Italy 101: Understanding the Housing Market
The housing market in Italy is very different from other markets and many aspects of it often surprise foreigners relocating here. In order to fully understand how it works, and to avoid any unpleasant surprises, let’s take a look at the most important things to know: 1. Landlord’s Market– Italy, for the most part, is […] Read More
My Resume is My Business Card
What is a curriculum vitae (abbreviated as “CV”) used for? A cv (or resumè) is used to introduce yourself to a company – and generally to a potential employer – with which an interest of a professional nature has developed. It is the first step towards the creation of this relationship and precedes other steps […] Read More
Italy: Making a Living & How to Do it!
When I first moved to Italy back in 1988, the employment situation and business landscape were very different, many opportunities that exist today, simply did not back then. Technology and the global market place being at our fingertips has had a lot to do with this. When it comes to finding work and making a […] Read More
The Accompanying Partner, AKA: The Trailing Spouse
“take heart that every single ex-pat you meet was once as green as you are…” There seems to be no great label for a role that is challenging, hard to define and often overlooked when talking about life as an ex-pat. Historically, the term has been ‘trailing spouse,’ which many feel implies that the one […] Read More
What is the right language for your resume?
Some days ago, I found myself strenuously arguing for my view about the language that should be used when drawing a professional profile. My view is the following: whether we’re talking about a CV or a covering letter, your documents should be written in Italian first. Italy has its own culture and language; it hasn’t […] Read More
Is an Overseas Assignment Right for You?
The allure of an overseas assignment can be very appealing to some individuals, especially for certain destinations that are very sought after, such as London. However, it is wise to note, that some of the most unsuccessful relocations from the US, for example, are into the UK – this may seem strange, but many people […] Read More
The Secret for a Career Change!
Amongst the various access channels to the market there’s direct candidacy, in other words: there’s a company that you’d like to work for and you put yourself forward. People don’t believe this approach can work but it does, all you have to do is understand what it means and what you have to do. First […] Read More
Italian Real Estate Outlook for 2017
The Italian real estate market continues to show signs of consolidated growth, favored by the persistence of very low home loan interest rates and stable sales prices, now at record lows. After the prolonged decrease in the number of transactions and prices that began in 2007, with 2012 as the ‘annus horribilis’, from 2015 the […] Read More
The Italian Bureaucracy Shuffle
After almost 17 years in Italy, I certainly can’t say I’ve “gone native.” However, there are times that I realize just how second nature certain things have become in my day-to-day life here. I had this realization recently when speaking with an American friend who had just relocated to Italy. She was expressing frustration with […] Read More
Achieving a Successful Checkout in Italy!
The last thing in Italy that you want is dilapidations! The judicial system moves at a glacial pace and it is normal for lawsuits to be settled after many, many years. Given this state of affairs, it behooves everyone to stay clear of a legal route and to aim for a hassle-free departure. How do […] Read More
Relocating To Italy: What You Need to Know Now!
You’ve just told your friends and coworkers that you have decided to move to Italy and every one is happy for you, even if, they are a little envious as they conjure up images of Italian apparel, wonderful wine, delicious cuisine, and magnificent seaside towns. Everything seems to be on track until you start hearing […] Read More
Do I need an Italian will for my Italian property?
As a foreign owner of Italian real estate, do I also need an Italian Will or does the Will I have in my home country suffice? This is a very important question and the answer is rather complex. The rules that decide which legal system applies have recently changed: Italian Law no. 218/1995 has been […] Read More
BREXIT and UK Car Insurance
You may reading this and be a resident in Italy whilst driving around in car with UK number plates. (Hopefully you are not reading this whilst driving, but I think you understand my point!) Up until BREXIT this would have been fine as long as your insurance allowed you unlimited travel in the EU, and […] Read More
Renting Your Italian Property
As examined in Italian property purchase: what is it really going to cost?, being an owner-occupier (“residente”) comes with significant tax advantages, both in terms of the transfer taxes and ongoing expenses. If your time in Italy is instead limited to holidays and you wish to purchase an Italian property you can rent out for […] Read More
Apartment Leases in Italy
Signing contracts for an apartment and figuring out which option is best for you is an important part of living in Italy. When signing an apartment there is some key information that the renter should know first. Rental prices used to be restricted to a set price through the fair rent (equo canone) law, but […] Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 3 of 3)
In part two of the series, we left off discussing stage three of cultural adjustment, adaptation, in which you were beginning to reach a place of understanding and acceptance of your new culture, and you found yourself feeling more like the person you were back in your home country, but with a new twist. As […] Read More
Italy’s Building Standards: Is your house safe?
