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British interest in Italian property has almost risen by half in the last year, overtaking United States demand, new data reveals.

UK buyers have now taken a 2.2% lead over US investors, with demand rising 47% from January-October 2015 compared with the same time the previous year, according to the autumn figures from Italian property specialist Gate-Away.com. US interest has also increased year-on-year by a sizeable 27%.

British buyers accounted for 16.2% of all property requests, with Americans in second on 14%, Germans in third with 9.54%, French buyers fourth with 8.2% and Belgium buyers fifth on 5.86%.

Tuscany is the most popular region with 16.8% of all inquiries, followed by Puglia on 11.64%, Abruzzo on 11.47%, Liguria on 8.46% and Piedmont on 7.68%.

The average value of property searched is €302,000, although 38.84% of searches are for homes under €100,000, 31.6% from €100,000-€250,000, 18.65% from €250,000-€500,000, 6.21% from €500,000 to €1million and 4.7% above that.

Nearly four out of five searches (78.83%) are for houses and the rest for apartments, with almost two out of 10 (18.4%) wanting properties for restoration one in 10 (9.9%) looking for new homes. Most buyers (35%) wanted two-bed properties, with 24. 4% aiming for three-bed homes.

Gate-Away.com General Manager, Simone Rossi, tells OPP.Today why British demand for Italian property has overtaken US interest. “Despite the euro’s value has decreased both against the GBP and the USD, factors as the short geographic distance, low cost flight connections, information and market players more “at hand” made British buyers respond more quickly than the Americans.

“The favourable currency difference is just the trigging factor that made this figures jump up even further lately, as the positive trends of British demand for Italian property has been steadily increasing for some time now. More proactive activities from Italian players like estate agents but also main Italian property promoters like Gate-Away.com has increased the awareness from overseas buyers in general but particularly towards British buyers. Furthermore, British buyers are more ready to invest in Italy than Americans.”

He believes the trend is likely to continue for some time. “The Italian property market is not purely for an investment purchase but is more an emotional purchase. Brits who buy in Italy are more in love with the lifestyle, the culture and everything this country has to offer, so if we (we Italians) communicate well our market and its potential this trend will remain positive for many years to come.”

The top three areas each have particular appeal. Lois Allan – Owner of the agency L’Architrave Immobiliare, says house prices in Tuscany have remained relatively stable despite the economic downturn due to the continued interest from international investors.

“Planning regulations in Tuscany are strict and there are a limited number of character farmhouses or rustic properties available for restoration. Many stone barns cannot be converted as consent for a change of use is unlikely to be granted except for in few and specific locations.

“Rental returns on properties are high due to the ‘holiday appeal’ of Tuscany. There is no capital gains tax on properties sold after 5 years of ownership.

“Tuscany is the cradle of Western civilization and the natural beauty combined with history, architecture, culture and accessibility with international airports in both Florence and Pisa maintains the area as a prestigious location in the world.”

Matteo Mariano – Owner of the agency Mariano Immobili, says Puglia is a more and more exciting and charming region. “It’s a unique land, a place offering multiple cultures, landscapes and architectures, from the wonderful ‘trullo’ to baroque palaces. In this territory, anyone can find a property that best suits its taste and budgets, never forgetting its extraordinary typicality.”

Mila Caserio – Owner of the agency Immobiliare Caserio, says many foreign buyers are particularly attracted by Abruzzo due to its strategic location and especially for its property prices, which are much lower compared to other Italian regions.

“Abruzzo small towns on the hillside and ancient villages suffering from depopulation are the most affected by this phenomenon.

Hhaving a second or third home in the village of origin is becoming increasingly expensive for Italians. In some cases, these properties have been empty for decades and are in a state of deterioration. Foreigners love these villages, their landscapes, the style of their stone houses and the slow pace of life that these places offer, says Mila Caserio.

