Advice about buying property in Scalea

Hi,

We have been looking at various web sites with property for sale in Scalea.

My question is - do people bargain when making offers for property in Scalea (and in Italy, in general)? In the U.S., people list their property for sale with a price but they pretty much expect to come down some from their original asking price.

I am a teacher so the budget for such a place would be pretty small. We only need a small place to use during school holidays.

One additional question - Does anyone know of a web site with more detailed information on Scalea? Information regarding areas/neighborhoods, more popular parts of town, etc.

Thanks for any help.

Don

[forzascalea]

Hi Don and welcome to Scalea info.

The best service for buying property is www.scalea-property.com . They offer viewing trips and you will see everything that is on offer. I have to say I am a little biased as this is my company but I would never recommend anything unless is was great.

Italy is not like the US because the asking price is the asking price. But I would always recommend making a reasonable offer because if you don't ask you don't get!

There are other web sites about the area but none of them go into details on the parts of town etc...

-SCALEA IN A NUTSHELL-
There are no bad areas in Scalea, crime is very low indeed wherever you are in the area.

CENTRAL SCALEA
The centre of Scalea is flat and heavily populated all year, usually you are never more than 400m from the beach when in Scalea. The advantage of this area is that you can walk everywhere and amenities are open all year. The downside is that the area is quite built up so if you are looking for a more peaceful setting, this may not be for you.

SOUTH SCALEA/PANTANO
The flat area to the south of Scalea is more rural but does have great sea and mountain views, it is also at sea level like Scalea so you can walk/cycle to the beach. This area is quiet and tranquil, and still near to the centre. The properties here are lower density and spread out, a car/scooter in this area would be advantageous.

PETROSA/FARO
Petrosa and Faro are suburbs to the north of Scalea and are raised up on a hill, they usually have excellent panoramic views of the sea and mountains. The property in these areas is lower density (2 story apartment blocks etc...) aimed solely for holidays/vacations. These areas do tend to be very quiet out of season so a car/scooter would be required to go into town for shopping/restaurants etc...

CENTRO STORICO
The historic centre of Scalea is on a hill and is situated in Central Scalea, the old town is beautfiul and charming where life has remained unchanged for generations. The roads are just steps and cars cannot penetrate most of this area. If you are not fit and healthy then this area isn't for you, as the steps are quite challenging, but the historic buildings and great setting are well worth exploring as its like a maze in there!. Property here is historic and building costs are higher here than anywhere else, as properties have to be restored in the historic way to preserve the area. Completed properties here can be exspensive as people love the area.

I hope this helps give you an overview of the area, if you came to see it you will be amazed. If you need to know anything else please let me know

David

[Susanne]

Hi don,

My husband and I are buying a small apt. in the norhtern part of Scalea with great views of sea and mountain. I recommend you a viewing trip down. We saw about 10 different apts. in totally diferent areas. You will then see and feel what yoy like the most. We prefered the silent higher area. Tony is really helpfull and there are many more than what you see on the sites....hope this will help you some

best wishes from Linköping, Sweden
Susanne and Lasse

[Susanne]

To Don again......correction! Our apartment is more northeast...getting a little confused. Anyway the terrace faces the sea!

Susanne

[Susanne]

To Don again......correction! Our apartment is more northeast...getting a little confused. Anyway the terrace faces the sea!

Susanne

HI Susanne,

Thanks for your input. I do plan to use Tony if I can. I am sure we will need his help.

What I was hoping to get is Buyers' views too on which part of town they found attractive and why.

My wife and I are planning a trip to the area to look at properties. We were going to visit over the Christmas holidays but I have been told that it will be difficult since everyone (including realtors) is on holiday.

We are going to try to come in February if possible.

One question: Last summer we went to a small village on the coast of Spain looking at properties but found that we could not afford anything. We were looking for areas that have local character and made us feel like we were seeing how real people live.

Is Scalea more like a beach, holiday, party town or is it more like Italy where real regular Italian people live?

Thanks again for your response.

