The burning question at the moment is.. well, it's always the same question - how's the property market in Piedmont? Here we are in May 2022 and it's booming. Houses are selling fast, interesting things are happening.

The search and buy area is getting bigger. Areas once a little looked down on are now desirable. Availability is way down, not many decent houses are for sale, so buyers are a little more open-minded. You can't buy anything in the Barolo area but what's the problem of being 30 minutes away? It's closer than London or New York.. Hmmm.

We're being asked for townhouses, historic houses in historic centres. And here's a hot tip - look in the area north of Asti. My son lives in Montemagno - it's beautiful. It's like Tuscany but... well... better. It has the Alps as a backdrop, it's not humid like Tuscany in the summer and the wines are amazing. Geographically it's way better than Tuscany, too. These small hilltop towns are a little deserted now but that's changing. Us foreigners are buying them up, restoring and living in them or renting. I've got my eye on something in Montemagno to use as Airbnb. We had a house in Casorzo, it sold within 5 days. I wasn't surprised.

More expensive houses are selling, they're selling fast. The enquiries are constant. People email me then, two days later, send me a message to ask if the news of my death is an exaggeration. This leads me to announce that in June, the whole month, I will be as good as closed for business. I need time off. I've been flat out for two years with hardly a day away from the office. I've put on weight again as I'm constantly at my desk or driving (and eating too much in between) and my house is showing a lack of love. It's shabby and crying for plaster, paint and repairs.

I will tend to the 'in the process' clients and will respond if you are dead serious and can't wait. Waste my time and I will coerce you into coming to paint my hallway. Is that a deal?

I'm really happy for the area. A lot of local people abandoned it in the past, went to London or Turin. Foreigners are coming and seeing its value, pouring fortunes into it, helping local workers, restaurants and wineries. It's a good thing. Today, I met a guy playing the Bagpipes in Asti - he was from the Netherlands. I see Scandinavian people everywhere and the most beautiful bartender in Asti is from Albania!

I fully expect to help buyers, just this month, to close on around €6,000,000 of sales. The market has never been this exciting and busy. If you're thinking about it, don't think too long. If you don't understand why the 'lazy, useless agents' don't reply maybe you should look somewhere where the market is quiet. Albania is healthy, but the best bar girl is here..

To finish on a nice story. A couple of weeks ago I spotted three people wandering on my driveway. They were clearly trying to look like passersby but they seemed to have a purpose. They finally mustered the courage to knock on the door and it turns out their ancestors lived here in this house, they were from Switzerland. They had relatives living in this house in 1870. They even had photos from the 40s and 50s. So, we're not the first foreigners to live in the area and you won't be either. Local people love we come and do something good - apart from playing electric guitars aggressively or arguing loudly in English so they can't judge who's to blame. You won't regret it. I know it will sound like salesman talk but I really do appreciate every day living here. It's wonderful.