“I think the goal should be precisely having foreign customers fall in love even more with the Abruzzo region, in order for them to contribute as well to preserve inland villages (like ghost towns). Thus, they could be reborn as in the past, reviving the gastronomic and popular traditions that are disappearing more and more. Young Italians do not cultivate anymore these passions that our grandparents had and still have today.

“However, also the Abruzzo region should encourage foreign customers, for instance with higher incentives, promoting a better knowledge of the area through guided tours.”

Apart from British buyers demand is growing from other overseas property investors, says Lois Allan. “Tuscany has appealed to the British market for many years. The availability of budget flights from more and more countries (Pisa airport in building a second runway) has added to the appeal from other European countries including Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland. The strength of the dollar has meant an increase of the number of Americans wishing to own a piece of Italian heritage.”

Matteo Mariano says Puglia has undergone a significant increase in recent years thanks to foreign investors who have decided to choose this location as a place to stay. “The main factors determining this choice are certainly related to the beauty of the area and a far lower real estate budget compared to other Italian and foreign locations.”

Mila Caserio says in Abruzzo there is a real estate sector not affected by the crisis, in fact, it has never been as prosperous as now. This is international property market.

“Abruzzo is experiencing once again a glorious time among foreigners who want to invest in a house in Italy. About fifteen years ago, the phenomenon of small foreign investors began spreading. They were mainly from the UK and fewer from Scandinavian countries, interested in purchasing rural properties in Abruzzo. Among them, there was Daniele Kihlgreno, the Swedish businessman who bought and then renovated the famous village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, today an important tourism destination in Abruzzo. However, after several prosperous years, the influx of investors dropped due to the Italian and international political and economic situation.

“In recent years, the market has regained its former glory, perhaps even higher than before. The very favourable currency exchange between British pound, dollar and euro has increased the interest by international investors in buying a property in Italy.”

Given the international appeal, Italy has fewer agents serving international buyers than other European countries, says Simone Rossi.

“There are not as many as in other countries as Spain or France but we are seeing this growing very fast as many agents from other regions than Tuscany understand that their area can attract a lot of interest from international buyers and are considering this market as good source of income. The more Italian agents serve international buyers and the more other agents will be interested in jumping into this market, serving also the international buyers a wider and a better offer.”

Gate-Away.com is based in Italy and features more than 18,000 listed properties for sale by more than 360 Italian real estate agencies.

For more information visit:

http://www.opp.today/why-british-buyers-beat-us-investment-in-italian-property/#mU4Xcp9QDaEjc0Yw.97

Phillips, Braden, International New York Times

The dollar’s climb against the euro, combined with listless prices in some European markets, has led to a sharp rise in Americans seeking a second home on the Continent.

With the exchange rate against the euro persistently not in his favor and his retirement still 20 years away, Dr. Kenneth Bermudez had decided to delay his dream of owning a villa in Tuscany, Italy.

“I originally thought I was going to look much later, but now with the strong dollar and drop in property prices, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” he said.

Dr. Bermudez, a plastic surgeon based in San Francisco, spent three weeks house hunting in Tuscany, visiting 30 properties before choosing a villa in the Chianti region near the town of Gaiole, 45 minutes from Florence. The purchase is in escrow and expected to clear by January.

“Between the strong dollar and the price — about 20 percent lower than the original listed price — I think I saved about 35 to 40 percent,” he said, adding that he had spent “less than $1 million” for a home of 8,000 square feet on nine acres.

The dollar’s climb in value against the euro — it remains near the recent peak reached in March — and languishing prices in some European markets have emboldened many Americans to consider buying a second home in Europe after more than a decade of near inactivity.

“If we compared data through the end of the third quarter of 2015 with the same period the prior year, the growth of U.S. home buyer interest in Europe is up 180 percent,” said Erin Koops, executive vice president for member services at Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a company based in Chicago that represents 500 broker firms in 50 countries.

Ms. Koops said the measure was based on requests by Americans at broker companies in the United States for introductions to Europe agents.

The countries that received the most inquiries were those that traditionally appealed to Americans: France, Italy, Spain and, in a virtual tie for fourth, England and Germany, Ms. Koops said.