Don

[fifi]

Hi Don scalea is very Italian.I hope it will stay like that for a very long time to come.Its a fine town, with plenty to do and see.The train is on the door step and that will bring you any where, the mountains are your back garden and the sea your front.In winter you can drive into the mountains and ski, hanv'nt done that yet we only bought this year, but hope to next year.The supermarkets are large and you can buy anything in them, and eating out is very Itailian.When we came back from our hols. we tried to watch cookery programmes to get a grip on whats been served in Scalea so we dont miss out on those lovely dishes.We went over in Febuary and viewed, I fell in love then.Even in winter the town was very much alive.If you are looking for a Costa del whatever this is not the place for you just great fun busy town and lovely people.Best of luck with the viewings.David and Tony will see you right,they did so for us. Fifi

[Susanne]

Hi again Don,
I agree with Fifi that Scalea is a "real" town, it's alive with or without tourists. It reminds of Costa del sol in the sixties. My husband and I also looked for a place east of Malaga at the "Costa Tropical". But the prices have doubled in just 5 years...We discovered Calabria when we were on vacation in Tropea in August. We rented a car and drove around for 4 days.The whole area is fantastic and all the small towns are charming. Scalea is "alive" but not too alive! I think this is the last unspoiled spot in Europe and that we are among the first to be here...I don't know the difference between the areas in the town. For us it was just important with the views so we took the chance and bought .....the prices are very reasonable. We will go down as often as we can. We just need to finalize the purchase of the apt.first!
Best wishes

[forzascalea]

Originally Posted by fifi

Hi Don scalea is very Italian.I hope it will stay like that for a very long time to come.Its a fine town, with plenty to do and see.The train is on the door step and that will bring you any where, the mountains are your back garden and the sea your front.In winter you can drive into the mountains and ski, hanv'nt done that yet we only bought this year, but hope to next year.The supermarkets are large and you can buy anything in them, and eating out is very Itailian.When we came back from our hols. we tried to watch cookery programmes to get a grip on whats been served in Scalea so we dont miss out on those lovely dishes.We went over in Febuary and viewed, I fell in love then.Even in winter the town was very much alive.If you are looking for a Costa del whatever this is not the place for you just great fun busy town and lovely people.Best of luck with the viewings.David and Tony will see you right,they did so for us. Fifi

Hi Fifi, A very good description of the area I thought Hope to see you soon in the future, David

[fifi]

Thanks David,have to have a wee! look at the messages now and again.Just to see whats going on.I even check the weather out.(miss that on your site)Future seems a very long way away.Would love to try and get over in Feb, and check out the snow.Need to save very hard though.Damien was over in Sept.Left something with Carmelo for you both hope you got it.Damiens parents were over in Oct.they bought us a bike for pottering around.Should be fun two big adults and 3 big kids on one bike.Talk soon fifi

[forzascalea]

Hi Fifi,

If its the Black stuff you left with Carmelo I think Tony may have took it all and not told me, he's terribly selfish when it comes to guniness!!! Thankyou anyway.

I have been meaning to buy an old shopper style bike to get to the beach/town and back myself.

Have you seen the new underground garages for sale in parco flora, a snip at €10k Also above the garages on ground level there will be covered spaces available at €4k each . I think a bit much when there is ample free parking in the complex, however it would be nice to have a garage though for storage etc...

Last week in Scalea it was 26 Degrees C which was lovely for November (the norm however) so we have many more warm November's to look forward to, one reason I took the weather off the site because it was never correct. Its always warmer/dryer than the report says because of the mountains so close by. It seems to have its own mini climate with the bad weather held back by the mountains.

When are you next going to Parco Flora? Also how is the apartment coming along?

Ciao, David

[fifi]

Hi David thanks for the weather report.Not quite sure when we are going back.Need to do a bit of work on the cottage here.Would love to have gone over in Feb.with the kids but you never know.Very busy in work at the moment.One show after another.My head is recked.Carmelo is minding your present, Damien gave it to him in Sept.We wouldn't give you the black stuff, its more a hubby and new wife thing, something Mel would enjoy as well (God you probably would prefere the black stuff after that discription) Any ways ask Carmelo he is keeping it safe. Hope your as busy as bees in the property game talk soon , Ciao Fifi