Real Estate & Legal News in Italy from Propertyshowrooms.com

Italian agents 'positive' about the future

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

House prices in Italy recorded declines of just 0.3 per cent last year, with some areas of the country even seeing values rise.

The news may tempt investors to buy property in Italy, with the news indicating that the market is now near the bottom, Overseas Property Professional reports.

According to the Bank of Italy, the cities of Cagliari, Catania and Genoa all enjoyed increases in terms of prices and research suggests that agents are more positive about the future.

Indeed, 61 per cent of those surveyed by the bank expect the overall housing market to improve over the next two years, while 26 per cent expect it to stabilise.

The bank believes that Italy's better performance could well be attributed to the country's property investment laws which favour the buyer.

Banks in Italy have a solid guarantee on deposit for off-the-plan developments, the news provider explains, while properties resold after five years of ownership are exempt from capital gains tax.

EU court rules against Alitalia

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The EU's top court rejects an appeal by struggling Italian airline Alitalia against conditions for receiving state aid...

Scots look to escape credit crunch abroad

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Continuing financial pressures in the UK are prompting many Scottish people to consider emigrating, a survey has found.

According to a Legal & General Study, nearly one in five Scots are prepared to leave the country in order to avoid the effects of the credit crunch.

Only three per cent of those surveyed said they consider themselves well off, while most respondents raised concerns about the rising cost of living in the UK.

Speaking to the Scotsman, Mark Wallace of the Taxpayers Alliance said: "This is a shocking indication of how inhospitable this country has become for ordinary people trying to make a living."

Tim Warren, spokesperson for Legal & General, added that he was very surprised by the findings.

He said it is "startling" that so many people from Scotland would be prepared to pack their bags and leave the country for sunnier climbs such as Italy and Spain.

Last month, a poll of expatriates by NatWest revealed that the vast majority believe they are financially better off now that they live abroad.