Can foreigners buy property in Italy in 2026?

Obtain a codice fiscale from the Agenzia delle Entrate or an Italian consulate. If you need a mortgage, speak to lenders before signing a binding purchase proposal.

Hire independent help that represents you. The estate agent markets the transaction. The notaio is a neutral public official who completes legal checks and authenticates the deed, but is not the buyer's personal advocate.

Have a surveyor or geometra, architect, engineer, and lawyer check title, cadastral plan, planning permission, building regularity, easements, condominium debt, APE certificate, occupancy status, seismic or flood risk, and renovation history.

A proposta d'acquisto can become binding when accepted. Do not treat it as a harmless expression of interest. Add financing and due-diligence conditions before signing.

The contratto preliminare, often called compromesso, sets price, property, deposit, deadlines, and completion conditions. A caparra confirmatoria has legal consequences if either party defaults. Complete key checks before committing it.

The final rogito is signed before the notaio. The notary verifies identities and legal matters, collects transaction taxes, registers the transfer, and handles land-registry formalities.

Historic and rural homes may contain works that do not match municipal planning records or the cadastral plan. A cheap one-euro or renovation property can carry deadlines, guarantees, structural work, and local programme conditions.

Condominium apartments need minutes, budgets, planned extraordinary works, and confirmation of unpaid charges. Rural land requires access, boundaries, utilities, septic, water, and agricultural-right checks.

Taxes differ by seller, property type, cadastral value, and whether the home qualifies as a prima casa. Add notary, agent, technical professional, translation, mortgage, renovation, annual IMU where applicable, TARI, and condominium costs.