The market conditions in each of those markets vary, but the common denominator is the stronger dollar.

According to Daragh Maher, a currency strategist at HSBC in New York, the rise in the dollar began last year when the Federal Reserve stopped injecting money into the American economy, a policy known as quantitative easing, and the European Central Bank did the opposite, pumping in money, which weakened the euro.

“The consensus expectation is that the dollar will be at $1.06 to the euro at the end of 2016” — it is now at $1.07 — “but will remain broadly stable until then,” Mr. Maher said. “If you believe that outlook, the exchange rate is less of a factor to consider.”

Most buyers consulted had not postponed decisions to buy in the hopes of getting an even better rate. In fact, the current environment is actually more favorable to American buyers, Mr. Maher said.

“What’s changed is that the market is not as pessimistic about the euro now, but that has created a helpful combination,” he said. “Affordability has improved, but stability in the euro means you’re not so worried about where you’ll be in 12 months’ time with a euro asset.”

When it comes to the gold-plated addresses of Paris and London, however, affordability is a relative term. In the French capital, the average price for a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in St.- Germain-des-Pres is more than $4,600 a square foot. In Mayfair in London, the same size apartment can be more than $7,500 a square foot.

By contrast, the average price a square foot in the Mitte neighborhood of Berlin, the city’s most popular property destination for international buyers, is roughly $1,600 a square foot; in the Eixample district in Barcelona, Spain, it is just under $1,300.

For more information visit:

https://www.questia.com/read/1P2-38960678/americans-buy-european-homes-as-dollar-rises

In Attached the pdf of this post:

Americans Buy European Homes as Dollar Rises

Italy’s commercial real estate market is turning into an important investment prospect. Those who are interested must act in the soonest possible time as the chances of returns are most likely to be gone by the end of 2015.

According to CNBC, Portfolio Manager Joel Wells at Alpine Funds has explained why it is time to invest in Italy’s property market. Alpine Funds is a New York based asset management company.

Wells said that the market conditions in the country are reflecting those evident in other European countries such as Spain and Ireland following the global financial crisis, in which rental rates and returns on assets take a dip and credit dried up.

On more enthusiastic note, the Italian property market reportedly still remains as a stimulating market for investors to put their money in. According to Property Showrooms, Italy is a highly active tourist market therefore Italian properties are attractive prospects.

It was also said that wise investors are forecasting that if one buys from the Italian property market soon, that investor will have an advantage of a surge of investors who will be flocking in Italy for the same reason.

According to Property Showrooms, in terms of commercial activities, low-budget airlines have more access to many of Italy’s regional airports. It is believed that the once unpopular locations will eventually increase in value as more people have access to them. Example of these new locations are those found in the islands of Sicily and Sardinia where property prices are more or less 25 percent lower than on the mainland. Other regions that are beginning to become lucrative are Puglia, Le Marche and Abruzzo, where an investor can still get deals around £20,000.

On a national level, rental prospects are also attractive since more and more tourists want to venture into rural locations. This is a good time for investors who want to turn old Italian houses into modern residences. And best of all, it has been said that Italy is a good prospect in terms of Intelligent Property Investment because there are no wealth or capital gains taxes to be paid, according to Property Showrooms.

For more information visit:

http://www.realtytoday.com/articles/51005/20151111/best-time-invest-italys-commercial-property-market.htm

In allegato l’articolo del Sole 24 ore del 15 Ottobre 2015.

