Archive for December, 2009

Sicily weather New Years eve

sicily beach

sicily beach

Sicily weather 31/12/09. Yesterday a heat wave hit Sicily. Winds coming from Africa locally known as the scirocco raised temperatures to 25’C. Arriving from England i was happy to take off my scarf, coat and gloves. People were seen on the beach sunbathing in Mondello, Palermo and for tonight’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sicily locals are planning their last 2009 and first swim of the new year 2010 with several parties on the beach. Makes a fresh change to all that snow and ice in northern Europe !! Happy New Year !!! Now you know why people buy a holiday property in Sicily.

[ Tagged In ] , ,

Italian Property Consultant seasonal greetings

Italian Property Consultant would like to extend warm seasonal greetings to all our readers.

Whether you’re in the sun in the southern hemisphere or enjoying the snow in the northern hemisphere we wish you all a happy xmas.

Wishing you all a prosperous New Year in 2010 and home to see you in Italy…..Ciao David

[ Tagged In ] , , ,

Italy Bank Account

Italy Bank account

How to open a bank current account in Italy

About to buy a property in Italy and you are a non resident Italian then you will need to open an Italian bank current account in Euros.

Why do I need specifically an Italian bank account?

With an Italian current account you could obtain a mortgage to purchase the Italian property, pay the vendor and after the purchase pay bills and Italian taxes.

1) Current account and mortgage
Some Italian banks dedicate services to no resident citizens to help them to buy a property in Italy. Read the rest of this entry »

[ Tagged In ] , , , , ,

Italian ski property Dolomiti Superski

Italian ski property resort report

Dolomiti Superski

This MIPC report documents and focuses on the Italian ski network of the Dolomiti Superski and the world famous 24km ski slope circuit of the SellaRonda. Minor resorts are investing and connecting into this ski circuit and experiencing a boom in tourism. MIPC has identified a town that is investing in new ski lifts connecting to the SellaRonda and offers property developers and investors various ski property investment solutions. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive further details. Read the rest of this entry »

[ Tagged In ] , , , ,

berlusconi hit

Berlusconi had been signing autographs and shaking hands with the public minutes after addressing crowds at a rally for his People of Freedom party in front of the Duomo in Milan when he was hit in the mouth this evening.

ouch

ouch

ouch

ouch

[ Tagged In ]

Bergamo Italy italian ski property for sale

Bergamo Italy, Italian ski property.

Interesting write up in the Sunday Times about ski property and that there are signs that people are starting to choose their ski property investment in cities rather than buy a house in a ski resort. But is it a wise choice for your future rental market ?

In Italy the article mentioned Bergamo, Italy as an ideal destination. (or maybe you prefer Cervinia-Valle d’Aosta near the Matterhorn as discussed in The Independent.)

Bergamo is a traditional italian city well known for its 2 principal quarters the high town Bergamo Alta and the low town. See here Bergamo panoramic view or download various Bergamo brochures. Downtown Bergamo city centre is easily reached by flying to Bergamo airport or as it is locally know Milano Orio al Serio with airport code BGY. The airport is 15 minuts from the city centre.

There are many ski resorts within driving distance of Bergamo. View an online brochure of Bergamo ski resorts

1 hour drive due north takes you to the ski resort network of BrembanaSki and the resorts of Foppolo, San Simone, Carona, Piazzatorre, Valtorta and Avaro. The resorts are all located in the Brembana valley, Orobie Pre-Alps.

1 hour drive to north east takes you to the smaller italian ski resorts of Spiazzi di Gromo, Lizzola, Colere, Schilpario, Presolana and Monte Pora all located in the Seriana Valley.

Heading north of Lake Iseo (east of Bergamo) up Val Camonica you also can ski at Monte Campione (1.5 hours) and if you want guaranteed 4 months of winter skiing a 2 hour drive takes you to the ski resort network of AdamelloSki and the resorts of Ponte di Legno, Tonale, Temu and Presena.

So if you are a skier or a snowboarder and like snowboarding or skiing get your, ski, snowboard, skies (or is the plural skis) …don’t forget to check the snow report and ski conditions to ski in Italy.

Remember when choosing to invest in Italy and buy a house in Italy that even though as the article in the Sunday Times suggests that a city property can offer you many alternative lifestyles, that ultimately you may wish to rent property in Italy and that your target market of renters decreases if you are not in a niche market.  The cities are great if you are going to live in your italian property, but if you are going to rent it then i would personally advise you to buy your italian property close to a italian ski resort. Renters don’t want to have to travel more than 2 hours for a day skiing. Buy a property in an italian ski resort and you italian property investment will have a higher return on investment as renters can ski in/out of the italian ski property.