The recent tragedy in central Italy has again highlighted the nation’s shortcomings in regards to building safety standards and the immense challenge it faces to protect its beautiful but vulnerable historic buildings, and those who inhabit them. Most of Italy’s buildings were in fact erected prior to the existence of building codes, often with poor […] Read More
Apartment Rental Prices (Milan)
Milan is a diverse city characterized by its unique mix of both history and the pathway into the future. There are areas rich with history such as the Piazza del Duomo and new modern areas such as the Piazza Gae Aulenti. The city offers many different types of areas to live, from the upbeat Navigli […] Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 2 of 3)
In part one, we left off discussing stage two of the process of cultural adjustment, in which you were experiencing full-blown culture shock and all the frustrations and challenges that go with it. Again, this can be the most difficult stage of adapting to a new culture and the time in which it is most […] Read More
“Golden visas” and the Dolce Vita
After the “Brexit” proceedings have ended (hopefully not before 2018-2019), many UK citizens living or working in Italy may no longer meet the current visa requirements for non-EU citizens. Even though the European Union is likely to change the immigration requirements in this regard, it is interesting, in light of this new scenario, to analyze […] Read More
The Stages of Cultural Adjustment (Part 1 of 3)
When thinking about and planning to move to a new country, the number of logistical preparations to take care of can seem endless. Especially if you are moving not just by yourself, but with a partner and children in tow. Sorting out housing, schools, cars, documents – documents! – and much more, add up to […] Read More
Intercultural Relationships: When They Don’t Work Out
You fell madly in love with an Italian man, someone who wasn’t like anyone else you had ever met. You quickly realized you could see yourself with this person in a permanent way. You decided you were willing – happy – to leave your own life behind and move across the world to be with […] Read More
Buying an Italian Property at Auction: Pros and Cons
Property auctions are not such a common occurrence in Italy and are mostly the result of court or bankruptcy proceedings. As such, they can provide endless investment opportunities, especially in a more difficult economic climate like the present one. Competition among buyers is not normally high and it is one area where the offer generally […] Read More
International Baccalaureate, a Growing Trend in International Education
Where as for most Italian families the topic of what educational system is often not an issue as the Italian school curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education and applies both to public and private schools, this is not the case for international families and expats. Though over the years we have seen an […] Read More
Italian property purchase: what is it really going to cost?
Aside from the purchase price, what other costs need to be factored in, when evaluating the purchase of a property in Italy? There is no straightforward answer to this as it depends on many variables, e.g., is the buyer eligible for first-home tax benefits? Is the seller a private individual, company or a developer? The […] Read More
Top Tax Tips for Expats in Italy
Here are my top tax tips for living or moving to Italy. Beware of the DIY approach. Always discuss your tax situation with an experienced and knowledgeable commercialista and financial planner Taxes in Italy are not that much different to other countries around Europe and you might be surprised at just how little you have […] Read More
Applying for Italian Citizenship (with few tears)
You’ve been an expat in Italy for long enough to ponder if you should apply for Italian citizenship – but you might not be so sure about the process. Inspired by the imminent BrExit referendum, the Scottish association Casa Scozia recently held a seminar on Italian citizenship for Brits and other English speakers in the […] Read More
Buying property in Italy? Here’s what awaits you.
You are ready to buy a property in Italy? Here is a step by step overview of what’s ahead as you make your purchase. As recently outlined in Helpful tips on buying a property in Italy, buyers are currently spoilt for choice and prices are also relatively stable. In this favourable climate, be sure not to […] Read More
Save thousands of dollars on your US expat taxes
Introduction to the Foreign Housing Exclusion There may be a deduction you haven’t heard of that can save you thousands of dollars on your US expat taxes. There are quite a few critical tax breaks which assist US Expats in reducing or completely eliminating their US income tax liability. There is one exclusion that doesn’t […] Read More
Investing in Italy – bail-ins and bail-outs, what does this really mean?
I recently saw an article on Bloomberg, which gave me some cause for concern since I know that some people have invested in, or more likely were to invest in, the Bonds of banks in Italy as an alternative to cash. However, this may no longer be such a wise choice and to find out […] Read More
