656 Buying in Sicily

Would anyone like to share their experiences about buying property in Sicily. Can it be recommended? Apparently, prices are lower than in Central Italy. Of course Sicily is a lot different from Central Italy and therefore what is best is a matter of taste. Anyway, what do you think are the upsides and downsides of Sicily? Should one worry about the mafia?

Best regards,

Kasper Andersen

Category
Property Sales/Rental Advice

[QUOTE=kasper Andersen]Would anyone like to share their experiences about buying property in Sicily. Can it be recommended? Apparently, prices are lower than in Central Italy. Of course Sicily is a lot different from Central Italy and therefore what is best is a matter of taste. Anyway, what do you think are the upsides and downsides of Sicily? Should one worry about the mafia?

Best regards,

Kasper Andersen[/QUOTE]

Still not decided about a region then?
Thought you were going to come and look in Lazio? It really does have everything you could be looking for!

[QUOTE=DavidandLinda]Still not decided about a region then?
Thought you were going to come and look in Lazio? It really does have everything you could be looking for![/QUOTE]

I am sure you are right! But while waiting for an opportunity to travel to Italy I would like to check out all possibilities...

Best regards,

Kasper

sicily is often on the news here... in general mainly to do with palermo and problems that exist there which are well known by everyone...

the other problems which are often mentioned is the total lack of water during the summer months .... now not knowing that island very well i am sure someone that lives there already will be able to clarify things ... but it seems that for at least two months every year the public water supply is virtually non existent.... water being delivered by the truck load and distributed manually.... this is a problem that is to do with the crime syndicates and the corrupt political system... taking money for doing infra structural work and it either not getting done at all or never completed....
i know this is an oversimplification of the problem and there are sure to be areas not affected by this water problem.... but which areas are best to avoid...

the other problem that you often here of ... are the illegal immigrant camps... this is a problem over the whole of the south but as soon as the sea is calm these boats set off from north africa and overcrowded and badly maintained arrive in the southern regions of italy... the italian government has taken a strong line oon it.... and they are often flown straight back to libya... but again organiised crime is powerful and keeps the whole thing going... most probably had a hand in building the detention camps... just to make money out of the whole system.... but anyway in the high season these numbers run into a thousand plus a week.... and despite its best efforts the italian government is finding it a major problem ....sicily being one of the front line zones... again i comment from a distance and those that already live there will know more of what this problem really means

apart from that climatically it will obviously be much warmer and more clement than zones of central italy.. prices will be that much lower as well...but then you have to counterbalance that against the fact that access to regions such as lazio and areas of abruzzo is very easy with rome and pescara airports .. especially rome offering varied and inexpensive flights... eg we sit between the two airports... about 90 mins from one and 45 from the other... it gives you choice...

and as regards summer temperatures you have to be sure you want 35 c plus for a lot of the time with high humidity.... and despite the water shortage in the summer quite a lot of rain in the winter months

i am sure this will provoke some more replies to your original message and help dispel some of my misheld beliefs about the place whilst giving you some relevant unbiased information

well said to everyone. I agree.
Beside, about water, we had great years (2004/2005) of rainfall and apparently we have reserved water for at least two years, so plenty for Mediterranean garden and swimming pools(still old pipe system unfortunately).
Same corruption system like the rest of Italy (already quoted) and "relative problems" with immigrants (they do not want to really stay in Sicily).
Lots of different places (diversity is common everywhere in Sicily) so lots of opportunities.
You must visit Sicily and choose your spot before taking any decision.
Location Location Location isn't it?