Tag: Travel

How to Buy a House in Italy for 1 Euro [step by step guide]

On By AndyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Depopulation, has some potential benefits for property investors!

Buying a house in Italy for 1 euro is a great opportunity, promoted by several towns aiming to revive declining populations and renovate old properties.

Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored for a UK resident:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Research and Choose a Town: Several Italian towns have offered homes for 1 euro. Each town has different terms and conditions. Here are some notable ones:

  • Sambuca di Sicilia
  • Ollolai, Sardinia
  • Mussomeli, Sicily
  • Bivona, Sicily
  • Laurenzana, Basilicata

    Visit the Official Websites: Each town usually has an official website or a dedicated page for the 1 euro house initiative. Here are some URLs:

      Understand the Conditions: Each town has specific conditions that buyers must meet, such as:

      • Committing to renovate the property within a specified timeframe (usually 3 years).
      • Paying a deposit (often around €5,000), which is refunded after renovations are completed.
      • Using local contractors for the renovation work.

        Contact the Municipality: Send an email or call the municipal office to express your interest and get detailed information.

          Plan a Visit: It’s highly recommended to visit the town and view the properties. Contact the municipality to arrange a visit.

            Prepare Your Documents:

            • Passport
            • Proof of income
            • Proof of funds for renovation

              Sign the Preliminary Agreement: During your visit, if you decide to proceed, you will sign a preliminary purchase agreement (compromesso).

                Open an Italian Bank Account: You will need an Italian bank account to handle transactions and utility payments. Many banks offer services in English.

                  Hire a Local Notary (Notaio): The notary will handle the legal aspects of the purchase, ensuring the property is free from debts and encumbrances.

                    Finalize the Purchase: After the preliminary agreement, you will sign the final deed (atto di vendita) before a notary. This completes the purchase.

                      Commence Renovation: Begin renovation work as per the conditions. Ensure you adhere to local building codes and regulations.

                        1. Enjoy Your New Home: Once renovations are complete, you can enjoy your new Italian home!

                        Useful Resources:

                        This is a general guide, so make sure to get detailed information from the specific municipality you’re interested in. Good luck with your house hunt in Italy!

                        Britain’s Botanical Gardens

                        On By AndyIn Travel1 Comment

                        Over thirty million people a year visit the UK as tourists, making the UK one of the most popular global tourist destinations. Every year, more and more tourists holiday in the UK – not surprising, given the abundance of natural destinations, heritage sites and cultural attractions. One of those quintessentially British attractions: our wonderful botanical gardens, dotted across the country. We’ve put together a list of absolute must-sees, including a few hidden gems that you should try and visit in 2016.

                        Fenton House & Garden
                        Fenton House & Garden is an Edwardian garden in London’s charming Hampstead area. Expect roses galore, curated hedges, and an apple orchard in a garden that has remained almost unchanged for 300 years.

                         Fenton House Hampstead front February 2006.jpg
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenton_House

                         

                        Ness Gardens

                        On the Wirral, just down the road from the old Roman city of Chester, Ness Gardens is a must-see in the North West. The gardens themselves have a focus on preservation, creating a ‘living library’ of conservation in this treasured local feature.

                         

                         

                        Benmore Botanic Garden
                        Once part of the estate of a Scottish trade baron, the Benmore Botanic Garden serves to host a rich collection of living plants, focused on conifers and rhododendrons. The Edinburgh Botanic Gardens are also worth a visit, if you’re willing to travel between the Scottish coasts.

                         

                         Benmore's majestic avenue of giant redwoods

                         

                        Snowshill Manor & Garden

                        Not far from Gloucester, the Snowshill Manor & Garden offers you not only a lovingly cultivated garden, but also the chance to explore the museum/house designed by architect and poet Charles Wade. Wade has assembled a manor full of curiosities, including weaponry and scale models of boats.

                         A view of Snowshill Manor in Gloucestershire from the gardenhttp://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/snowshill-manor-and-garden


                        Throckmorton Family Gardens
                        The gardens, south of Birmingham, are a part of the wider Coughton Court. Designed to be experienced as a series of rooms, Throckmorton Family Gardens offer you a walled, labyrinthine garden.

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                        http://www.coughtoncourt.co.uk/

                        Mottistone Gardens
                        The Isle of Wight is already a beautiful destination for a trip, but the Mottistone Gardens are a distinctly peaceful and gorgeous valley filled with exotic and local plants. With ocean views from much of the garden, part of the garden’s mission is to bring plant life to the UK and see how they fare in our changing climate.

                         Summer flowers and plants in the gardens at Mottistone, Isle of Wighthttp://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottistone-gardens

                        The National Botanic Garden of Wales
                        Just a short drive north of Swansea, Wales’ national botanical gardens are fantastic. Playing host to the world’s largest single-span glass greenhouse, there’s a huge host of Mediterranean plants under one roof. Outside of the greenhouse is a geological time-walk through Wale’s natural heritage, as well as a series of themed gardens.

                        Melbourne Hall Gardens
                        South of Derby, in the village of Melbourne, the Melbourne Hall Gardens is very much a Georgian manor. The house itself is open to the public, and features seven rooms that you can visit in a house that is still occupied by Lord and Lady Ralph Kerr. The gardens themselves are vivid and tranquil, and host some rare shrubs in the planted borders and intersecting paths.

                        Have we missed one? Let us know in the comments if you just can’t believe we missed your favourite garden. We’d love to hear from you!