buying property

[alex4003]

Hi,
Myself and my daughter are looking to buy an apartment in Scalea (San Domenico complex in Petrosa district?) and need clarification on the buying process. The property in 45,000 euros. I was told by the real estate agent that I would definitely get 100% Italian mortgage and the fees and extras would come to 10% of the value of the property. no problem. Now I am about to book flights to get there and open a bank account and get the fiscal number etc., he now says that fees and extras will now come to approx 11,000 - 13,000 euros and the property is valued at 35,000 but the exta 10,000 will be declared as furniture costs etc. Except that I still have to fork out for a new kitchen (there isn't one, just a blank wall) and furniture on top of the fees as well as the 45,000. The notary fees alone are going to cost 6,000 he says. Also, he is now saying that I can't get a mortgage except through Barclays and yet barclays website say they don't give mortgages less than 50,000 euros. Is all this normal in Italy or am I being taken for a fool? I don't want to come all the way over to pay the 3,000 euros just to open a bank account (he says that is the minimum), and then be left high and dry with no apartment and starting all over again..... help!?!?!?
Thank u in advance,
Alex

[Annette Darcy]

Hi Alex You didn't mention the name of the estate agent but I would guess it is not with Scala Properties run by David Thorpe and Tony Hacket. I bought with them less than 2 years ago and I didnt encounter the proplems you seem to be having. I opened a bank account with BNL bank in Scalea when I saw the apartment I wanted to buy on a viewing trip . I opened the account with 200 Euro . I would suggest you contact Scalea Properties and speak to them .Annette

[ENGJMAX]

Hi Alex

I have sent you a private message.

Best wishes

John

[cool]

Hi I would just like to say I opened my account with 500 euros and those figures seem odd. Go straight away to Scalea Properties and let David ,Melanie and Tony look after it for you.They are the best at what they do in that area.They looked after us very well indeed. Good Luck. Cool

[Andy&Kath]

Hi Alex

I have sent you a private message

Regards

Andy

[elgian]

Hi Alex;

Tax on the purchase should be in the region of 10% of the "valore catastale" (property registry value) of the flat. This value, in my experience, is usually much lower than the purchase price. So, I'm not quite sure what these fees are that your agent is talking about. Unless these are bond registration fees. Also, there will be a commissioner of oaths that will be doing the paperwork and official deed of sale. We paid around 3000.00 Euro for this, last year.

As far as kitchens go, we've just ordered a fairly decent one (a 4 metres run with gas stove, electric oven, fridge-freezer, double sink and taps for around 2000.00 Euro. We're furnishing a hole flat, slightly larger than the San Domenico ones for just over 5000.00 Euro.

Hope all this helps.

ciao

Giancarlo

[Niamh]

Alex,
That all sounds a bit dodgy. I would go along with the advice of contacting Scalea Property. We bought through them last year and they were really very helpful with the whole process. Scalea Property Services - Calabria, Southern Italy - Welcome to Scalea Property Services is the website address.
Best of luck with everything
Niamh

[jpfable]

We bought an Apartment in Centro Storico in 2005 with the help of Tony Hacket and Scalea Property Services and the full process was made very simple and we had none of the charges that you seem to potentially be incurring. It all sounds as one of the other replies has said "a bit dodgy" and had we have been in that position we wouldn't have proceeded.

I would speak to Scalea Property Services and ask their advice on costs incurred when purchasing as I am sure Tony or David will give you the correct information.

If you like the property they may even be able to negotiate the package on your behalf and at least you will know exactly where you stand. Worth a call!

Hope this helps and all the best.

JP

[alex4003]

Hi,
Thanks everyone for the messages. I think I've managed to get everything sorted out. It seems that language and miscommunication has been the problem. THe estate agent msinterpreted my questions and I misinterpreted his answers. The 3,000 is for the deposit, not to open a bank account! Everything else regarding fees etc has been explained properly and the correct figures given so I am now breathing a sigh of relief. He has been very nice about everything and very patient, and I am hopefully heading to Scalea on the 6th of July to get the ball rolling. I've never been to Scalea but it appears a beautiful place to be. Thanks everyone! See you soon.....
Alex

[alex4003]

Hi,
Thanks for the information. Where did you get your kitchen? I'm assuming there are places in Scalea, and do they come and fit everything? Thanks,
Alex

[ENGJMAX]

Hi Alex

If you have a look at some of the old threads, where to buy furniture & kitchens has been
discussed quite a bit in the past, Italy4me ie Lesley gave some good links on a post 26-2-2008


best wishes

John

[forzascalea]

Dear Alex,

To open a bank accpount here in Scalea you will have to deposit around €200 into your account as they like to have enough money in foreigners account to last a while without going into the red, but this is still your money in your account so is not an expense.

