• Tax code number

     You’ll need an Italian tax code number (codice fiscale), which you can get at the Italian consulate in your home country or through an Italian tax office. This can take up to three weeks. Our lawyers will provide you with the necessary assistance during these steps. We can arrange for you a tax code number on extra pay.

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• The purchase proposal

The purchase proposal is a private agreement between seller - real estate agency and you that confirm your intention to buy the property at a certain price and within a certain amount of time. The primary goal of the purchase proposal is to allow time to perform some preliminary due diligence if needed and ensure that the seller won't attempt to sell the property to anyone else until a certain date. Your purchase offer will require a small deposit usually 5 % of selling price. This amount is not refundable in case you change idea.

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• Notary

In Italy, when you buy a house, you must have a notary. It is the notary who seals the purchase contract. More specifically, a notary is a public official. Essentially, they are a lawyer who specialises in public deeds.

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Here in Italy, it's the buyer who pays the notary's fees, plus all taxes related to the purchase. Therefore, it's a good idea to get acquainted with the notary who will be doing all legal checks of the property you wish to buy — and who will eventually seal your final deed. You can choose any notary from the register of public notaries in Italy. But for obvious reasons, the notary you choose should be situated close to the town where your prospective house is located.

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• Preliminary Contract

In case of buying an apartment in under-construction projects the Preliminary contract - compromesso or contratto preliminare is required according to Italian Law. This legally binding contract commits both parties to the transfer of ownership and to complete the purchase, paying the balance of the agreed price on a specified, future, completion date. The preliminary agreement is always written by your notary.

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Generally speaking, the timeframe between the signing of the preliminary agreement and the final signing at the notary office will be between two and three months. Once signed by all parties, the preliminary agreement becomes a binding document that must be followed by a down payment of 20% of the total price of the property. Keep in mind that it is possible a seller might require a higher down payment if the buyer asks for a long wait time between the signing of the preliminary contract and the final signing.

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• Notary, Final Deed and Completion

At this point, when the preliminary agreement has been signed and the deposit paid, the notary will start to write the final deed or rogito. The signing of the final deed is the last step in the purchase process. It must be signed at the notary office in front of the notary.

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Otherwise, if the notary allows it, you may appoint a translator to translate the title deed into English, which will allow you to sign the document. In this case, the translator must be present during the signing to act as an interpreter. Keep in mind that not all notaries will consent to this; therefore, always be sure to ask your notary what their particular policies are.

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For further informations please do not hesitate to contact us. 

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