Can You Buy a Home in Italy Before Viewing It?

2020 is drawing to a close and will probably go down as one of the strangest and most extraordinary years most of us will ever experience.

Whether it was a wasted year or not probably depends on what we did with the extra time we were given — and how we responded to the challenges.

Some people bought musical instruments. Some read books they’d been meaning to read for years. Others started asking bigger questions about life and where it was all leading.

And then some people bought houses they had never even seen in person.

Yes — really.

Over the past months, we’ve been helping buyers purchase homes here in Piedmont entirely through virtual viewings and Zoom calls.

And where are these buyers mostly coming from? America.

Honestly, given everything happening there recently, it’s not surprising that some people have started dreaming about a different lifestyle somewhere calmer, more beautiful and a little more fulfilling.

Let me give you a couple of examples.

Elena

Elena is originally from Mexico, but for many years she and her American husband have lived in New Mexico in the USA. They already owned property there, but had always dreamed of having a home in Italy.

Years ago they spent five years living in Turin, Piedmont’s capital, and during that time completely fell in love with the Langhe, Monferrato and, naturally, the food and wine.

We spoke over Zoom and Elena asked whether I had anything interesting available. As it happened, I had two very special properties.

One was a beautiful house in La Morra priced at just €355,000 — an incredible price for the area and now already sold.

The other was a remarkable property north of Asti in the rolling hills of Monferrato. The owners had restored it into luxury rental apartments, but after a serious car accident they decided to sell.

It was actually a difficult property to market.

Not because it wasn’t beautiful — it absolutely was — but because the owners showed it badly. The house was often dusty and untidy, and viewings felt rushed. Buyers barely had time to absorb what they were seeing. The result? The price kept dropping lower and lower.

One buyer even told me he assumed it was a scam because it seemed too cheap to be real. It wasn’t.

We organised a couple of detailed Zoom tours and that was enough. Elena paid the deposit in August and planned to come to Italy in November to complete the purchase.

Then Covid worsened again.

Travel became impossible, so we arranged power of attorney through my son and completed everything remotely. The property is now officially hers. She still hasn’t seen it in person.

Hopefully she’ll arrive in March and finally walk through the doors of her Italian home for the very first time. We’ll definitely film the moment when she does.

The property itself is exceptional — four luxury apartments in a beautiful setting — and at the price she paid, honestly, it was almost a giveaway. Elena was smart enough to recognise the opportunity and brave enough to act on it.

Maria

More recently, another American couple nearing retirement contacted us. Initially they were focused on the Mondovì area, and we carried out several virtual viewings over Zoom. But while the houses were attractive, none quite had the character or potential they were looking for. So we redirected the search toward Asti.

There we found them a wonderful house in the Monferrato hills, just outside the city. It had been sitting on the market for a while, largely because the photographs didn’t do it justice. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Again, they moved quickly.

They’ve bought a beautiful home perfectly suited to the next chapter of their lives — peaceful countryside living, great food and wine, and all within easy reach of town.

Are They Crazy?

Maybe some people would say so. But think about the situation many people find themselves in today. They feel tired of where they are. They want a change. Life moves quickly and suddenly they realise they still have dreams they haven’t acted on. They want adventure. A little risk. The excitement of doing something most people would never dare to do. The cautious are often happy to call them crazy. But they do it anyway.

People regularly tell me they trust me — which I appreciate enormously — and we do everything possible to help buyers make informed decisions. We provide detailed virtual tours, videos, honest information and complete transparency throughout the process.

Eighteen years ago, we packed up our lives in the UK and moved here ourselves with very little except courage, curiosity and a determination not to waste life. We’ve never regretted it for a second.

And I think many people today feel exactly the same pull toward a different kind of life.

Why Italy?

Because Italy still offers something many modern countries have lost.

• Beautiful landscapes.
• Great weather.
• Wonderful food.
• The best wines in the world.
• History everywhere.
• A slower pace.
• And a feeling that life should actually be enjoyed.

That’s why people are buying now. Not because someone like me tells them to — but because their actions already show they’ve decided not to wait any longer.

If you’ve been thinking about making a move, perhaps this is your moment too. Get in touch.