Dall’estero a caccia del casale con vigneto

La società olandese capofila nel settore ricettivo per universitari, The Student Hotel, inizia da Firenze la sua espansione in Europa, preparandosi a investire 600 milioni di euro. In aggiunta ai sette edifici che ha in portafoglio, The Student Hotel ha infatti acquistato il Palazzo del Sonno, uno degli edifici-simbolo (quasi 20.000 metri quadrati) della riorganizzazione urbanistica disegnata dall’architetto Giuseppe Poggi a partire dal 1864, l’anno prima che Firenze diventasse capitale del Regno d’Italia. Originalmente eretto per fini diplomatici, lo spazio stato a lungo sede di uffici pubblici. Il palazzo è situato davanti alla Fortezza da Basso: nel 2017 diventerà The Student Hotel Firenze, mantenendo la facciata ottocentesca, ma completamente ristrutturato all’interno, secondo il modello di architettura contemporanea già sperimentato con successo dalla catena in Olanda. Ci sarà un albergo, appartamenti degli studenti, una biblioteca, aree per lo studio, spazi per riunioni e conferenze, una zona riservata agli incubatori di startup, una game room, una palestra e una flotta di biciclette: ogni studente residente ha a disposizione una bici di design VanMoof inclusa nel prezzo. Ci sarà anche una piscina sul tetto e un auditorium da 180 posti. Il cortile si trasformerà in una piazza aperta al pubblico, con caffetteria, ristorante e altro. L’investimento complessivo nel progetto fiorentino che prevede la realizzazione di 390 camere, è di oltre 40 milioni di euro e creerà circa 300 posti di lavoro tra opera di ristrutturazione e la futura operatività alberghiera.

Fonte: ANSA

Per ulteriori informazioni visitare:

http://www.gonews.it/2015/10/07/student-hotel-investe-in-europa-e-parte-da-firenze-pronti-40-milioni-per-ristrutturare-palazzo-del-sonno

Idea Real Estate is looking to reach a market value of 500 million euros when it lists its shares on the Milan bourse later this year, the head of the Italian property trust said, betting on rising investor interest for the Italian market.

The main asset of Idea RE will be bank branches and offices leased to top Italian lender UniCredit which are worth 268 million euros ($301 million) net of debt.

These assets will be transferred to the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) only after the market debut as part of an accord with current owners who can opt to become either Idea RE shareholders or be liquidated.

Through the listing, Idea RE will need to raise in cash the difference between its goal market cap of 500 million euros and the value of the UniCredit properties conferred.

Idea RE Chairman and Chief Executive Alessandro Pasquarelli told Reuters in an interview the goal was to debut on the Milan bourse between the end of November and the beginning of December.

Italian REITs Sorgente RES and Coima RES also plan to go public in coming months as the domestic property market shows signs of picking up after a seven-year downturn.

Sorgente RES had aimed to list in July but had to postpone its IPO due to market turmoil triggered by the Greek debt crisis.

Idea RE, which filed its IPO request last week, expects to have up to 500 million euros in debt once listed, Pasquarelli said.

Idea RE is owned by Italian investment company DeA Capital which will keep a minority stake following the IPO.

Deutsche Bank and UniCredit are global coordinators and joint book-runners for the Idea RE IPO, while UBS is joint book-runner. (Writing by Francesca Landini and Valentina Za, editing by Stephen Jewkes).

For more information visit:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/29/italy-reits-idea-ipo-idUSI6N11902H20150929

A livello globale nel Q2 2015 si sono registrati volumi di investimento pari a circa €155 miliardi, cifra che rappresenta una crescita del 13% rispetto ai valori del Q1 2015. Il primo semestre ha visto un incremento del 9% degli investimenti globali rispetto allo stesso periodo del 2014, con gli Stati Uniti che hanno mostrato i dati di crescita più elevati (+29% circa). L’appetito degli investitori per il settore immobiliare resta quindi forte e costante. Da sottolineare l’aumento, a livello globale, delle operazioni che hanno riguardato portafogli, aumentate del 20% nel primo semestre 2015 rispetto a quanto registrato nello stesso periodo del 2014. Questa crescita ha riguardato in particolare nel Q2 2015 i settori retail e hotel mentre nella seconda parte del 2015 ci si aspetta di vedere importanti operazioni che interesseranno portafogli logistici in Europa, negli Stati Uniti e in Australia.

