What's on Your Checklist?
Finding your slice of Italy. Plus, a sophisticated location spotlight, prima casa benefits, and a celebration of nougat in Lombardy.
What’s on Your Checklist? Finding Your Slice of Italy 🎯
Deciding to start a life in Italy is one thing. Finding your exact location is another. Short of throwing a dart at the map, how can you ensure your property search is focused on an area where you’ll actually want to be? After speaking with many people who have successfully made the move, the most common advice I hear is develop a checklist to help keep you focused.
A checklist is a tangible representation of your priorities, your must-haves, and your wants and needs. It gives you a way to compare locations and properties and, eventually, helps you make a final decision.
An example could be:
✅ 7% town
✅ Close to a large airport
✅ Walk or bus to a train station
✅ Available long-term rentals
✅ Near a body of water
Other possible factors to consider are the size of the town, weather, proximity to hospitals, educational and recreational opportunities, ex-pat groups, affordability, etc…
So, leave a comment and let me know what’s on your checklist. What are your must-haves and would-be-nice features? I’d like a walkable town that hosts regular open markets and is relatively close to a golf course (2 golf courses would be nice). I’m always adjusting the checklist, which is just a part of the process.
Of course, the checklist is just one piece of the puzzle. Be sure to grab Smart Move Italy’s Seven Key Decisions You Need to Make Before Moving to Italy guide. ⬇️ Thanks for being here this week. Please enjoy this edition of Italy Per Te.
Yep. This is it! The moment he knew Le Marche was home.
Finding your ideal location in Italy can often be the biggest hurdle to a new life. With 20 regions each offering a distinct flavor and experience, narrowing down a property search requires careful consideration or a trip to the grocery store. At least, that was the case for Mark Hinshaw and his wife, Sunny Savina Bertollini.
Some people rent before they buy. Some choose to move close to the sea, train station, or another landmark. Others take a leap of faith and buy sight unseen. For Mark, it was more about a feeling. Before deciding on Santa Vittoria in Matenano in the Fermo province of Le Marche, Mark and Sunny spent time in many villages, exploring and getting a feel for the local culture.
“They were all of ancient origin and displayed some similar attributes. There was a main street, with a bar, a restaurant, a small market, bakery, and a smattering of shops and services,” he says in his book, Navigating Paradise. “There were prominent churches. There was at least one central piazza. There were closely spaced houses and flats of apartments – some newer in design. But what really made the difference in choosing the village we did was that from virtually the very first moments we spent in it, people were welcoming and helpful.”
Italy is a country built on relationships. Nowhere is that more evident than in the smaller towns and villages that dot the landscape. Everywhere you go, you’ll find paesini, borghi, and frazioni with distinct characteristics, full of people sharing a love for their community and for each other.
When Mark and Sunny originally explored Santa Vittoria, they were pleasantly surprised by the number of people willing to offer help, guidance, and a smile. From the shop owners to the people on the street (including 2 nuns who invited them over for tea!), the locals of Santa Vittoria left an impression on the couple that ultimately influenced their decision to make a permanent move.
And here’s where the grocery store comes in.
Curious about the availability of local food and produce while on their scouting trip, the couple found themselves in a local grocery. A woman named Alexandra greeted them. Soon they knew that she was originally from Russia, a former translator, and is now married to an Italian man. “She was a fountain of information on the village, the people in it, and its history,” writes Mark. “When we explained that we were looking at buying a house in the village, she quickly shifted gears and gave us a brief tutorial about securing residency permits – a process she herself had gone through years before.”
Alexandra then did something they truly didn’t expect. She called the Mayor. “The next day we met him in his office and he spent two hours going through the regulations and procedure,” writes Mark.
Mark remembers the overwhelming outpouring of kindness and generosity that helped them finalize their decision, saying, “With this kind of generosity of spirit and help, could we have lived anyplace else?”
Their experience is an example of the insight you can glean from putting your “boots on the ground” in an area you’re considering. Only then can you truly get a taste of the community that could soon be your own.
Mark’s book, Navigating Paradise, is available in Italian through IBS or directly from the publisher, Zefiro Edizioni (an e-book version in English will be available soon).
Prima Casa Benefits
Italy offers several tax schemes for those interested in purchasing property. One of them is the “prima casa,” or first house. This refers to a property that you use as your primary residence, purchased from an individual (not a new build from a developer).
A prima casa purchase enables the buyer to pay a transfer tax of 2% of the cadastral value, rather than the typical 9%. This could result in a signficant tax savings.
In order to qualify as a prima casa, there are several requirements, but the first step is determining if you are eligible by answering YES to one of the following:
Are you a registered resident of the municipality where the property is found?
Are you currently employed in the municipality where the property is found?
Will you register as a resident of the municipality within 18 months of the property purchase?
Have you lived in Italy for at least 5 years at some time in the past?
In the past, dual-citizens could enjoy the prima casa benefits without establishing residency, but new regulations require all property owners to declare residency within 18 months of closing on the property unless they’ve lived in Italy previously for 5 years.
Note, if you fail to take residency within 18 months of the property purchase, you will be subject to the 9% tax and could face fines of 30%. This is just one of the conditions buyers need to consider when deciding whether or not to pursue the prima casa tax benefit. Need help navigating the process? Be sure to speak with our team to clear up any confusion.
Here, Alessandro Clemente, Italian property lawyer and Smart Move Italy expert, talks about the role of a property lawyer in the purchase process:
A New Life in Italy community recently enjoyed an in-depth conversation with Alessandro. If you’d like to join in on future conversations, consider joining the community. It’s open now for enrollment. ⬇️
Making Friends in Your New Italian Community 🇮🇹 🥂
Establishing a new life in Italy means integrating into a new Italian community. This can be intimidating, but you really must do it to appreciate all that this country has to offer.
