This year the Piedmont property market in Langhe has started with an explosion of interest. It's the busiest we've been since 2008!!
So, here's some advice on buying in 2018
Be realistic and prepare to compromise
You can't get a good house with views of the Alps, a vineyard and B&B capability for €250,000. You're probably talking over €600,000. At least. So, get a good idea about prices otherwise you can waste a lot of time looking for something that doesn't exist.
Also, you won't find perfection. Even if you have €10m to spend there will be something you don't like. As long as you don't buy a complete basket case (a very bad house) you will love living here. We do and we don't live in a palace. As I write the neighbour's dog is barking and the view isn't great - other houses - but the sun is shining and I'm a place I would never have dreamed of living in.
Buy in the right place
Langhe is always the 'hot spot' for property. Forget La Morra, Barolo and the other big Barolo towns unless you can wait years and have very deep pockets. It's so rare things come up. Think more about the other side of Alba, for example, Mango. We've sold many houses in this area over the years. It's great. Also, Roero. Don't overlook it. I would avoid like the plague anything that is too isolated unless you're sick of society. We live 3km from the nearest town and for us it's perfect.
Do you really want to restore?
You still won't get exactly what you want, it will cost 3 times more than the original estimate and take twice as long as you thought it would. Be really careful of agents offering a full 'buy and restore' service. One agent that specialises in selling to foreigners was recently arrested for trying to fool people into buying ruins that had no permission to restore. Search, compromise a little and you will find something you can be very happy in. Start enjoying it now, unless restoring is your thing of course.
Choose your agent well
Well, you probably guessed I was going to say that but we really do try hard to please. We know you need a lot of support through the whole process. If you don't find what you want on our Website, let me know!
Our life in Italy this year
Happy the warm weather is here now. We had really bad flu in the winter so it was a bit grim at the end of the season. The government is introducing some new silly taxes but we don't mind. Business is decent, we're busy, healthy and it should be a good year for all things.
