😁 I'm Italian and I live in Italy, when I saw the title of the video, I thought: my God, what else have we done wrong, but then I heard positive appreciation, thank you very much, not everything is perfect but you're right, we live well. I hope for everyone who comes to us to be happy, we need people who appreciate beauty and preserve it or improve it.🙏💐😊
I too live in Italy and I agree about It being an incredibly beautiful country with amazing scenary, glorious architecture and some of the best art in the world. The trouble is many Italians don't seem to appreciate what beauty surrounds them and they certainly don't respect their Patria. When I go for walks it's heartbreaking seeing all the rubbish on the grass verges and in the parks. If only Italians would behave more like the Swiss towards their land...but remaining Italian character-wise.
@@patriciahadley2374 ☹️You are right. The behavior of some is horrible. I believe we need to introduce the discipline of civic education into schools! I'm desperate about this.😔
Howdy! Thanks for the video. Given the title of your video, and that I used to live in Italy for months at a time when I was younger, | clicked on it to protest the title! But I appreciate the joke having seen it! I used to be a participant in the Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto, Umbria. Recently I’ve been looking for a place near Spoleto in Umbria to retire to or maybe live there in the summer and rent out it in the winter. I appreciate your channel and agree! Thanks!:)
Thank you for this video, I hope everyone read my comment. People who never go to Italy they don’t know about how strong those buildings are and how much they save on not to fixing them, those walls, when you close your door, zero noises. You feel so secure and any house is like a castle. I live in Florida for 30+ years and I keep fixing my house almost every year. People please go to Italy in vacation and see with your eyes the magnificent architecture in every corner of this country. I borne in Romania and is NOT like Italy. In my future I will buy something. I love the terracotta floors and ceiling, I love everything about the construction and designs. Taxes???? Everywhere you pay 🤷♀️ this is not good reason to don’t buy, language???? You don’t go to do conference, meetings or sale stuff and for restaurants you know what you like. I think Italy has the TOP houses in the planet earth. Those houses resist the rain, winter etc. you are not worried when you live. I am very worried in my Florida when I am not home. I love to see those videos I watch them every day. Beautiful homes, strong, very friendly people, I love everything about Italy 🇮🇹 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
If you buy in the mountains, which is most of inland Italy there is always the possibility of earthquakes. There is the high IMU property tax you will pay on second homes unless you become a citizen ( I pay 2,000 Euros per year on my father's childhood home, which I inherited.) Winters are cold in Italy, not Minnesota or Maine cold, but it's a damp cold that chills you to the bone. The price of Natural gas is SKY High in Europe right now, due to the Ukraine war and the US blowing up the Nordstream pipeline. It will cost you a minimum of 500-600 Euros per month to heat a modest home to 65 F. Electric rates are higher than most of the US, I pay 30 euros per month just to stay connected to the grid with no consumption. The price of Groceries are equivalent to US. This is Just for starters. You can't live on a average US Social Security Check in Italy, like my great uncle comfortably did back in the 70's and 80's ain't gonna happen, those days are long gone.
@@charleshammer2928 I do understand what you trying to say but I work all my life 55 years nonstop paying my taxes and now I have good money to spend on my retirement. Usually people working under the table cash and in retirement have nothing. I pay my tax for the house $ 6,000 a year, I pay the electric bill $ 300 a month, I know everywhere is the same but remember, the best is yet to come. Soon, very soon everything will change, the GOLDEN YEARS coming soon 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Yes, that's usually an indicator, but not 100% of the time. For example, Fivizzano in northern Tuscany. It's a small town, but has a hospital, many restaurants, in close proximity to skiing AND beaches (< an hour!), weekly markets & lots of shops!!! Perfect!
I love your videos. I am in the process of moving/retiring to either France or Italy so I am glad I stumbled upon your videos. Thank you for having a big heart and see immigrants as humans and not a pest like some people see us people moving abroad.
Great job as usual! Well, I have 'bad' news, I Will be moving to Italy permanently in a very few months, and you can't stop me. Hahaha! Really enjoy your videos, great stuff. Excellent points you bring up. You do a tremendous job, keep up the Good work.
Im first gen American my parents are from Sicily and when I hear pasta will make me fat I want to scream. It doesnt make you fat….the convenience of having pasta take out, bad unnatural processed ingredients, driving all the time instead of walking most places makes you fat. My cousins in sicily eat pasta almost every day….they are not fat. The uncles that moved to America and lived here for 20 years are fat. The ones that stayed in Sicily are not fat. So culture and convenience makes you fat not pasta. I ate like a pig when I visited sicily for a whole summer. I ate pasta at least one meal a day and I lost 15lbs in 3 months.
