HOW TO BUY A HOME IN ITALY

So many of us dream of living la dolce vita. An authentic wine and pasta fueled life, surrounded by olive trees in Italy. But looking for a home in Italy is not so simple. There are a lot of necessary steps and myriad difficulties to finding and buying your perfect home, and it can be extremely useful to have someone help you. 

That’s where Nikki Taylor comes in. Her Italy Property Consulting, is a boutique company that helps foreigners search for their dream homes in Italy. I sat down with her to ask her what someone should consider if they’re looking to buy real estate in Italy. 

How did you end up in Italy? And specifically, Puglia?

I am an Australian expat, turned real estate guru, living in Italy with my husband and two little bambinos. I moved to Italy in December 2014 after feeling like there was something missing in my life. I was working in investment banking and the corporate grind was draining my zest for life. 

I always had a fascination with Italy and there was nothing holding me back from starting a new life, so I thought why not? My journey didn’t begin with Puglia. When I arrived, I was living in the far north of Italy in a town called Bolzano, on the Austrian border. Absolutely magical town in the mountains but me being an Aussie, I totally missed the beach. I discovered Puglia in 2017 and I was in love. I remember having goosebumps and tears in my eyes when I was walking through the old town of Monopoli and I knew I had found home.

What inspired Italy Property Consulting? 

It was created after years of working in the real estate and holiday rentals industries in Italy. I could see a common pattern with foreign buyers; they wanted to purchase here but they had a lot of fears and doubts around the process as it can be very complicated and there are a lot of horror stories about people losing their life savings in bad property deals gone wrong. So I decided to create a course on the buying process in Italy, called “Purchase the Dream”. It was the first course of its kind ever created in the country and industry. My business has gone from strength to strength and I have helped clients from all over the world purchase their home in Italy. 

I guide and teach thousands of potential buyers in my Facebook communities. 

Any funny stories regarding foreigners searching for homes?

Oh gosh there are SO many. Buying property in Italy really is not for the faint hearted. I mean the photos on the property portals are pretty comical, home staging is NOT a thing here! One client wanted to purchase a property in Puglia but didn’t realise until we did some drone footage that the location was right next to a dairy farm. Imagine the smell of that wafting through whilst you’re having your afternoon spritz by the pool! 

What changes in the marketplace have you seen due to the pandemic?

I have seen the market move so quickly during the pandemic. What we are seeing right now is just incredible. People have been buying properties sight unseen. Obviously with myself and my team of experts we ensure that no stone is left unturned in the process, so my clients are fully aware as to what they are buying. 

The marvel of technology is incredible. People can buy homes without leaving their living room. I think the pandemic has really opened people’s eyes up to the future and what it looks like for them. Gone are the days of the “secure” office job, people want to have their freedom, their space and the beauty of smart working now is that you can be based pretty much anywhere, like Italy and still continue working for a company on the other side of the world. 

What would be your number one piece of advice for someone looking to purchase a home in Italy?

Do your research but most importantly get expert advice. Having a team of independent professionals guiding you and helping open the right doors for you is absolutely crucial to protecting your investment. 

What’s the best part of your job? 

When clients find their home and their dream is realised. I went to visit some dear clients who just bought in Puglia, and I walked through the door to see them, they had a glass of prosecco waiting for me, some local pastries and they were both in tears because I had helped them make their dream a reality. That for me, is why I do what I do. I absolutely love my job. 

Something I am working on right now is super close to my heart, a special passion project where people can submit a handwritten note telling me why they love Italy and be in the running to win a stunning turnkey property in the famous White City town of Ostuni in Puglia. The purpose of this competition is to create a ripple effect of positivity for Italy with the handwritten notes and gift one lucky person their dream: their own home in Italy. It has been amazing reading all the entry notes so far, the love people have for Italy is just so beautiful and heart-warming!