When Would I Buy a Property in Italy

If you look at the articles I wrote for the blog on this site recently in the Where Would I Invest series, I focussed mainly on emerging market, because they offer the property at the lowest prices, with the greatest growth potential; are low risk investments.

However, if I was going to make a long-term property investment -- and I mean long-term 20+ years -- in a property that I would use for my holidays throughout the time of my investment, and may either use for my retirement or sell, I would buy a property in Italy.

More specifically I would buy a property in Calabria. It offers the beauty, climate and lifestyle comparable to the ever-popular Tuscany, but property at a fraction of the price. I imagine myself with a glass of wine as the sun-sets, looking out the upstairs window to check if the tide was in before running down for a swim in the warm waters.

On a thin-strip of land surrounded by coast on three sides, and sloping upwards to the centre, I would easily find a property with a sea-view for well under £70k, according to Tam Stanley of Calabria property agent Calabrian Property.com.

I would choose Calabria, because when the time came for me to sell, I know there will be strong demand for property, because the government is determined not to let Calabria become over-developed. I also know that if I decided not to sell, the safety of an Italian property would give me a wide range of options for equity release.