8541 any recommendations

Hi Connie, have sent you a private message - but do check out our web site for some tips on the buying process. You could also look at charles joseph's site [url=http://www.magicalmarche.com]Magical Marche: enter the magic circle[/url] he gives good advice as well.

warm regards

Pam

Hi Connie,

In case they haven't recommended themselves, I would thoroughly recommend you stay at Villa Sibillini. We stayed there last October when we were in Le Marche checking on the progress of our house at Monte San Martino. Our stay was relaxed and friendly and Pam and David are full of useful information and advice. There is also David's cooking at dinner to look forward to, if you choose to eat in, which was delicious. We will definately return to Villa Sibillin when we are next out checking on the house.

There are a lot of charming places to stay, the problem with many run by Italians is that they are not on the web. If you want to be in Ascoli I can give you contacts for a couple. There are several good agents and it may depend on which of the areas you mention are priority. On that I can also give you several English speaking contacts. Just send me a pm if you'd like more.

Hi Connie
I have sent you a pm as well!!!
Angie

Not sure about accomodation, but for cheaper properties avoid the macerata and amandola areas, look towards the Ascolano area, basically from Ascoli inland towards Acquasanta Terme and beyond, there are some good web sites such as property abroad.com and therightmove.co.uk, for a local agent, (based in Fermo), try [url]www.immobiliareciccoli.it[/url] (I think that is the site address, but do a search for ciccoli and it will come up) they are small family based and will see you right the way through the process, and cover the whole area.

If you want somewhere near the 210 I can recommend Contrada Durano in Smerillo. Lovely people running it and great food..[url=http://www.contradadurano.it/home/index.cfm]:: Contrada Durano :: Home page[/url]
Good luck with your hunt. I love that area of Marche and have no regrets about buying there.

M

Edited to add I have also heard great things about Villa Sibillini though have never been there myself..

I think whatever you decide, don't rush, many areas where there are no english speaking estate agents have loads to offer, and a lot better deals for your money, bear in mind that it is very expensive to restore an old farmhouse, with high taxes, (currently artigiani are paying 60-65% of profits over to the government in various taxes..and it ain' cos we're earning loads!) add to that the high price of properties in the areas where there are already many brits, and it is a recipe for high risk, hence the few people who are selling up, My advise would be to buy in the areas where there are fewer brits, and start smaller, see how it goes, you can always sell up and move on, or trade up, a house which is habiatble is a better deal for "1st" time buyers, less stressful and you will probably enjoy your time in Italy much much more, without the usual restoration problems and stresses.

We moved there (and sadly back again) with a transit van and a box trailer. bit tough over the old alps but otherwise ok! I thought furniture, other than IKEA and some small flat pack stuff, was expensive in our part of Italy, but thats just my opinion.

See our web site [url=http://www.lcfrestore.co.uk]LCF Restore[/url] for pics of van and trailer

Hi Connie

I have sent you a personal message suggesting a genuine Italian estate agent. He has been known to our family for more than 30 years and we can vouch for both his professionalism and integrity.

hi,i would like to help, have a look to my website and testimonials,perhaps i could be your solution...who knows?
ciao
andrea
[url=http://www.marche-project-management.com]Marche Project Management[/url]

Hi McAndrew, a bit of obvious advertising!!!!! me thinks.
A

yes! everibody need publicity, at least this one is evident,not hidden behind "tricks", like i saw in the past, i mean somebody giving fake testimonials to friends...
in my site there are also genuine testimonials from customers (who offered to be contacted privately as well),so it's not so different to any other recommendation.
ciao
andrea

I agree 100% with Angie & Robert I did bring this blatant advert to the attention of the moderators when it was originally post but they chose to leave it.

Hello Connie,
Don't listen to anyone who is replying, especially those who are clearly advertising there's or a friend's services. If you want to buy here at a good price avoid estate agents both english and italian. Find a place to stay then just drive round. When you see a place you like, go and speak to the owners or leave a contact number. Its the only way nowadays to avoid the ligger's here trying to make a living of the back of people such as yourselves. Trust no one, you wouldn't do in England and it's the same here. Also when you find a place get a proper survey done by a professional not associated with anyone known to the seller or agent of the seller.

....thank you rod...very kind! this is certainly the best way to approach with italians,especially in the region where you bought a house...compliments.

i have no problem to avoid any publicity here,if it's not alloud,i only think to be able to help somebody as i'm in this business since years,but it seems that there are many people here who don't like italians or think they are all rippers...

just a question rod : why didn't you sign with your name instead of casa margherita??? your post is not blatant??
andrea

Hi
Have sent you a PM- best of luck with your search

Just a small point, I don't agree that its easy to find a house you like, then track down the owner. In my experience as soon as an English voice is heard by an owner, the price goes up. Check out loads of homes and agents and then come here for a long weekend and see some homes for sale. If you do some research before you come, you will soon pick up on the value for money.

