½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Unfortunately it sounds close to my experience. Doubling the asking price is about right to get a property in Italy when all is said and done. (I live just down the road in Pisticci and built a house 5 yrs ago.) The only thing I can advise you is to NOT cut any corners in this process as it will bite you terribly down the road. Good luck and hope you enjoy the south as much as I do.

The cheaper the property the larger the percentage you pay on purchase.   The agent is charging a minimum 2500, (could be worse.-.. in Molise they charge 3000) plus IVA.   The notary and the tax man have minimums too - the minimum tax you can pay is 1100.   As you are using it as a holiday home and not taking residency you cannot buy as prima casa - so you will be paying 9% of the rateable value - which on a 12000 house will probably be the minimum anyway.   

So in a long answer, yes, but it sounds a bit high - I would have thought around 5000/6000. 

@Modicasa

Thank you for your help, it's maybe a small price to pay to get on the Italian ladder.

@Casaparadiso

Thank you for your advice.

This is insightful info guys. Thanks

hopefully we can hear more successful stories of buying in the south as thats the plan for me and my hubby within 2 years.

Agency recommendations? There are so many…

Ciao @marazzo

When I bought, last year, the total outlay in fees *excluding* the Agent was more than €5,000. The Seller’s Agent fee was almost €5,000 but that’s the Seller’s responsibility. Sometimes they try to get the buyer to pay it and sometimes the Seller acts for both (conflict of interest but not illegal as far as I know). In my case, I had hired a local agent to help me with the process and worked with him for years before eventually finding, buying and closing on a Property.

If you want, send me an email to ronhealyx@gmail.com and I will send you his contact details, if only to ask him for advice. He won’t charge for that!

I may also still have the spreadsheet I created to calculate the various percentage-based fees and charges. If I find it, I’ll send that as well.

By the way, I visited Matera on a 6-week, round-Italy road trip. Absolutely loved the place. Hopefully you’re buying somewhere in the old city!

Ron

Feel free to reach out if you want a contact for an Agent, @aoifeK. For me, he was not only an Agent but the ‘guard’ I needed against all the nasty Italian surprises.