Hello, I'm new to this site but joined because I've been very impressed by the answers to some of the questions posted on here.I'm considering buying a house in North East Tuscany.
It does have gardens at the front and the back, but these are not extensive, just in keeping with the size of the house.
It's just a bit of a shock to receive this so long after the sale and because I received nothing at all by letter to the house itself, and nothing to my UK address. I am in touch with the estate agents because they help each year to calculate my IMU and I pay them a small fee for this, so they know of any change of address I had in the UK.
My partner is concerned that something else could happen and I get even another bill after this ! The agents did not mention the possibility of the taxes being adjusted after the sale, and I never found anything about this online or anywhere else, so it's all a big shock really.
Do you know if I will have the option to pay in instalments or does it all have to be paid at once? I am trying to find someone bi-lingual to help with the process, as I speak very minimum Italian and I can't even figure out where I'm supposed to return the form to or, indeed, exactly which account they want me to pay the money to.
Hi UgoYou have been extremely helpful with all of my enquiries, thank you. I really appreciate that you took the time to respond to this so professionally.Many thanksLinda
Hello againMy friend in Italy has recommended a notary who is not bilignual but will use a translator.She called him to explain the situation and says she trusts him. He will charge euro 2000.Ugo, could you please confirm that the checks that 'Oldandbold' suggested are checks that should be made by the notary? As you can appreciate, I am not in Italy at the moment, don't speak Italian, and would find it difficult to make all of these checks myself - although I really appreciate this being pointed out to me, so thank you.Many thanksLinda
Hi ThereThanks for this reply.They are charging 22% IVA on top of the 5% fee. It means overall paying around 4000 euros more than if I were to pay 3%.I suppose because the house seemed such good value to me I didn’t mind paying it - although absolutely everyone says it’s too high.I haven’t signed anything in writing yet. But did agree by email - only because they initially wanted their full fee on signature of the compromesso and I said I’d pay half upfront and half at the end.My Italian friend has also said it Ian high but doesn’t seem too bothered about it. She came with me to see the house and was amazed I gonany discoint at all because for the area she said it was incredibly good value. How would I contact the Camera di Commercio?Linda
Hello again, thanks for this. The price I gave is the re- negotiated price. The starting price was euro 140000. A local geometry gave me a cost for two kinds of rooves - the first is the same as the current one and the cost he said would be around euro 50000-55000. I asked for the cost for a roof with exposed beams and removing the existing ceilings to create more space and character and the cost he gave for this was euro 80000- 85000.There is already plumbing/ water downstairs - I don’t need to make it liveable just usable as a studio. it is in an area of historical interest so I had to check about any changes I want to make and the same geometry has been very helpful and very clear about what I can and cannot do. do you think it’s good? It’s in a beautiful sos town in Tuscany about 30 mins from the sea by car
Hi again the negotiates price is euro 115000 and land tax is approximately 175000 euros - I’m aware of the other taxes. This town is an expensive one and this is absolutely the best value I’ve seen in this specific area
Hi EveryoneThanks so much for these helpful responses, I appreciate it.I'm still a little confused though. Perhaps I should explain more detail of my particular buying situation and see if this changes anyone's response..?The impression I get from sites like this is that most people buy with a partner, and don't therefore have to prioritise safety and community quite as much as I do: I will be buying alone, although my daughter and my friends will most likely visit. For that reason, I have to rule out the typical detached 'farrmhouse' that most people aim for.Another major factor is that I will use the home for around 4 months per year only, the rest of the time it will be empty as I don't intend renting it out. I want a property that I can partly live in and partly convert to a large artist's studio - this issue is the major factor for me. I also love gardening, so a garden is very important.So, whilst I am aware that there are 100s of properties for sale, my needs for a property may be different to most people's - safety and size are the most important, rather than say, land or potential as a holiday home or rental investment.I finally found an unusual, lovely