Whoever you choose to buy from just ensure that you get some good impartial professional advice. I would be happy to give you some contact details of trustworthy professionals, both English and Italian lawyers and surveyors. As long as you take the right precautions, just as you would in the UK, everything works well. Its only when you try to cut corners and save money during the buying and restoring process that you can get caught.

Please feel free to call me if you would like a chat (numbers on our web site). There are loads of agents on our web site, as well as places like the italian magazines (Italy Mag of course).

Good luck....

Pam

i agree 100% with pam,last month i was trying to buy a farmhouse (and this is my job:buy renovate and sell)and was discussing the price which was between 150 and 180k euro, during the last visit,one of the owners said that he knew that i was buying this house to offer to foreign customers and because english are very rich...the price was now 500k euro..!!! this is the truth and those people know me as i leave in the area....they know i don't have a ferrari and i work all the day to pay our taxes,the loans and try to earn something....so the higer price was not related to me but to english market.
trust me....use an agent, but a serious one! ask references to him and speak directly with his customers (not one....at least 4 or 5!)or ask in this forum if somebody knows him.
mcandrew
[url=http://www.marche-project-management.com]Marche Project Management[/url]

hi connie,
i met few days ago a german agent,mrs Wiebke Dirks,she leaves near Fermo, this is not an advert but really good agents are rare and i think that serious,well educated,honest and reliable people should be known by everibody,so if you want to try to meet her,here is her address:
[email]w.dirks@casa-mia.info[/email] [url=http://www.casa-mia.info/]Immobilien Italien Marken: Ein Rustico in den Marken (Marche) von casa-mia Immobilien (Immobilien Italien Marken Toskana Toscana Investition Investment Geldanlage Schloss Burg Bauernhaus Bauernhof real estate property agent,Italy, Italia, Marche): Ru[/url]

We have a good relationship with many agents, and in fact some 25 of our clients bought from different sources last year. However there are two that we get really good feedback on, [url]www.marchehomesdirect.com[/url] and [url=http://www.terremarchigiane.it]TERRE MARCHIGIANE - Properties for sale on for rent, contry houses, farm houses, wineyard, real estate agency in Marche Italy[/url] I'd be happy to forward your emails to clients that have bought from them so that you could check them out for yourselves.

However we still advise all our clients to get good legal representation and in our opinion a lawyer on the ground in italy achieves a lot more in a short amount of time.

[I].... I'd be happy to forward your emails to clients that have bought from them so that you could check them out for yourselves.[/I]

[I]However we still advise all our clients to get good legal representation and in our opinion a lawyer on the ground in italy achieves a lot more in a short amount of time.[/quote][/I]

pam gives always good advices,the direct feedback from users is really good, i would say that a legal representation is sometimes useful, but don't waste money when the notary can give exactly the same informations...included in his fees
mcandrew

Yes of course the Notary clears certain areas, but with good legal advice you can have everything sorted beforehand and save lots of time. Its also good for peace of mind for buyers, especially if they don't speak the Italian language, and the majority of Notaries certainly don't speak English. As for saving fees would you really buy in the uk without a solicitor and its probably one of the biggest purchases you will make.... in a foreign country where everything is organised in a different way to the UK.

With a lawyer, they are only working on your behalf and from personal experience once you have a good relationship with one, they can help in so many ways. Ours organises the bank accounts, code fiscali, residency and contracts with builders and surveryor/geometra. Ours has also saved clients that are buying her a considerable amount in taxes (something to do with the agricultural society and land) so they now don't have to pay the ICI tax.

She has also taken on telecom for us and resolved the problem in record time, worked out a solution to a dispute with some tradesmen, sorted a motoring offence to our benefit and so many other things that I can't even remember. It seems that to live in italy the most useful professional is a lawyer, and she doesn't cost too much either.

Maybe I should start a fan club for her!!

I would advise using agents that have been recommended by people who have bought through them previously. A good Italian agent actually does an awful lot more work than an English one for their 3%.

A good Italian agent will sort out your codice fiscale, residency, utilities & bank account (if you want) for no extra costs. If someone is trying to charge you for these servces I would question their integrity.

The way Italians use estate agents is quite different to how we do in the UK. For example, if I want to buy a property in Florence, I go to my local, trusted agent here in Marche and let them find me one. It's a strange concept to us Brits. We use estate agents like shops and buy houses a bit like we buy shoes (!)

