Once a suitable property has been found, a so-called “Proposta d’Acquisto”, a written purchase application, usually follows. This is often combined with a small down payment and signals serious interest to the seller. Legally, this is not yet the final purchase, but it is an important intermediate step to create a commitment.

This is usually followed by the preliminary contract, the “Compromesso”. This sets out the purchase price, schedule, handover date and important details. From this point onwards, the commitment is much stronger. Here in particular, you should pay close attention to what is included in the purchase, what furniture remains, what work still needs to be done and what deadlines apply.

The actual closing finally takes place at the notary’s office. The Italian notary plays a central role in this process. He checks the ownership structure, ensures that there are no encumbrances on the property and ensures correct entry in the land register. Compared to other countries, the notary in Italy is a very important safeguard for buyers.

We signed with a very good notary with an excellent interpreter in Varese: Olivia Barresi.