Moss Italian Property Consultants have various ski properties in Italy on our books from cheap italian ski property to luxury italian ski property.

[ Tagged In ] , , ,

Italy Car Hire Winter snow tyres OR snow chains ?

Italy Car Hire Winter snow tyres OR snow chains ?

Going skiing in Italy this winter ? Making your own way to the Italian ski property or hotel ? Hiring a car in Italy ? If you answered yes to all these then the following is advised reading about winter snow tyres and snow chains.

In the UK or Europe with recent bad snow conditions ? Need to learn how to drive in snow….though reporting from Italy this article is very relevant to everyone across Europe currently suffering from bad snow travel report.

Have you hired a car in Italy or UK with winter snow tyres ? Please post a comment to let us know where.

After a little research in Italy i have found 2 car hire firms that hire car with winter tyres. You cannot book them on line and must call and reserve and INSIST on winter tyres ONLY.  They are obviously in high demand so book early. Try AVIS  Italy on +39 091.591684 (smallest with winter tyres is LAncia Delta) OR Europcar on +39.06.96709592 or from Italy on 199.307030 (though they only have the rather expensive VW Touareg 2.5 4*4 TDI).

NB neither Hertz (+39.02.69682455) nor Sixt (+39.06.652111) offer winter tyres. They offer car hire in Italy only with Snow chains. If your not sure read below to help your decision.

I was on my way to the Italian dolomites sourcing Italian ski property and innocently just hired a car at Bergamo BGY airport and set off. Great weather, sun shining, 20’C in the last week of November…snow never crossed my mind. .. as it had been reported that recent snow falls had melted and no snow was due.

I was driving up to Arabba

arabba italian dolomites

arabba italian dolomites

and had a meeting in the next valley in Alto Badia. It had started raining and slowly i was climbing altitude. Just before Arabba the rain changed to fine snow. Slush started to form on the roads and i continued to climb. I drove through Arabba, going fine and turned to take the Passo Campolungo (1875m) to Corvara. 5 minutes out of Arabba the road had turned white. I was going quite slowly just to be safe and a few cars were overtaking. I started to think snow chains but i saw that the other cars didn’t have them on so i kept on going. I came to a steep climb and my wheels started slipping. I pulled up to reflect as i had still quite a climb ahead of me and yet another car overtook me still with no snow chains and then it clicked they must have winter snow tyres on.

Now back in Bergamo airport winter snow tyres Read the rest of this entry »

[ Tagged In ] , , , , , , ,

Immaculate Conception “Immacolata” Italy Bank holiday

Immaculate “Immacolata” Bank holiday Italy today.

Tuesday, December. 8, is the Feast of Immaculate Conception, a national holiday her in Italy and for many Italians it triggers the festive period. All Catholics are expected to attend Mass today. Many towns have a procession carry the statue of Mary to the church.

When national holidays fall on a Tuesday or Thursday many Italians take the intervening day as a holiday to make a long weekend. Interstingly in italy this is called “doing the bridge” or as said in Italian fare il ponte.

When you are on holiday in Italy, please be aware of Italian national holidays as basically all business &shops close.

Read more about the Immaculate Conception

Italian Property investment

Italian property – 66% rise for a property investment in Italy.

Close Tresury report that property prices in Italy increased by 30% since 2005. Together with the rise in value of the euro against sterling in the same perio of 27% makes a combined increase in the value of italian property of nearly 66% for UK sterling property investors in Italy.

This 66% rise in value of property in Italy (based on a sterling investment portfolio) only applies if you bought a house in Italy without a sterling mortgage. If you took out a  mortgage in Italy in Euros to finance your italian property investment and managed to pay your monthly italian mortgage installments from your Euro rental  income in Italy then the calculation is still valid.

Mark Taylor, head of foreign exchange with Close Treasury said: ““Even though overseas property prices tend to have fallen in the last year, in many cases the fall in the value of Sterling will have offset this, and many people may still have seen the value of their homes increase in Sterling terms.”

If you are an italian property owner and wish to liquidate your earnings please contact MIPC to sell your property in Italy, we have clients whom wish to buy a house in Italy and we are currently looking for quality italian property.

[ Tagged In ] , , , ,