Also bear in mind that if you have a good agent you are happy with and see a property you love but it's with a different agent, speak to YOUR agent about it. Almost all Italian agents here collaborate and commission share with the others so YOUR agent will contact the other and if you proceed, will share the commission. Just remember that you have to do that BEFORE you view the property.

If you need a lawyer around that area, let me know. Good Luck:smile:

Penny - what you say about how to use an agent makes sense to me, but if you don't live in Italy, how do you find a really good trusted estate agent? We have spent the last 10 years exploring Italy and the last year or so specifically around Le Marche. We have only just started looking at houses and have managed to narrow our requirements down quite precisely. The problem I have found is the agents I have met are nice and helpful but I am very realistic about what can and can not be done and take the promises with a pinch of salt, especially after reading this forum for a while now! I have checked most of the agents that appear to be genuine recommendations from this forum but no suitable properties have turned up yet. Any suggestions for other agents would be very welcome. I would personally like to take a 6 months sebatical and investigate locally myself, but unfortunately not an option at the moment. :smile:

[quote=ChrisM;95538]Penny - what you say about how to use an agent makes sense to me, but if you don't live in Italy, how do you find a really good trusted estate agent? We have spent the last 10 years exploring Italy and the last year or so specifically around Le Marche. ........

I do agree 100%, there are many good agents but also many really bad:either because they are not enough specialized,either because they are not up to date with new laws or because they don't want to spend too much time to help properly foreign buyers, than there are very expensive ones (only with foreigners..) or very cheap at the beginning who raise up costs after...and you cannot do anything.
so my advice is to speak with british customers near the area where you want to buy the house,go and see the works,when you speak with the surveyor ask him to write down costs "all included" to renovate the house following all the rules and get the habitability (so also costs for other technicians:geologist,energy savings,acoustic,anti seismic if needed,engenner for "genio civile"if needed,security and what ever he knows it's obligatory for your project) than compare with another surveyor and discuss.try to avoid modifications after the problem as it cost money,ask before if 1 "variante" (modification to project) is included in the fees (normally they will accept this)
good luck
andrea
[url=http://www.marche-project-management.com]Marche Project Management[/url]

ChrisM - it is difficult to know who is "good", I agree. I would suggest the folloowing:

1. Come out (not just for a weekend - it really isn't long enough) and visit some agents with an interpreter, as the level of Italian agent's English varies enormously and you can be sure that the translation is accurate.
2. Be specific in what you are asking for but also realistic enough to realise that you are going to have to compromise. When I was doing translations for the agent I have sent you details of, the number of foreign property hunters who thought they were going to find a large farmhouse, in a field, with mountain vews, ornate period details/frescoes, that just needed minor works for €150,000 was enormous. Maybe 10 years ago or even when we first looked, 6 or 7 years ago but generally speaking properties like that are long gone. You are highly unlikely to get everything on your ideal home list so decide which items are vital and which are negotiable.
3. Narrow down your area of search. Have an idea which towns or villages you want to be near as a good agent will find other properties in that area that aren't currently on their books. In fact, if you have driven past a house you love the agent can find out who owns it and whether it is for sale.
4. Remember that permissions in each comune are different i.e. one comune may allow you to build that glass extension and another won't. The agent may know the personalities at the various comune so may have a feel for what is likely to be allowed but it is only their opinion not a guarantee. Just like in the UK, you have to submit an application and wait and see.

That is my advice. I am not an expert, but I have worked for what I consider to be a good agent and bought a couple of house and sold part of one and got a mortgage here so I have some experience of those transaction in this part of Marche.

I have PM'd you with a recommendation for the Italian agent here in Comunanza I used to work for who I would always use and have been fantastically helpful in so many ways. They prevented us from buying a house that we loved but was party to a huge inheritance court case which could drag on for years, becuase they are extremely thorough in their research and very helpful.

Just an aside - I am always a little bemused by people's suggestions that buyers get a "survey". Who is supposed to perform that??? A geometra who receives between 8-10% of any renovation costs? Do you really suppose they are independent? The method of renumeration for a geometra is flawed so it is bound to invite biased reports. There is no such thing as a surveyor in Italy. A geometra is NOT a surveyor. They do not do the same studies nor perform the same role. One is not "better" than the other but they are different. The ONLY way to know if a house is structurally sound is from a structural engineer's report which costs money. Just like the only way to know if your pool will stay where you put it or your house isn't about to slip down the hill is a geologists report which also costs money.

Penny - Many thanks for your thoughts and advise, I have sent you a PM.
Andrea - thanks as well, I think I missed your reply earlier, my email must have been playing up!