Besides the obvious beauty, I want to move to Italy for the traditional “slow food” processes and naturally organic ingredients. I love the Lake Maggiore area, but didn’t know they had property that was affordable. I saw Piemonte region is one of best.
Some people forget the adventure of moving to a foreign country, immersing yourself in the culture, and the joys of challenging oneself. Those people aren't able to or are unwilling to adapt to change. If you're one of those people, you won't be happy living somewhere that's unfamiliar to you. It's important that you recognize this before you make a major move.
We don't know , what we don't know . most of us are "asleep at the wheel" but entering a new Culture is like clicking the 'refresh button'. It can be hard at times but we become more deeply conscious of our own Humanity .
Earthquakes are very rare in Italy. They average one every 4 yrs of 5.5 magnitude or greater. More likely to get killed driving to the grocery store. I understand the fear, but I would not let it affect a decision to move to Italy.
Thank you for this video. I recently became disenchanted with a page that I follow because people seem to be very negative with their comments. Nothing worthwhile is easy but the payoff is worth the effort you put into it.
Great video and commentary! I’m dumbfounded when someone says “I will only move to a place that has low crime, is safe, has a great infrastructure and lots of amenities, excellent and affordable healthcare, and excellent schools for the kids and then say they don’t want to have to pay any taxes! If you want nice things, you have to be willing to pay for them!
Wow Tommy great video, the last property was amazing! You can't beat that view, I actually thought 1 or 2 were very good value. But love a where's view, that's exactly what I will be looking for in spring.
Please consider to visit the region of Italy where I was born, Sardinia! It's a nice place to live and maybe to stay for the retirement, expecially in the northern part of the island. Beautiful beaches and delicious food are waiting just for you. If you go there even just for holidays you'll be surprised for sure. Best regards
so right Tommy....I see these personalities in USA....Although Portugal pulled the tax scheme for immigrants. They will now tax my capital gains. I am way before retirement and cannot afford to be taxed like this. Only way was because of the tax scheme in Portugal. Italy does not tax my capital gains...You are correct it all works out...hugs thanx for all your information. Do you live in Italy or spend at least 3 months there? Tell us your back story....thanx Cheers. Gina in Upstate NY USA moving to Portugal or Italy will know when I return in Spring...Headed to Calabria this time been to the north....you are so correct the language is NOT an ENGLISH SPEAKING Country LOLOLOLOLOL
I live in the US but have traveled Italy and France. I just love both countries. I see an opportunity for Americans who might otherwise be priced out of retirement in the US. They can move to Italy (or France) and help revitalize areas that have seen populations drop. Seems like a win-win!
Thank you 🎉if you live in a foreign country you adapt to the culture. One way is to learn the language. You may miss many cultural experiences if you won't adapt THANK YOU 🎉😂
Very good points. Some additional points to consider. Most cheaper properties are in the outer suburbs or rural areas. Longterm leases in Italy are costly for vehicles. Can you drive a stick...on a hill...with a car right behind you? In your Borgo are the only bus runs for kids getting to school? Most rural buses do not run on Sundays. Are you ok with carrying groceries up a steep hill? Does your Borgo have a real grocery store and not just a small one room storefront. Too many properties in Italy have fewer than five windows. Most do not have AC. So many have no insulation. Most of the Country gets hot and humid in the summer. Ceiling fans are not the norm. Customer service is not part of the job. Local government buildings have big black binders and limited digital resources. Bank employees rarely make eye contact since that would mean they would need to help you. Italian business owners have made using the bathroom an art form. They know right away if you are not a customer and you need to pay to use the bathroom. Good luck with real estate agents. Call, don't send emails. They often don't respond.
I moved to Italy 10 years ago (Lake Maggiore) and have been very, very happy with my decision. Once you get to know how things work, you'll find that the bureaucracy, though at time annoying, works quite efficiently (at leat in the north!), the healthcare system is good once you get used to it, the food is varied and of amazing quality and your neighbours will be lovely. Plus all the other benefits of history, beauty (where else could I wake to views across the lake to the mountains?) and the sheer variety of the country. Choose your area well, though. Where I live, within 10km of the Swiss border, property prices are very much higher than, for example, Puglia or Abruzzo.
