some restrictions as to what you can buy (i.e. Swiss citizens cannot buy homes of a certain size…Canadians have limitations as to the amounts of land… Australians also have limitations) However these restrictions do not apply to EU citizens or citizens of the US.

Location, Position, Size, Price and the Heart (it is the beginning of a love affair after all).

A survey is not essential in an Italian purchase procedure. However the purchase procedure should be comfortable. So if a survey is what you are used to then have one done. Costs vary based on property. Please contact us for some referrals.

It will be our pleasure to give you some suggestions and point you in the right direction.

Property tax (imposta municipale unica or IMU) is paid to the comune (township) in which the property is located. This means every comune has a certain degree of discretion on taxation. Italy still has very reasonable tax rates as compared to the United Kingdom or United States. A second home of approximately 200 square meters in an average comune could result in an IMU of approximately €1,500 per year.
This tax is paid yearly in one or 2 instalments (June and December)

Garbage tax or TARI is another tax related to property ownership paid in 3 installments. Cost is based on size of property and not how many people live in it.

Yes and various specialized agencies are available in that regard. A meeting with rental professionals can help answer many relevant questions and we’re happy to assist in that regard.

We will be happy to help you evaluate various alternatives although financing property acquisitions by foreigners can be a drawn out procedure since they lack credit history.

We will help you with all the legalities, in conjunction with the notary, the surveyor, the registry office and any other agencies.

Of course! After all we’re in the 21st Century even if your preferred home is in an idyllic spot nestled in the pristine countryside.

This is certainly possible with most properties. Where restrictions apply we will point them out clearly.

Normally this is a quick and straight forward matter – considering Italian standards. We will point out any issues that could impact your timing in advance. For more information on buying procedures please contact us and we will send you an email with our guidelines.

We generally advise 18 months for a full renovation – 9 months for a revamp – from deed to delivery. It really depends on the client’s clarity of vision: if your mental picture is clearly transmitted to the architect/engineer then you can be assured that your perfect property will be delivered on time and on budget. Experience teaches that a change of mind will affect your pocketbook and your deadline.

Purchasing a restored, finished home will save you time and, in some instances, money as well. If you are happy with the chosen finishes – and the seller is motivated – you can reasonably expect to buy at a price which is lower than renovating.

This is not a requirement but you should consider the decision from both a legal and financial point of view. However you need not have a resident’s permit to take advantage of renovation benefits such as the 10% IVA rate.