house right in the centre of a very pretty town very close to where my one Italian friend lives. I've had 2 surveys done on it, both by local geometra - one was suggested by the agents another by my Italian friend. Both have said the only major work needed is replacing the roof eventually.The house is semi-detached and free on 3 sides. It has a front and rear garden. The rear garden is terraced with a courtyard on the upper part and grass etc on the lower part. The property can also be accessed via a 24/7 permamently accessible driveway. There is a driveway at the front and parking space there too. Upstairs are living conditions that have been used by the family as a holiday home until recently and which need some cosmetic work - and the roof I am aware needs a complete replacement within the next 3-5 years (I have factored in the costs). Downstairs are workshops that are very scruffy at the moment but most of which have windows looking onto either the front or the back gardens. I can convert these into studios over time - there is no immediate rush to do this as I am used to working as artist in warehous type conditions. The town has everything I need - shops, restaurants, cafes, good transport links, close to a major airport. The street is beautiful, tree lined and quiet. I love this town as I feel so safe there and everyone is so friendly. The house itself is in excess of 3100 square feet - its huge - roughtly half upstairs and half downstairs.I have managed to negotiate just over 18% off the asking price. I could never, ever buy something so lovely in the UK of that size at that price. Following all of your advice on this site, I asked my Italian friend to ask her notary friend for help. He will charge me around 1.5% of the sale price for helping. He is not bilingual but says he will use a translator.The only thing now putting me off is the agency fee at 5%. Not so much the fee but because of the responses and input on this site about those fees. This has made me think it's is not so much the amount that this adds up to - although this is high as you say, I feel I have made a good saving by negotiating the property price down. However, what bothers me is the idea that this high fee makes me suspicious of the company itself; if they are taking the view that they will ask this because they know that they can get away with it, then what else are they trying to get away with..? They have said they will translate all documents, trasnfer all bills into my name, install internet for me, anything else I need help with. With that said, if the notary does his job, then all should be okay?Please let me have your thoughts, I'd love any feedback!
Hi MauriceSorry, I should have been clearer about my search. When I first started, I was looking at lots of different parts of Italy and the North East was very attractive, due to the range of properties and prices. I did lose a bit of confidence though as I am on my own and don't know anyone in the North East. My Italian friend has been able to help me with searching in Casciana Terme and so I have gravitated there, mainly because she is there. I'm still very open to ideas for areas to research though - I have more time now than I did before, and haven't decided about Casciana Terme yet.Is there anywhere in the North East that you would strongly recommend?Thanks,Lin
Thank you Ugo, for your careful post. I really, really appreciate this advice so much. It makes complete sense and has confirmed that some of the doubts I had already actually have very serious implications. I will change my search criteria, given what you say, and will not be purchasing this house now. I will be looking for a detached property.Thank you so much!Lin
Comments posted
Hi, thanks so much for replying.
The house is not a 'prima case', it's a 2nd home.
It does have gardens at the front and the back, but these are not extensive, just in keeping with the size of the house.
It's just a bit of a shock to receive this so long after the sale and because I received nothing at all by letter to the house itself, and nothing to my UK address. I am in touch with the estate agents because they help each year to calculate my IMU and I pay them a small fee for this, so they know of any change of address I had in the UK.
My partner is concerned that something else could happen and I get even another bill after this ! The agents did not mention the possibility of the taxes being adjusted after the sale, and I never found anything about this online or anywhere else, so it's all a big shock really.
Do you know if I will have the option to pay in instalments or does it all have to be paid at once? I am trying to find someone bi-lingual to help with the process, as I speak very minimum Italian and I can't even figure out where I'm supposed to return the form to or, indeed, exactly which account they want me to pay the money to.
Best wishes and thank you again.