I have been watching many videos about the reasonably priced homes in Italy. I am intrigued by the culture, and way of life. Are there any hangups when attempting to purchase a home in Italy? Are there some unknowns that prospective buyers should know before purchasing in Italy? If so, this might be a good video for people looking to buy.
Thanks for this suggestion. I agree it would make a good video. I'm in the process of scheduling interviews with people who have gone through the process to find out what issues they had. Thanks for sharing!
Great video, love it! Your responses to the attitudes are spot on. Obviously in Italy people speak Italian mostly and on the immigration part; can’t they see what’s happening in US, very ignorant some people . I would love to move to Italy one day, countryside 🙏 thank you!!!
Actually, I think that travel, especially to other cultures, is beneficial to people and the world. My prior comment reflectsmy exasperation with people go somewhereexpectingit to function exactly like the place they left. I will add that, in my experience, U.S. citizens areparticularly prone to this form of obnoxious expectation.
@@jamesbassett1484 Yes, it's frustrating when people travel to another country and are shocked to find things work differently. People need open minds and understanding.
Never been to Italy. Don't know much about it, but man, I LOVE Italian food. However, isn't Italy a pretty old population? SO my question is are there laborers still there who can do plumbing, remodeling, etc?
In my research, I have not heard of issues finding laborers. I have heard it's very much a I-know-a-guy/girl system. Much less advertising, certainly much less online. If I learn more, I'll share it in a video.
I love your videos. I'm 2.5 years away from retiring. I've spent a good bit of time in Italy, but have never really visited many rural areas. I always travel by train in Europe, and I really want to be car-free if I retire in Europe. I know that the train service is excellent between larger cities, how would traveling inside of Italy work without a car if I lived in a village?
Of course it depends on the specific town/region, but bus service is widely available in Italy. And, of course, there are taxi's and private paid transportation. Thanks for watching!
@@RetireToEurope So helpful! Thanks! I will keep you posted when / if I make the move. I will be spending three more weeks this May in Italy and will be trying out my fledgling Italian language skills!
I forgot the langauge thing. All my family is pretty much bi lingual Spanish. My younger sister teaches in all hispanic school and does their Cinco de Mayo and other things. Many I grew up with dont bother learning the culture of who their own neighbors are? Our mother took us to the library since before I even remember not going. We are in USA and she refused to spend the money on a TV until I was 10! yep! Read books, dictionaires and encyclopedias. She made us world curious. Made us volunteer and made us learn skills. I said I sew in my other post but I was on my mother's treadle age 5 and sewing on electric with patterns by age 10. Helped my dad repair our cars. Found the electrical short age 17. I use power tools, paint etc. I can now fix vintage sewing machines but only learned that 4 years ago and 68 now. And I have my own 102 year old treadle. You all are lucky. Its all on line! I had to pick people's brains to know more about sewing or convince some guy to show me a miter saw! Id sum it up if you dont know all about how lives on your block dont go moving to ANY other country and expect them to adapt to you.
Part of our traveling experiences is learning some of the language before we travel. Italy is a historical, cultural and food heaven. I would suggest that anyone interested in moving there should spent some time renting first.
Moving to Italy for part-time residency, moving to Italy to work and live full-time, moving to Italy to retire, are all different scenarios. I would be in the last category. While living in a rural or semi-remote area would be preferable, you still need to be reasonably close to essential services.
Terrific video Tommy! New viewer here and excited to find your channel! Italy is one of three countries I'm considering moving to for retirement this coming year. The insight and housing options you talked about make me even more motivated to choose Italy. I love that part about immigrants...'stay in your little bubble'. LOL! Is there any place in the world where immigration isn't an issue? It certainly is in the US if you believe the media. Grazie!
Great video! Very helpful. Next spring I would love to visit smaller cities in 7% areas that when retired I could just rely on public transportation. Suggestions?
Hey Tommy, I actually never thought about the tax issue until I saw this video! So for me it is more important than for someone just looking to relocate from the U.S. because I pretty much had it down to either Ecuador, OR Italy. Now Ecuador does not tax ANY income not made in it's territory, so my Social Security, and my Pension would not be taxed. Also, the cost of living in Ecuador is much lower than Italy. But, I am not excluding Italy just for that because to me, (I have been there three times), Italy seems safer and is definitely more beautiful. Can you give me your thoughts on this dilemma? Again, I just found out about the tax situation in Italy, but I don't want to give up quite yet. I am part italian and the place calls to me in many ways. Thanks!