L’Italia non è da meno: nel nostro paese sono stati investiti circa €3.5 miliardi di euro, di cui €1.5 miliardi nel Q2 (il 48% in più rispetto allo stesso trimestre del 2014). Il 90% dei capitali investiti sono internazionali, di questi un quarto proveniente dagli Stati Uniti. Da segnalare l’incremento di capitali provenienti dal Regno Unito, per un valore 10 volte superiore a quello registrato in tutto il 2014, e dalla Germania.

Grande attenzione agli immobili di tipo mixed use e alternative investment, che nel primo semestre di quest’anno registrano un +80% dei volumi.

Vediamo nel dettaglio come si sono comportati i diversi settori. Il settore uffici nel Q2 2015 ha contribuito con circa € 435 milioni ai volumi totali del trimestre (il 30% del totale). Milano si conferma come piazza di maggiore interesse in grado di trainare i volumi complessivi catalizzando l’interesse della maggior parte dell’equity internazionale attiva. A Roma nel Q2 2015 c’è stata un’unica transazione che ha interessato il settore, relativa ad un immobile nel CBD ed acquistato da un investitore domestico. In termini di offerta Milano rimane la piazza in grado di produrre un numero maggiore e rilevante di opportunità anche a fronte di uno stock più moderno ed in linea con le aspettative degli investitori.

Si conferma il generale interesse per il settore direzionale italiano che ha spinto ad una revisione al ribasso dei rendimenti netti prime anche nel Q2 2015 sia a Milano che a Roma (raggiungendo rispettivamente i livelli di 4.50% e 4.90%).

In controtendenza il settore retail, interessato da 5 transazioni per circa €285 milioni (il 20% dei volumi totali del trimestre), il 54% in meno rispetto a quanto evidenziato nello stesso periodo del 2014. Tale performance negativa è dovuta sostanzialmente alla mancanza di prodotto di qualità ed alla non consolidata ripresa dei consumi soprattutto nei centri secondari. Tuttavia è da sottolineare che molte operazioni sono in corso ed in fase di due diligence, con buone prospettive di chiusura nei prossimi mesi del 2015, sia nel comparto high street che in quello del retail moderno (shopping mall e parchi).

Confermando una tendenza ormai in atto da alcuni anni, anche nel primo semestre 2015 i capitali investiti nel Retail sono stati in prevalenza internazionali (l’80% circa dei €462 milioni investiti nell’H1 2015) con una buona rappresentanza di capitali europei ed in particolare britannici (per circa € 122 milioni di euro).

Il rendimento netto prime per tutti i segmenti retail si è ridotto nel Q2 2015 attestando i valori attorno al 5.75% per i centri commerciali, al 7% per i parchi commerciali,  al 4.50% per High Street a Milano e al 4.60% per High Street a Roma. Si stima per il settore HS un’ulteriore compressione di circa 50 punti base nei prossimi mesi a fronte di alcune specifiche transazioni che interesseranno le vie principali di Milano sia del lusso che nel segmento mid market.

La dinamica del mercato degli investimenti per la logistica rimane fortemente influenzata dalla carenza di prodotto che si registra ormai da parecchi mesi. I volumi totali registrati nella logistica nel primo semestre del 2015, pari a circa € 154 milioni, ammontano alla metà di quelli registrati nello stesso periodo del 2014. Tuttavia questo limitato volume transato non segnala una diminuzione di interesse verso il mercato italiano ma è  piuttosto la risultante della limitata offerta di prodotto. Questa carenza rende inoltre più laborioso e complesso il percorso negoziale, allungando la durata media del processo che porta alla chiusura delle operazioni.

Il dato positivo è che nel corso dei prossimi mesi ci si aspetta la finalizzazione di alcune operazioni, anche di importi rilevanti, da parte di investitori internazionali. Alla luce di questo contesto i rendimenti netti prime nel Q2 2015 sono diminuiti in tutte le macro aree raggiungendo fra gli altri a Milano il 7.15% e a Roma il 7.40%.

