Rural Tuscany has always seemed the Italian dream – rolling countryside, rustic farmhouses, olive groves – and has been topping the list for those seeking second homes in Italy for years, but now, buyers are turning their attentions towards city living instead...
The majority of those who want a second home in Italy seek the rustic fantasy - a dilapidated farmhouse set in acres of rolling countryside, surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and sun dappled vegetable patches.
For many, (especially Brits) the backdrop to this fantasy was the wild beauty of Tuscany. But now, it’s the cities that are starting to overtake the top spot and the Tuscany Property scene is very different to how it was in recent years.
According to the latest research by Knight Frank, the market in the region has shifted away from old farmhouses in the country to apartments in cities such as Florence.
So, you may wonder why the city mice are starting to hanker after the homes of the country mice.
Since Tuscany is such a well-established market, it's now more difficult than ever to find a ruined property on which to work your restoration magic than it was five or ten years ago.
Head of Knight Frank’s Italian desk, Rupert Fawcett, says, “The type of buyer that the area attracts these days tends to be cash rich and time poor, so is unwilling to take on the hassle of such a project.
“To this end, there's been something of a move towards gated community developments or lock up and leave townhouses, which give foreign owners the ability to come and go at ease with the peace of mind that comes with buying a managed, secure property,” he added.
For more information on Italian properties and the market in general, please visit http://italy.themovechannel.com/
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Notes to editors:
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