To me it would come down to: • Can I live in either sustainably? (finances) • Which place do I naturally identify with more? • Which will I regret not living in when I'm 85? I would recommend a "test drive" and stay in each place for at least a month, if possible. Then you'll get a good comparison on day-to-day living and the "vibe" of each. I hope that helps!
@@RetireToEurope Yes that helps very much. This is exactly what I am planning to do next. Spend some time in Lazio, then Molise to see if Italy will be excluded. Will do the same in Ecuador, but have already been there. Need as you say to stay at least a month there too to check out the vibe, the weather, all of the outside stuff we usually don't think about. Thanks Tommy!
I've been learning Italian, you'd be surprised how much you can figure out by reading the writing. Many similarities to English and also if you speak French or Spanish you can get by in Italy!
@@RetireToEurope I'd listen to a talk radio station and let it play in the background so your ear gets used to the sounds! It just takes time and learning the vocabulary.
My greatgrand parents from Italy 🇮🇹 and I respect the Italian language in their country. Their many apps you can install in your cellphone as a translator. That's will also help you learn to speak Italian. I'm so anxious to move to Italy for my retirement.
Thank you for your "rant". As a multi-cultural person who's lived in several countries, including the U.S., I appreciate your forthrightness. There's nothing worse than going to a get together of expats who do nothing but complain about where they moved to. LOVE your channel. Grazie mille!
If you are an American, and retired but have passive income and can qualify for the retirement visa , and your passive income (Modified Adjusted Gross Income, yes, its on your 1040) is at or above 75K, you can only live in the 7% areas of Italy and enjoy life. Anyplace else in Italy, your tax would be about 40%. If you want to buy a house/flat for under 100K, keep in mind that there's a reason why there are so many of these places for sale in Italy--they are in need of work--lots of work and might not be structurally sound. Best to spend 200-300K and get a real place. And know that the sellers wanting 200-300K, that's a lot of money in Italy, people don't make 50K routinely--so their asking prices are REALLY inflated. Average people there do not make a lot of money.
I had to wait 11 months for a colonoscopy. Doctors visits are free. Emergency services and ambulance service is free. Specialist are not. €48 Tests are not. Holter monitor €48 Sonogram/ ecg €48 Still glad I moved here. Bought a 110m2 country home with a garage 150m2 on 2.5 acres of land for €70,000. I'm a dual national 🇮🇹🇺🇸
@@RetireToEurope I'm happy with it. I need to redo the kitchen and bathroom. It's livable. It's quiet in the country. It has 20+ olive trees, walnut and almond trees. Everything was neglected so I'm busy pruning and nursing everything back to health.
I'm moving there from Toronto Canada. When you know what to expect and speak the language it's much easier. It's definitely not for everyone, but in my case it's an easy decision. Canada never made sense to me. The only thing that motivated me was to work hard, then take your money and run. The Canadian dream became a mirage over the last 15 years. I'm done trying to find a reason to stay. When the average person can no longer afford to pay rent or buy a home...that to me is a turd. 💯
Before moving, please consider also where you want to move! Each region of Italy is different from the others. If you want to retire, please consider the quality of local healthcare. Healthcare is managed locally by the regions, and the regions of the south are more poor so the quality of healthcare is affected. For instance, Calabria is beautiful but it is also poor and isolated. These are problems the Italians are facing, so please consider them before moving.
I lived in Italy for many years, I am bilingual Italian-English (and trilingual Spanish), I love pasta and appreciate the high quality of Italian wheat, nothing like it in the world that I know of. And I loved the archeological sites and museums. But I left a long time ago and have never gone back. I understand that in many cases the tax issue is not a deal-breaker, but in my case taxes are a deal-breaker and 7% enticement is a joke that I'm not falling for. The bureaucracy is also a near deal-breaker, so coupled with taxes it's another nail in the coffin. There are cheap houses of all kinds in many ex-urban areas of the United States or Latin America or Asia, so on that score nothing unique about Italy or anywhere in Europe. Meanwhile the cost of living in the major Italian cities, including and especially the buy price of housing, rivals any city in the US and Europe and some cities in Asia, so nothing unique about Italy on that score either. On top of that, no, the architecture is not magnificent in every corner of Italy; on the contrary, most of it is plain and drab, like everywhere else in the world, especially buildings constructed after WWII. Which brings me to my last point. Personally I find that Italians have been way too eager to give up their sovereignty and most of them are boring conformists; that was a painful experience for me. Having said all that, for most people who are looking for a less expensive place to retire than an expensive part of the US, the tax issue will fly under their radar and they can and do find satisfaction in some ex-urban _comune_ in Italy. Best wishes to them.