Si prevede che tutti i rendimenti potranno registrare un’ulteriore compressione nei prossimi mesi, chiaro indicatore che la domanda per il prodotto logistico rimarrà sostenuta anche nel corso della seconda metà del 2015.

Nel corso del primo semestre 2015, il volume degli investimenti nel mercato alberghiero italiano ha confermato il trend di crescita che ha caratterizzato gli ultimi anni, registrando un volume pari a € 160 milioni, cifra che rappresenta una crescita del 31% rispetto al volume registrato nello stesso periodo del 2014.  Ancora una volta il volume transato è stato in gran parte determinato dalla vendita di trophy asset acquisiti da high net worth individual provenienti dal Medio Oriente.  L’interesse degli investitori rimane focalizzato sulle quattro destinazioni principali (Milano, Roma, Venezia e Firenze), mentre persiste la carenza di prodotti prime a reddito capaci di catalizzare capitali di investitori istituzionali.

Nel corso del secondo semestre è prevista la conclusione di ulteriori operazioni di simile tipologia, per cui ci si attende un volume di investimenti a fine anno più alto rispetto al 2014. L’outlook si conferma positivo alla luce della compressione dei rendimenti, rilevata in particolare per trophy asset in destinazioni principali ( che si attesta sul 5%), in virtù della consolidata attenzione verso prodotti prime e in considerazione del forte interesse da parte di capitali internazionali alla ricerca di opportunità di investimento nel mercato alberghiero italiano.

Commenta Davide Dalmiglio, Head of Capital Markets di JLL Italia: “Il persistente eccesso di liquidità a livello globale sta determinando un continuo aumento del numero di investitori, sia in termini di origine dei capitali che di profili,  senza tuttavia avere un proporzionale aumento dell’offerta e del relativo assorbimento.

La novità rispetto ai cicli di mercato passati è rappresentata dal fatto che la ricerca di prodotto da parte degli investitori attivi o “sub-attivi” in Italia si sta indirizzando non solo verso gli investimenti diretti in tutti i settori del commercial real estate, anche alternativi, ma anche verso altre forme di investimento indiretto in veicoli nuovi, piattaforme “regolate” o in prodotti finanziari più sofisticati per i quali l’Italia forse è un po’ più indietro dal punto di vista normativo e giuridico.”

For more information visit:

http://www.jll.it/italy/it-it/news/237/investimenti-italia-q12015

Why Italy?

The declining value of the euro – €1 is currently worth Dh4.03 compared to Dh5 this time last year and Dh5.30 in 2011 – is encouraging investors and second-home buyers to look at property in Europe. While Greece is still perceived as high risk and Spain and Portugal are bordering on broke, Italy’s residential-­property sector is fast gaining a reputation as being low-priced and lucrative – because while prices have stayed low, the market is starting to stir again, a healthy sign in a region stagnant since the 2008 financial crash. That Italy is a vacationing spot known for its food, fashion and friendly people doesn’t hurt, either.

International corporations such as Sotheby’s and the Italian property portal Gate-Away.com have reported heightened interest in Italy from UAE buyers in the past year. The Dubai office of Sotheby’s International Realty even has a sales team with agents devoted specifically to enquiries for Italy.

Diletta Giorgolo Spinola, the head of sales at Tuscany Sotheby’s International Realty, says: “Italian property prices are 30 per cent ­below their peak right now, but because the market is finally starting to move again, this is the perfect time to invest in an overseas home in Italy. Vendors can’t put their properties on the market at an inflated value because there are too many other sellers prepared to ­negotiate.”

Francesco Carlucci, the cofounder of the luxury ­property developer Essentis Properties, adds: “We were in the middle of the crisis five years ago, and while I wouldn’t say it’s now completely behind us, Italy’s economy is returning to health and there are still plenty of bargains to be had if you look in the right areas. Moreover, many UAE buyers will pay with dollars, and the dollar has never been stronger than it is now against the euro. My forecast is that between 2010 and 2020, there will be an increase of 35 to 40 per cent in prices for the best properties. For example, the Puglia region came to the map about 10 years ago and now the property has doubled in value.”