Lin
Hi UgoYou have been extremely helpful with all of my enquiries, thank you. I really appreciate that you took the time to respond to this so professionally.Many thanksLinda
Hello againMy friend in Italy has recommended a notary who is not bilignual but will use a translator.She called him to explain the situation and says she trusts him. He will charge euro 2000.Ugo, could you please confirm that the checks that 'Oldandbold' suggested are checks that should be made by the notary? As you can appreciate, I am not in Italy at the moment, don't speak Italian, and would find it difficult to make all of these checks myself - although I really appreciate this being pointed out to me, so thank you.Many thanksLinda
Thank you both for your responses, I will follow up the link!Linda
Hi ThereThanks for this reply.They are charging 22% IVA on top of the 5% fee. It means overall paying around 4000 euros more than if I were to pay 3%.I suppose because the house seemed such good value to me I didn’t mind paying it - although absolutely everyone says it’s too high.I haven’t signed anything in writing yet. But did agree by email - only because they initially wanted their full fee on signature of the compromesso and I said I’d pay half upfront and half at the end.My Italian friend has also said it Ian high but doesn’t seem too bothered about it. She came with me to see the house and was amazed I gonany discoint at all because for the area she said it was incredibly good value. How would I contact the Camera di Commercio?Linda
Hello again, thanks for this. The price I gave is the re- negotiated price. The starting price was euro 140000. A local geometry gave me a cost for two kinds of rooves - the first is the same as the current one and the cost he said would be around euro 50000-55000. I asked for the cost for a roof with exposed beams and removing the existing ceilings to create more space and character and the cost he gave for this was euro 80000- 85000.There is already plumbing/ water downstairs - I don’t need to make it liveable just usable as a studio. it is in an area of historical interest so I had to check about any changes I want to make and the same geometry has been very helpful and very clear about what I can and cannot do. do you think it’s good? It’s in a beautiful sos town in Tuscany about 30 mins from the sea by car
Hi again the negotiates price is euro 115000 and land tax is approximately 175000 euros - I’m aware of the other taxes. This town is an expensive one and this is absolutely the best value I’ve seen in this specific area
Hi EveryoneThanks so much for these helpful responses, I appreciate it.I'm still a little confused though. Perhaps I should explain more detail of my particular buying situation and see if this changes anyone's response..?The impression I get from sites like this is that most people buy with a partner, and don't therefore have to prioritise safety and community quite as much as I do: I will be buying alone, although my daughter and my friends will most likely visit. For that reason, I have to rule out the typical detached 'farrmhouse' that most people aim for.Another major factor is that I will use the home for around 4 months per year only, the rest of the time it will be empty as I don't intend renting it out. I want a property that I can partly live in and partly convert to a large artist's studio - this issue is the major factor for me. I also love gardening, so a garden is very important.So, whilst I am aware that there are 100s of properties for sale, my needs for a property may be different to most people's - safety and size are the most important, rather than say, land or potential as a holiday home or rental investment.I finally found an unusual, lovely house right in the centre of a very pretty town very close to where my one Italian friend lives. I've had 2 surveys done on it, both by local geometra - one was suggested by the agents another by my Italian friend. Both have said the only major work needed is replacing the roof eventually.The house is semi-detached and free on 3 sides. It has a front and rear garden. The rear garden is terraced with a courtyard on the upper part and grass etc on the lower part. The property can also be accessed via a 24/7 permamently accessible driveway. There is a driveway at the front and parking space there too. Upstairs are living conditions that have been used by the family as a holiday home until recently and which need some cosmetic work - and the roof I am aware needs a complete replacement within the next 3-5 years (I have factored in the costs). Downstairs are workshops that are very scruffy at the moment but most of which have windows looking onto either the front or the back gardens. I can convert these into studios over time - there is no immediate rush to do this as I am used to working as artist in warehous type conditions. The town has everything I need - shops, restaurants, cafes, good transport links, close to a major airport. The street is beautiful, tree lined and quiet. I love this town as I feel so safe there and everyone is so friendly. The house itself is in excess of 3100 square feet - its huge - roughtly half upstairs and half downstairs.I have managed to negotiate just over 18% off the asking price. I could never, ever buy something so lovely in the UK of that size at that price. Following all of your advice on this site, I asked my Italian friend to ask her notary friend for help. He will charge me around 1.5% of the sale price for helping. He is not bilingual but says he will use a translator.The only thing now putting me off is the agency fee at 5%. Not so much the fee but because of the responses and input on this site about those fees. This has made me think it's is not so much the amount that this adds up to - although this is high as you say, I feel I have made a good saving by negotiating the property price down. However, what bothers me is the idea that this high fee makes me suspicious of the company itself; if they are taking the view that they will ask this because they know that they can get away with it, then what else are they trying to get away with..? They have said they will translate all documents, trasnfer all bills into my name, install internet for me, anything else I need help with. With that said, if the notary does his job, then all should be okay?Please let me have your thoughts, I'd love any feedback!
Hi MauriceSorry, I should have been clearer about my search. When I first started, I was looking at lots of different parts of Italy and the North East was very attractive, due to the range of properties and prices. I did lose a bit of confidence though as I am on my own and don't know anyone in the North East. My Italian friend has been able to help me with searching in Casciana Terme and so I have gravitated there, mainly because she is there. I'm still very open to ideas for areas to research though - I have more time now than I did before, and haven't decided about Casciana Terme yet.Is there anywhere in the North East that you would strongly recommend?Thanks,Lin
Thank you Ugo, for your careful post. I really, really appreciate this advice so much. It makes complete sense and has confirmed that some of the doubts I had already actually have very serious implications. I will change my search criteria, given what you say, and will not be purchasing this house now. I will be looking for a detached property.Thank you so much!Lin