Interestingly, Italians are known to be masters at tax avoidance. So, taxation being a motivation to go there may actually be beneficial, especially under the 7% flat tax regime.
@@RetireToEurope Well, I'm probably one of those. Though I wouldn't quite say I'm obsessed. I believe citizenship-based taxation is pure evil. Why should I fund the USA's mismanagement when I first of all don't support that mismanagement and second of all don't even reside there because of the mismanagement? Beyond that, I don't believe governments should tax the labor of individual citizens. Doing so is almost as evil as citizenship-based taxation. Governments have plenty of other tax mechanisms to easily fund legitimate government operations without stealing from individual citizens. The USA became the greatest nation the world has ever seen over the course of 200'ish years without an income tax. So, it is proven that it can be done and also maintained. It wasn't until the wealthiest bankers in the US decided to meet on Jekyll Island, Georgia at JP Morgan''s hunting estate to scheme up a plan for the bankers to centrally control and profit from the US Dollar directly, that an individual tax was implemented to provide the credit basis for fiat money ultimately backed by US Government debt issuance (following the planned removal of the gold-standard). So, yeah, I'm pretty passionate about escaping that scumbaggery. Are you saying you support the banker's cause, and not the individual being robbed by them and their crony politicians? Most resident-based taxation systems (ie. Italy and most of Europe and Asia) are simply slightly less evil than the citizenship-based US system. Is it any surprise to you that America's 100 or so year decline has mirrored the decline in value of the US Dollar (one 1913 US Dollar worth about 5 cents today) through deliberate fiat money inflation? Maybe you should revisit your understanding of this issue. By the way, Italians are just about the most obsessed people when it comes to tax avoidance, maybe only matched by US Citizens who wish to escape citizenship-based taxation.
I don’t. Currently I’m just in the education side of things. Have you see the A Home In Italy channel? I know David does help with purchasing and relocating. And he lives in Italy.
Your video popped up and it is excellent! Could you find areas that support disabled retirees? Of course, flat areas but there could be some that have ramps, elevators etc. plus one story homes thanks 😊
Abbiamo tutto ciò che occorre..... (non siamo il terzo mondo...) Ci sono almeno una decina di sistemi postali estremamente efficenti, ovviamente 'Poste Italiane' è quello nazionale e funziona benissimo. abbiamo ovviamente Amazon..... io ho un locker sotto casa...... Non so, e a volte non capisco come possa esserci ancora così tanta ignoranza sulla mia nazione ed in generale sull'Europa....(sopratutto negli usa) e, penso che se non hai ancora ricevuto risposte negli ultimi 4 mesi non è perchè non abbiamo o sappiamo usare internet....... (mio suocero ha 93 anni e lo usa tutti i giorni), ma forse perchè si sentono offesi. Informarsi e approfondire.