From Abruzzo to Umbria

When it comes to areas of interest, Lorenzo Mercolini, the managing director of Sotheby’s International Realty, says: “Buyers from the UAE and GCC are looking at ­developments in major cities, such as Rome, Milan and, on a minor scale, Florence, and there also appears to be an interest in hotels as an investment. As the UAE clientele gets more acquainted with Italian opportunities, it is likely that an interest in trophy assets will resume.”

Trophy assets have traditionally included properties in Tuscany, Lake Como in the Lombardy region, Portofino in Liguria and the island of Capri in Campania, while research by Gate-Away.com on the enquiries received specifically from the UAE between January 2014 and May this year suggests buyers are also interested in Abruzzo, Piedmont, Puglia, Sardinia, Veneto and Umbria.

The 17-month Gate-Away.com survey indicates the average value of the properties that UAE investors are looking at is €773,000 (Dh3.1 million), with maximum interest in the €100,000 to €250,000 range (Dh403,082 to Dh1m) – the upper end of which is what you would pay for a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers or a studio on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi. In Italy, the same amount would allow you to take your pick from a four-­bedroom villa in the city of Palermo; a three-bedroom house in Lombardy; or three-bedroom apartments in Liguria and Umbria.

However, 19.5 per cent of buyers from the UAE would spend more than €1m (Dh4m) on a second home in the Mediterranean country, which is significantly above the international average. “While 53 per cent of requests from the UAE come for properties under €250,000, this is low compared to a 65.4 per cent world average for the same price. The purchasing power of investors from the UAE is very high, and many requests ­focus on the most exclusive and expensive areas of Italy, such as Lake Como in Lombardy. If the overall requests for high-end properties represent about 8 per cent of total international enquiries, those from UAE [for expensive properties] are 20 per cent.”

Buyer’s speak

Robin Morgan, a now-retired businessman who lived between the south of France and Italy, bought a nine-bedroom house in the Santa Margherita Ligure near Porto­fino last month. He says: “This is as close to paradise as I will get. The beauty is breathtaking.” Morgan paid US$2m (Dh7.3m) for the 2,730-square-foot property, and additional restructuring charges of $500,000 (Dh1.8m). “While others may not want as many rooms or set about redecorating as enthusiastically as my wife, prices are low compared to pre-2008.

“If you are looking to invest, pay a little extra for a competent real-­estate agent, most of whom take a 3 per cent service charge. It is also important that the property not have any variances with respect to the documentation deposited in the zoning office of the city. Any differences must be resolved ­before closing, and an agent can act on your behalf,” Morgan says.

For more information visit:

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/home-garden/an-italian-job-the-perks-of-investing-in-property-in-italy#full

In allegato l’articolo del Sole 24 ore del 16 Luglio 2015.

Dal Chianti alla Lunigiana Toscana più accessibile

È la Cina a dimostrare con i fatti che Expo 2015 sta portando valore aggiunto in termini di investimenti e iniziative imprenditoriali. Al Padiglione China Corporate United è stato presentato in anteprima un investimento da 300 milioni di euro dove è prevista la realizzazione a Milano di 300 appartamenti di tagli variabili da 60 a 100 mq.

Sarà una Chinatown di lusso per i manager e gli imprenditori cinesi in azione a Milano. Nell’ambito dell’incontro dal titolo Italy-China Building The Future il piano è stato illustrato dal Gruppo De Luigi, operatore immobiliare con 40 anni di esperienza soprattutto nell’area milanese, e da Aldo Cingolani, ceo della Bertone Design altrettanto storico marchio italiano che ha da poco firmato anche il nuovo Frecciarossa 1000.

