Rent or buy in Italy?

Short answer: rent first, for 6–12 months. You'll learn the neighborhoods, get your residency and codice fiscale sorted, and avoid the classic mistake of buying a dream house in a town that's empty from October to May. Most visas also require a registered lease (or deed) before you apply.

Renting: what to know

• The standard long-term lease is "4+4" (4 years, renewable). "3+2" leases at controlled rents exist in many cities.
• Expect a 2–3 month deposit, plus an agency fee of about one month's rent.
• Insist on a lease registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate. You need it for residency and visas.
• Unfurnished in Italy can mean no kitchen. Check before you sign.
• Search Immobiliare.it, Idealista.it and local Facebook groups. Avoid paying deposits before viewing.

Buying: the real costs

• Purchase taxes: 2% of the cadastral value for a "prima casa" (main home, if you take residence within 18 months), 9% otherwise.
• Notary €2–5k, agency 3–4% plus VAT, surveyor (geometra) checks for building compliance.
• Mortgages for non-residents usually cap at 50–60% loan-to-value; residents can get 80%.
• Old village houses often need renovations costing more than the purchase price. Get a geometra's estimate first.
• 1-euro homes are real, but they come with renovation deadlines (often 3 years) and guarantee deposits.

When buying makes sense

• You've lived in the area for at least a season, ideally through a winter.
• You plan to stay 5+ years. Transaction costs make short stays expensive.
• You have the cash, or 40%+ down, and a trusted geometra and notary.