Here are some tips to help make the transition as smooth as possible:
⭐️ Establish a connection prior to moving. Knowing at least one person in your new area is really helpful when you need to know where the nearest doctor is or details about trash pick-up.
⭐️ Learn the language. This doesn’t mean you must reach fluency before you can enjoy your new life, but the basics are a must. Depending on where you live, you may not have an option as your native language may not be spoken at all, but knowing the essential terms and phrases will show dedication and goodwill.
⭐️ Get involved…and not just with an ex-pat community. Look for volunteer opportunities that will allow you to contribute to the needs of your new community.
⭐️ Redefine your comfort zone. When stepping into a new life, you’re going to be uncomfortable. Expect it and embrace it. A mindset shift is often needed so you view discomfort as an opportunity for growth.
⭐️ When in doubt, share food. While Italy is the land of culinary delights, people are always curious about the traditions of other cultures. If you have a specialty, don’t be afraid to share it with your neighbors. It may not compare to their homemade creamy pancetta gnocchi with sun dried tomatoes, but it’s the spirit that counts.
Here, Samantha talks about fitting in in Italy:
Location Spotlight: Turin, Piedmont
Elegant. Sophisticated. Well-connected. These are words to describe the city of Turin (Torino), the capital of the region of Piedmont.
Situated along the Po River, the city is surrounded by towering, often snow-covered, mountains. It has a very European feeling with a very Italian spirit. The original capital of Italy (between 1861-1865), Turin is a vibrant, walkable city with excellent transportation options. The urban environment is a stark contrast to the narrow, winding streets you’ll find in other areas of Italy. Here, the streets and wide and straight. The piazzas are uniform and spacious. Turin has a beauty all its own.
One of Italy’s economic powerhouses, Turin is the birthplace of many famous brands including FIAT, Nutella, Lavazza, and Martini & Rossi. It is also a center for banking and telecommunications.
Piedmont’s long-standing culinary tradition is highlighted on the streets of Turin. From high-end restaurants to casual cafés and lively bars, there is no shortage of options. Here you will also find the largest outdoor market in all of Europe as well as the Mercato Centrale, an indoor market featuring a wide range of local artisans, a culinary school, and fresh meats, cheeses, and pastas of every kind.
With the plethora of architectural marvels, breathtaking churches, relaxing parks, and captivating museums, your days (and nights) in Turin will be full. Surprisingly, the city is home to the oldest Egyptian museum in the world, Museo Egizio. It’s even older than Cairo’s!
Given the cosmopolitan nature of Turin, you may expect the cost of living to be high. While it is considered on the high side for Italy, if you’re moving from another city in the EU or North America, it is still relatively affordable. Here is a quick comparison to Buffalo, New York:
Notice that everything isn’t less expensive here. While there are more affordable places to visit and live in Italy, few places offer the cultural, culinary, and economic opportunities of Turin.
Last Sunday’s Vendita newsletter featured this ⬇️ sleek and stylish rental property in Turin. Did you miss it? Be sure to subscribe via email, or join our Telegram channel. It’s completely free!
Have you been? Are you planning to go? Let me know in the comments.
Time to Celebrate Torrone!
I have plenty of childhood memories of Italian confections, but two sweet treats stand out in my mind: sugared almonds and torrone. When I was young, I overindulged in both many times, while hiding behind my grandmother’s sofa. Still, I can’t resist them.
This week, the city of Cremona in Lombardy is celebrating one of my favorites at the Festa del Torrone. Don’t you just love how Italy dedicates entire weeks to candy?
Torrone is a traditional nougat made of honey, sugar egg whites, and nuts (usually toasted almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, or walnuts). I’m fond of the version dipped in chocolate.
Its roots are debatable and difficult to trace, as torrone is found all over Italy in one version or another. A common belief is that the candy was first served in Cremona at the wedding of Francesco Sforza and Bianca Maria Visconti, the Duke of Milan’s daughter, in 1441. One of the highlights of the torrone festival is a traditional reenactment of this wedding.
The celebration runs through 19 November. You can visit the website for more information.
Are you a fan of torrone? Let me know in the comments.
ASA (Ask Samantha Anything)
Email us at sophia@smartmoveitaly.com to submit your questions.
Dear Samantha: My husband is considering relocating to Italy to pursue citizenship. I know he can stay, without an ERV, for however long it takes to process his application, but what about me? Can I also stay for the duration, or am I limited to the 90-day limit? What options do I have to stay with him during this process?
Dear Lindsey: I have very good news for you, in spite of the rumors online, it is possible for the non-Italian applicant (spouse) to stay beyond the 90 days as well. It can be a little bit tricky in some comune, but in truth, the spouse has the same rights to the permesso di soggiorno as the Italian applicant. The process can be complex, so make sure you get some help from a professional, but almost all of our Fast Track citizenship applicants are married and we always include the spouse. Give our Citizenship team a shout if you are getting ready to apply.
Samantha wants to answer YOUR question on the podcast! 🎙️
AFTER A LOONNGGG WAIT.....The Smart Move Italy podcast is back! The new season will start rolling out in December and we’d love to feature some of your questions in the Q&As.
Sending in an audio question is simple. Just click this link and record.
Tips for sending us your questions:
✅ Keep it under 1 minute.
✅ Keep your question brief and concise.
✅ You can send as many questions as you like... but only ONE per recording please.
Next week, I’ll introduce you to a couple in the SMI community who moved from NY to Puglia and are LOVING life there. Until then, thanks for reading…and for being a part of the Smart Move Italy famiglia. A presto!