The My Lawyers International Law Firm has gained extensive experience in legal services related to real estate. Our team includes international and corporate Real Estate lawyers.

We offer services directed to Italian and foreign investors who are interested in buying and selling real estate in Italy and abroad.

• Conveyancing (How to get a mortgage – Home insurance);
• Due diligence;
• Tax advice;
• Investments;
• Commercial property and hotels.

Real Estate in Italy is a complex matter and covers many areas.

It can be a daunting prospect when entering into negotiations; for this reason we provide you with advice that will guide you from the moment you decide to purchase a property, supporting you throughout the whole process.

In addition to private property purchases for personal use, we provide clients with the necessary information to purchase properties as an investment.

We share our specialist knowledge with you related to market values, opportunities to invest in safely, off-plan purchases and buying commercial properties – all of which can give you an added income each year.

Property purchase:

If you are interested in purchasing your dream house in Italy, we will put you in touch with the best, well known-brokers and the right real estate agencies.

Experts in real estate law are essential in these transactions to safeguard your investment and advise you on all of the potential hidden risks.

The first and most important step to be followed in a property purchase is due diligence.

Administrative risks and fines are commonplace in these transactions, as there are many different aspects to adhere to when making an investment in a property.

In Italy, signing a preliminary contract does not transfer the property into your name; however, signing the agreement does carry certain commitments.

If thorough due diligence has not been carried out, various problems can arise which can lead to you losing your deposit or wasting unnecessary money to rectify the issue.

To purchase your dream home, you may need a mortgage to help you afford the property.

As with the purchase itself, this can be a complicated matter, especially if you do not understand the law and the language.

We have extensive experience in obtaining mortgages for clients and can assist you in your application; furthermore, we work closely with Italian banks, which enables us to get you the most favourable deal in terms of interest payments.

Property sale:

Just as we offer assistance in buying homes, we are also able to assist you if you wish to sell your property.

Having a specialist in Real Estate law guide you in these transactions is essential, since Italian bureaucracy does not always make it easy to sell a property if the documentation related to it is not up-to-date, clear and complete.

Additionally, you may not know that you also need a valid Italian fiscal code and updated energy certificate to sell a property – just a couple examples of the requirements needed to carry out these transactions.

We assist clients throughout the entire process and make sure to acquire the relevant documentation to ensure that the sale goes through without any problems.

We also assist many clients that have inherited property from family members and wish to sell as they do not reside in Italy.

This can also be a complicated procedure, as the probate may not have been completed correctly, or other discrepancies exist. Common problems include the land registry not being updated or planning permissions that are missing.

These issues can be easily resolved by an experienced Italian Real Estate lawyer who will ensure the whole process is completed without any complications.

To purchase or sell a property in Italy, you do not need to be present at the completion. You can appoint our Lawyers through Power of Attorney, which will allow us to represent you.

Furthermore, having us represent you at the completion will save you money for a translator which will be needed to complete the transaction before the Notary if you do not speak Italian fluently.

If you need a surveyor, we have external consultants that work closely with us who can provide answers to your questions such as to the value of the property, structural condition, market value, and other important information.

Insurance

Insurance is another important aspect of real estate.

After going through all the stages to find and purchase your dream home, it is advisable to insure your new home in order to safeguard your investment.

It is not always easy to understand the intricacies of insurance contracts, which sometimes hide risks with complex legal expressions; our team will advise you as to what is the most suitable insurance policy that fits your needs.

Furthermore, we will negotiate with insurers to obtain the lowest cost with the maximum security.

Taxes

Taxes are another important point which people often forget about, only to notice after the purchase/sale that they could have saved money.

Unfortunately, part of buying a property includes the duty to pay taxes, and there are various different taxes to be paid and the total sum may change, so it is imperative that you seek legal advice to ensure that you pay the lowest amount possible.

If you are not correctly informed, you will find yourself in trouble with the Italian tax office and will subsequently have to pay heavy fines. Indeed, moving your residency to Italy will allow you to save a lot of costs in terms of taxes, as there exists many legal strategies to reduce the total amount due.

Risks are behind every corner in these transactions and what makes our clients contact us is that they feel safe in the knowledge that the sale/purchase is being carried out by professionals who deal with these matters on a daily basis – our scope is not pushing you to purchase or sell, but rather to ensure that things run in a smooth and time-efficient manner.

Once the sale or purchase is complete, if needed, we can also assist you in managing on-going tax payments to the local municipality and local taxes. Failure to pay these taxes can again lead to fines from the tax office, so it is important to obtain the correct information.

Investments

There are a few ways to invest in real estate in Italy.

If you are looking for a way to establish an extra revenue stream, purchasing a property to rent out to tenants is a secure way to do so. However, you need to be certain that the property that you are buying corresponds with the rental demand in your specific area.

Alternatively, you can buy property and carry out restoration work to increase its value, then resell it at a later date.

Indeed, you can also buy an off-plan property and sell it once it is complete.

In this case, we can assist you with all documentation and contracts that need to be drafted and protect your interests through the entire transaction.

Whichever option you choose, to ensure your investment is financially successful, you will need to pay attention to all the risks involved and have an in-depth knowledge of the property market in the local area.

Our experience and knowledge in this market means we are able to give you the best guidance and advise you on which kind of investment to consider, depending on your requests and needs.

When purchasing a luxury home overseas, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the transaction is conducted in a manner that will protect your property rights.

Consulting a qualified real estate lawyer will help ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible, and that your property rights are protected and all necessary paperwork is completed.