«Il Gruppo De Luigi e Bertone Design lavorano da qualche tempo per avviare progetti sinergici. Stiamo selezionando immobili esistenti a Milano, con particolare attenzione alle aree della Stazione Centrale di Porta Romana. Cerchiamo palazzine di lusso da rigenerare e rivedere semiarredate, chiavi in mano, con il nostro marchio per il design», spiega Cingolani.

L’interesse di questi imprenditori e progettisti ricade sulle aree centrali della città ma anche sui quartieri che stanno diventando più raggiungibili grazie alle nuove linee della metropolitana. In questo contesto si inserisce anche l’iniziativa promossa nell’ambito della collaborazione Italia-Cina che ha origini proprio grazie alle nuove relazioni avviate all’interno del padiglione costruito ad hoc per Expo 2015 dalle imprese cinesi. «Due mesi fa – spiega Cingolani – siamo stati incaricati da parte di un fondo Immobiliare cinese, con una interessante quota di risorse pubbliche, di trovare a Milano potenziali aree per realizzare il nuovo quartiere per i manager cinesi. Abbiamo rivolto la nostra attenzione su aree costruite da riqualificare, piuttosto che su iniziative da impostare ex novo, anche per poter comprimere i tempi come richiesto dalla committenza».

L’obiettivo è mettere a disposizione degli operatori cinesi su Milano circa 300 appartamenti sempre pronti realizzando un intervento che unisca l’eleganza e il design italiano con servizi di lusso e standard internazionali. Le ricadute economiche si calcola possano arrivare a 600milioni di euro. Al momento dopo aver verificato, con le rispettive proprietà, la piena disponibilità di tre aree del centro di Milano, sono in fase di preparazione incontri con il Comune

De Luigi e Bertone hanno preso in considerazione anche alcune aree dove gli edifici sono parzialmente realizzati in modo tale da poter intervenire in fase di progettazione, «con soluzioni che siano a immagine e somiglianza dei potenziali clienti – dice Cingolani – che rispondano a richieste specifiche per quanto riguarda ad esempio la lavanderia e la ristorazione, dove ci sia la necessaria attenzione al tema della tecnologia caro ai cinesi e dove non sia sottovalutata la questione dell’efficientamento energetico». Il rispetto dell’ambiente è una delle condizioni espresse dalla committenza soprattutto per i noti temi legati all’inquinamento più che al contenimento dei costi in bolletta. Con ricadute inevitabili sulla scelta dei materiali di progetto.

La nuova cittadella cinese dovrà avere servizi centralizzati come l’area fitness, il centro congressi e un club. Dalla guardiania alle pulizie, alla sicurezza ai catering ricercati sono tutte attenzioni riservate ai futuri inquilini del complesso che verrà realizzato.

I tempi? «Stretti – dice l’architetto di Bertone Design – tenendo presente i recenti interessi da parte della Cina per il nostro Paese, e considerando che molte aziende sperano di poter dare continuità alla loro presenza italiana dopo la chiusura di Expo».
Per quanto riguarda la progettazione Bertone Design si occuperà del management e se necessario coinvolgerà specialisti per singoli ambiti di interesse, come ad esempio per la progettazione degli spazi aperti e del verde. Fondamentale sarà anche il supporto di De Luigi per la progettazione esecutiva.

A presentare la novità in Expo era presente direttamente il senatore della Repubblica Popolare Cinese per la regione di Shanghai, Zhu Yuhua, presidente esecutivo dell’associazione Cina-Italia di Shanghai, e vice presidente esecutivo per il padiglione China Corporate United Pavillon.

L’Italy-China Building The Future rappresenta un momento di incontro per leader aziendali, decision-maker, buyer, imprese cinesi e italiane accomunate dall’ambizione di costruire un futuro comune. Il Gruppo De Luigi e Bertone Design insieme intendono creare degli eventi che possano gettare un ponte di collegamento tra il mondo dell’imprenditoria italiana e quello cinese. L’incontro del 7 luglio è solo il primo di una serie di appuntamenti dedicati al confronto tra le imprese italiane e quelle cinesi appunto con l’ottica di Building the Future.

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