Rial Estate
Rial Estate
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Buying property in Italy from abroad Invest in Italy

Living abroad and want to buy a home in Milan or on the lake? We support you from start to finish: viewings, checks, paperwork, renovation and letting. Or we present an operation we are developing ourselves.

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Two ways to work together

You buy, we support you

You have a city, a budget and a kind of home in mind. We are in Milan, and we do what is hard to do well from far away.

  • Areas and pricesWe walk you through the Milan and lakeside neighbourhoods we work in every day, with real costs, renovation included.
  • ViewingsWe go and see the homes you are interested in, by video call too, and tell you what a listing doesn't.
  • Technical checksWith our technicians we assess the property's condition, its systems and the cost of works before you sign anything.
  • PaperworkTax code, utilities, dealing with the notary, the bank and the accountant: we coordinate it all, in a language you speak.
  • RenovationDesign, quote, works and furnishing with our own team, right up to handing over the keys.
  • ManagementIf you buy to let, we take care of it: listings, guests, cleaning, maintenance and a monthly report.

We propose an operation

We buy properties to renovate and let, and follow them from the building site to management. If you are looking for an investment like this, we will present the projects we are developing, such as these two.

Every operation is assessed together, with the numbers on the table, before any commitment. We don't promise returns: we work them out with you from our flats' real data.

Buying a home in Italy, step by step

The process is the same for Italians and foreigners. What changes is the distance, the language and a few documents: that is where you need someone on the ground.

  1. The tax code

    It is the first document you need, and you cannot buy without it. If you live abroad, you request it from the Italian Revenue Agency, through a delegate in Italy if needed, or from the Italian consulate.

  2. Areas and viewings

    You choose where and what kind of home, view the properties and compare the real costs, works included.

  3. The checks

    Before committing, the property's condition, systems, planning and land-registry compliance and condominium charges are checked. Mortgages and title are also checked by the notary.

  4. The purchase offer

    It is a written offer that binds only the person who signs it. Once the seller accepts it, it becomes a preliminary contract.

  5. The preliminary contract

    It sets the price, the deposit and the date of the deed, and must be registered with the Revenue Agency within 30 days of signing.

  6. The deed

    It is signed before the notary, who receives and registers it. The price is paid by bank transfer or cheque, and the deed states how. If you can't be there that day, the notary will tell you how to sign through a power of attorney.

  7. After

    Utilities, renovation and, if you wish, letting: from here on, we take care of it.

What to know before buying

The questions everyone asks us, with the short answer and the official source. For your own tax position, always take an accountant's advice.

Who can buy
Citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area buy just like Italians. For others the reciprocity condition applies, which the notary checks case by case; it does not apply to people living in Italy with a residence permit for work, family or study.
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ↗
The tax code
Every buyer needs one, resident or not. You request it from the Revenue Agency, through a delegate if needed, or from the Italian consulate in your country.
Italian Revenue Agency ↗
The notary
A public official who checks mortgages and land-registry data and receives the deed. If you don't speak Italian, the deed is signed with an interpreter or in a language the notary and witnesses know, with the translation alongside.
Italian National Council of Notaries ↗
Purchase taxes
From a private seller: registration tax of 9%, or 2% if it is your first home, with a minimum of €1,000, plus €50 mortgage tax and €50 land-registry tax; for individuals it can be based on the cadastral value. From a company: VAT at 10%, or 4% for a first home, plus €200 for each of the three fixed taxes.
Italian Revenue Agency, October 2025 guide ↗
Every year
On a home that is not your main residence you pay IMU, the municipal property tax: in Milan the standard rate for 2026 is 1.14%. Rent from a property in Italy is declared in Italy even if you live abroad.
Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance ↗
Visa and residence
Buying a home does not give you a visa or a residence permit. Italy's investor visa covers government bonds, holdings in Italian companies and philanthropic donations, not property.
Investor Visa for Italy ↗

Official sources checked on 13 October 2026. This is general information: for your own case, the notary and your accountant have the final word.

After the purchase, the home works

We have renovated and managed flats in Milan since 2019. If you buy to let, your home joins the same system: works, furnishing, listings, guests, cleaning and a monthly report.

Our renovations How we manage homes
apartments managed
17
renovations completed
12
years in business
7

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner buy property in Italy?

Yes. Citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area buy just like Italians. For others the reciprocity condition applies, which the notary checks case by case; it does not apply to people living in Italy with a residence permit for work, family or study.

How much tax do you pay when buying a home in Italy?

From a private seller, registration tax is 9%, or 2% if it is your first home, plus €100 in fixed taxes; for individuals it can be based on the cadastral value. From a company you pay VAT at 10%, or 4% for a first home, plus €600 in fixed taxes. First-home relief applies if you move your residence to the municipality within 18 months or work there.

Do I need to be in Italy to sign the deed?

Not necessarily. If you can't be there, you can be represented through a power of attorney; if you are there and don't speak Italian, the deed is signed with an interpreter. The notary will explain how to proceed in your case, and we coordinate everything.

Does buying a home in Italy give you a residence permit?

No. Italy's investor visa covers government bonds, holdings in Italian companies and philanthropic donations, not property. If you buy without moving to Italy, you stay under the normal entry rules for your country.

Can you renovate and let the home after the purchase?

Yes, it is our everyday work in Milan: design, works, furnishing, listings, guests, cleaning and a monthly report. Short-term lets follow precise rules, which we explain before you buy.

Want to buy a home in Italy?

Tell us where, for whom and your budget. We will reply with the concrete steps and what we can do for you from here.

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