If you are getting a mortgage you will incur extra fees as you are essentially doing 2 notary deeds and therefore you will have double the notary costs, this will explain the high closing fees. The purchase tax is calculated on the fiscal value of the property and not the purchase price (this will be much lower in petrosa due to historic data).

Barclays will give a morgage above 30,000 in Calabria (50,000 minimum everywhere else).

Anyway glad to hear you sorted it all out and we all hope you enjoy your property in Scalea. Its good that it was just an error in communication and I can personally assure you that the person you are dealing with is the totally honest and such a nice guy! so there will never be anything to worry about.

Incidentally you can get a kitchen fitted easily and cheaply at Mobili Sarubbi which is on the coast road just south of Scalea. There is a big sign outside with CASA SI.

[gweis60@optonline.net]

Originally Posted by Annette Darcy

Hi Alex You didn't mention the name of the estate agent but I would guess it is not with Scala Properties run by David Thorpe and Tony Hacket. I bought with them less than 2 years ago and I didnt encounter the proplems you seem to be having. I opened a bank account with BNL bank in Scalea when I saw the apartment I wanted to buy on a viewing trip . I opened the account with 200 Euro . I would suggest you contact Scalea Properties and speak to them .Annette

Hello, Annette,
My husband and I are from the US and we came over to Calabria last July. We will return this coming summer to find a place to live, put a deposit, and then move the summer after. We plan on living permanently, all year round in Italy. Can't wait.
Do you mind a couple of questions, Annette? We already have a codice fiscale from our trip. What we thought would be good would be to buy euros now, since the price is lowering. We wanted to link banks, one here in the US and one in Italy. I am seeing that that might not be possible. Here in the US, if you have an account in one bank, you just go to the other and you can have the funds. There is a Citibank, I thought , in Italy. But I do not believe they are related; I did call and they said it is 2 different things.

So, what I was wondering is it possible to open a bank account with a bank in Scalea, such as BNL or another one, from over here in the States or is it mandatory to go in person?
Do you live permanently in Scalea? Are you from America, Britain?
I had a good impression of Scalea Property Services, also.
Thank you so much.
MaryAnn

[gweis60@optonline.net]

Originally Posted by forzascalea

Dear Alex,

To open a bank accpount here in Scalea you will have to deposit around €200 into your account as they like to have enough money in foreigners account to last a while without going into the red, but this is still your money in your account so is not an expense.

If you are getting a mortgage you will incur extra fees as you are essentially doing 2 notary deeds and therefore you will have double the notary costs, this will explain the high closing fees. The purchase tax is calculated on the fiscal value of the property and not the purchase price (this will be much lower in petrosa due to historic data).

Barclays will give a morgage above 30,000 in Calabria (50,000 minimum everywhere else).

Anyway glad to hear you sorted it all out and we all hope you enjoy your property in Scalea. Its good that it was just an error in communication and I can personally assure you that the person you are dealing with is the totally honest and such a nice guy! so there will never be anything to worry about.

Incidentally you can get a kitchen fitted easily and cheaply at Mobili Sarubbi which is on the coast road just south of Scalea. There is a big sign outside with CASA SI.

Dear Forzascalea,
My husband and I plan on returning to Scalea in July to buy a home to live permanently in Calabria. We are from the United States and would like to know if we cold open a bank account now with a bank in Scalea in euros without coming in person. We would send all the necessary documents and I could call. I speak some Italian, being Italian. We would like to purchase some euros soon.
I would truly appreciate whatever information you could give me. The Internet stated that there is a BNL in New York City, but when I called the phone number was not in service. NY City is 2 hours away, but we would go in order to start an account.
Thank you very much.
Grazie por tutto,
MaryAnn

[Annette Darcy]

Hi Maryann I think you would need to open the bank account in person. To answer you questions.I'm from Ireland and I have a holiday home in Scalea .I go over as often as I can.This year I was over in February July and September. To go back to opening an account.In Ireland the money laundering laws are quite strict when opening a bank account. You must have photo ID such as a passport and also a utility bill.As Italy is also in the European Union I would think they would have to comply with the same law.Also when I was buying my apartment in Scalea I had to go to a notary in Ireland and had to show him proof of my identity .When he checked me out he gave me documents which I then sent to the notary in Italy Hope this is of some help to you.Regards Annette