Thanks Tim for stating " it's Italy, they speak Italian " I hate hearing English when I'm there and you are right, learn it , or don't go there and I love it when Americans say it's not safe, but there's no mass shootings in Italy, great advice
Nice video, thank you. I feel for you ... seven properties? I've got two, I'm Italian, and I'm struggling. It may be added that your property rights are rather limited, almost anybody can walk themselves into your property unless it is fenced all around, and even so, good luck having them prosecuted (prosecution for general trespassing is hardly a thing in Italy). If you strike gold in your property, that gold is not yours: I'm forever praying I'll never strike gold, or oil, or whatever valuable substance below ground on my Italian property: I would infallibly lose it. So far, I've been lucky enough not to find any. I'm sure you know we are blessed with a very long documented history, and that's great. But I wouldn't be very happy if I found - say - golden or bronze Roman or Etruscan artefacts on my property while ploughing: I would then be obliged by Law to stop plowing as soon I realize the situation, alert the Authorities, and possibly be forced to host excavations campaigns, God knows for how long depending on the availability of funding. If your peaceful rural property includes any significant stretch of land, remember that hunters may have the right to walk into and across it with no need to ask for your permission, according to game's and their dogs' whims (they are rather noisy people, on top of everything else). The same applies to such people as mushroom collectors, truffle diggers (these mostly work in the dead of night), and what else, provided they pay dues to the jurisdiction your property is located within: the JURISDICTION mind you, NOT YOURSELF as the rightful owner of the land. Say some uninvited id*ots hurt themselves while on your rural and somewhat isolated property, a far cry from any Police station; then you are likely to be sued, and very much likely to lose. Seems to stand to reason, but I'm told that this also applies to burglars and the like: they may conceivaby be prosecuted for theft, and perhaps be sentenced to serve some time (if any, and provided they are ever caught). But if they get hurt, you may still be held responsible for their well-being while they were busying themselves raiding/rifling/robbing/blasting/setting on fire, or otherwise damaging your property. Don't even think to try and protect your life and property in Italy using force: you would end up being arrested and tried. Basically, the only strategy you are allowed to use in such predicament, without incurring the wrath of the Italian Law, is soft-spoken verbal persuasion; but that rarely works, I'm told. Authorities keep a keen eye on any modifications you do to your property. Things you can do without notifying them are precious few: you can hardly drive a nail, which you rightfully own, into a wall of which you are the rightful owner, without finding yourself accountable. Notice that most times you can't notify on your own: you will need to hire a qualified professional to do that in your behalf, wich of course you will need to pay out of your pocket. Be advised that there are at least two different record keepers of your property (besides yourself), and these are the Comune and the Catasto. God forbid the one's files differ from the other's, you are automatically the guilty part, and must again pay good money - one way or another - to remedy the situation. So, pray that the previous owners you bought the property from did their homework, because THEY might have been sloppy, but YOU are now accountable. That said, yes, we do have some nice people (and some bad, or even very bad, people); some of us may be able to decently speak and understand the English language and help you; and sometimes we do indeed have fine weather, provided we are not worried by droughts lasting six months in a row (when - to be fair - the sky is very much blue for the entire duration of the phenomenon); or the occasional flood; or the odd earthquake; or Spring frost which - one year out of any three on average - kills the buds of fruit trees and vines. Additionally, you are likely to find meat, dairy products, groceries, and wine, a tad less expensive than in your Country; I'm not that sure about the meat, though. I consider it most kind of you to be able to find your Italian experience a valuable one. Best of luck, and keep in touch.
If you actually try very hard to learn the language and speak it as much as possible , Italians love it as they are trying to preserve their hustiry and language. Just a healthy place overall. If you come and spend your money there, it helps revive the economy
Italian language is the easiest of all for English speakers. The grammar is like Spanish and English borrowed a ton of words from Italian during the Rennaissance so almost every Italian word is a distorted English word. "Have" = "Avere" see the commonness?
@@RetireToEurope so you speak english and a little French … I speak English, French, Chinese a little Swahili and I am learning Russian. Like an idiot I should have learned Spanish. I think I would like to learn signing I do have a few friends that are deaf and it would just be nice
We are tempted to sell our California property and move to Italy. BUT, comments I read in other videos it’s not promising if you have teens. Seems like the young generation are moving out Italy. I don’t know what to believe.
Lots of young still in Italy. Like any country parts are growing and parts are shrinking. I would do a long recon trip to get a feel for different areas. Do not just up and move without serious research and planning!
I love when they always say the happiest countries on earth. What was the criteria to ascertain who’s happy …. By asking people ? People are typically prideful so don’t go by that. If you look to see which countries consume the most antidepressant medications they are the European countries. That speaks volumes about who’s really happy
For an American man with 300k in his account Italy is paradise! For a local boy who just finished school and has tu build his future with 800€ a month, it's a nightmare!
Geo-arbitrage is very beneficial for folks who live in high-income, high cost-of-living countries and can relocate to low cost-of-living countries. The win-win is that Italy actively incentivizes those folks to come and bring their money to spend in the local economy, or fixing up abandoned properties to revitalize towns and villages. But I agree. If you're a young person looking for high-paying employment, southern Italy is not the place to look right now.
@@RetireToEurope yes, the government believes that economy will rise again thanks to tourism only. I don't think it is enough. Surely it helps. Anyone moving to Italy should bear in mind that north and south have plenty of differences. A person with special needs (medical care or special kids) might want to move up north where infrastructure and services provided are of better quality. Cheers
For those that think that Italy is dangerous - Please do yourself a favor and come to South Africa, you will have a whole new appreciation for your life thereafter. Even Mexico and Venezuela are safer. Italy is beautiful and I am considering immigrating.
