How I Bought my Little House in Italy during the Pandemic - Everything You Need to Know

As an Italian from Parma (slightly North of Fivizzano) I would add one thing to the checklist: have a look at the place in autumn and winter. A wet autumn on the Appennines can be really cold and wet, particularly in a stone house. And some villages get regularly snowed in in January and February. Not planning to be there in cold weather? Well, let's hope you find a way to prevent the pipes from freezing. And so on. I love the mountains, but there is a reason why mountain villages are getting depopulated: the logistics frequently stink.

Thank you for being transparent about actual costs and fees. So many people talk about doing it but don't disclose actual costs.

For many, many years my late husband and I would go twice a year to a small town in Italy, Montecatini, which is only half an hour from Florence, and stay in a lovely hotel for two weeks of fabulous food, fabulous trips all over Tuscany, incredible shopping and the warmest of warm welcomes from the owners of the hotel. We became friendly with others who also appeared twice a year during the time we were there and ended up being one big family. I believe this was way better than owning a house and gardens which would need continuous upkeep...incurring expenses and a lot of bother. In fact, I believe we had the best bargain...we were living in Tuscany with no worries except where to have our mid morning coffee break and what to buy in one of the exquisite boutiques of this little town.

Here in Australia my good neighbour still owns her home in the Italian village where she grew up. She spends the Australian winters back there. She said she doesn’t shut off the electricity when she’s away as it takes so much time to have it reinstated when she visits. She didn’t get back for the last two winters because of COVID. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for her that 2022 will be better.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. So many people are uncomfortable about sharing costs so an extra thank you for that. It helps to put things in perspective and really know what to expect. I look forward to watching you continue this journey.

Such a pleasure to get a clear picture of a complex process from a highly organized person with no agenda other than to inform others based on her own experience! Good job, M'lady!

I am SO grateful for your willing to share your actual numbers and the full picture here. It really helps know if this is something I can do too...all those little costs add up to be a lot! SO SO grateful you shared your real picture here Julie. 🙏🏼 Thank you! 🧡

Such valuable information, Julie! You made it so easy to understand and so much more relatable. When I watched your original video showing your Italian home, I thought how beautiful it all was but there would be no way I could afford something like that. It was just a dream. But, you made it seem possible. Thank you so much, Julie! And I can’t wait to see another video of your beautiful home! 🌸🌸

I am on this path to making a purchase in Italy, and I so appreciate all of this information!

Julie you are an absolute gem 💎! Thank you so much for sharing with us in details . You won’t find people like you too often these days - honest and willing to help ❤️

thank you so very much for creating this video! buying a house in Italy has been a dream of mine for some time now, but I had no idea it was this affordable. i really appreciate you sharing some of your details with us about costs, and really, you have no idea how helpful you have been. thank you!

I'm so so so sooooo happy to find your chanel, we moved to Italy 2 years ago with my husband and 2 kids and we're struggling to buy a house and the location is a big problem for us. Our dream is to live and raise our kids in campagna. Watching videos like yours inspires me to keep dreaming until i reach my dream ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I appreciate how generous you are with the details. It's so nice to understand how things happen. It makes it seem more possible for others! Thank you, Julie, and congratulations on your beautiful house!

This is a terrific video! Anyone who is thinking of buying a house in Italy will have a very clear understanding of the process.I love the way your brain works! You explain things beautifully! I hope you have many happy years in your home!!! Thank you for the beautiful picture of You and Luke at Mapperton!!! it was so thoughtful of you to send it to me!! I'll always treasure it!! Love from Vermont

We are in the process of choosing our Italian home. Thank you for breaking this down and sharing it - many people hide this info and/or charge for it. Ti ringrazio!!

Absolutely love seeing your house in Italy. Please share more videos of the renovations and surrounding areas. You are mastering the language so quickly! Thank you, Julie.

I love seeing an entrepreneurial woman making her own dreams a reality.

0:58 those Italian tiles feel so nice when they begin to just slowly warm up from the cool morning air. Italy does things right.

This is all such valuable information, and answers so many of the questions that we have. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with your wonderful little home!

How exciting for you! Can't wait to see your little house all renovated. I lived in Southern Bavaria while I was in the Army Medical Corps. I still miss the church bells we'd always hear from our flat at the edge of the forest. We could look over the village from our huge front window and watch for deer, and the occasional hedgehog to wander through the backyard from the big slider in the back.