Well, it is not the same for an American retiree being an immigrant in Italy. That person will have savings of their and live off their pension money. Which is definitely not the case for the other migrants from Africa or the Middle East, who will live off the Italian state. Ask the Italians for their opinion on the topic, they'll tell you.
What is the probably that the local Italians will start to deeply resent foreigners, even more affluent ones when their towns are flooded with them? I bet this is already happening when these ancient towns see foreigners living full time there. Their culture will start to change and Italy will be more like the foreigner's culture.
Anyone moving should work to integrate into the Italian culture. But everyone has their own culture. Italy has people from all over the world. Plus Italy was a bunch of independent states until the unification in the 1800’s. Thanks for commenting.
Socialized healthcare is currently in shambles. In the specific regions with the 10 years 7% income taxes it is catastrophic. Socialized dental healthcare is virtually non-existing anywhere.
I moved from Canada two years ago to Sicily. Bought a beautiful apartment and got permanent residency. No winters, food is second to none and happy with my decision. However, an unpleasant piece of news about access to the health care; Angela Meloni has created new fees for the card. I have an EU German passport and if you haven’t lived here for ten years or married an Italian, it now costs €2,000 EVERY YEAR to be covered for medical care. Blood tests, medication, are extra. I was getting so many different stories about this, my Italian lawyer verified it, and alas, it is true. That’s €20,000 total for the next ten years. You can’t get citizenship sooner, after that, it’s free. Someone has to pay for the GD illegals and we are IT!
Thanks for this info. I know it’s painful for you, especially if you weren’t planning for the extra expense. Here in the US there are many folks paying about $2,000 PER MONTH for healthcare. It’s all relative I guess…
Italy is Italy and absolutely not like the circumstances in Sweden and many other countries. It is a very different environment. Try to live there for half a year and then decide. I lived in Amantea and Sicily for a year and then decied that Sweden is my home and Italy is for vacation. When you visit Italy as a tourist you will end up in areas that are "polished" for tourists. The backstreet och the parallell valley looks totally different. I f you comment this Italians tend to have a very sensitive skin. Italy is of course the greatest, moms food the best. But it is a lot of pasta, pizza, basta. Most Itlians have never been abroad and do not speak english so they know very little about what it is outside "home". When I lived there I liked the Italians and the places I visited - but I would never consider moving there. Try it out first, short term is a good advise.
"if you are afraid of moving to italy because you are afraid of getting fat because of the food... then you should absolutely move to Italy!" Of course you want to stop eating from fast foods and big chains, and look for healthy food, which is quite easy to find!
When someone immigrants to another country they need to be willing to integrate. There are many that come from countries where women are gays are not treated equally. I've been to Paris. It's unrecognizable. I do not what that to happen to Italy!
You are so wonderful and I love the way you handled some of those comments. You are so right, please all you people with the attitudes mentioned, please stay in America where complaining about everything is the national pass time 🤗🤗😘🥰
Immigrants Go into the cities Not the countryside. I would prefer to buy a old Farm with some arce of Land. If you get to old to Farm you ihre one of those immigrants to Work 😁
Great video - as a german, i have to say, if you wont a expat US colonie in Europe - and not like to intergrade in Europa (Italiy , France, Germany etc.) - please stay in the USA. If you like to intergrade, welchome in europe.
😁 I'm Italian and I live in Italy, when I saw the title of the video, I thought: my God, what else have we done wrong, but then I heard positive appreciation, thank you very much, not everything is perfect but you're right, we live well. I hope for everyone who comes to us to be happy, we need people who appreciate beauty and preserve it or improve it.🙏💐😊
I too live in Italy and I agree about It being an incredibly beautiful country with amazing scenary, glorious architecture and some of the best art in the world. The trouble is many Italians don't seem to appreciate what beauty surrounds them and they certainly don't respect their Patria. When I go for walks it's heartbreaking seeing all the rubbish on the grass verges and in the parks. If only Italians would behave more like the Swiss towards their land...but remaining Italian character-wise.
@@patriciahadley2374 ☹️You are right. The behavior of some is horrible. I believe we need to introduce the discipline of civic education into schools! I'm desperate about this.😔
Thanks for saying that. I get a lot of people bashing Italy when I post about it.
Just wanted to set things straight!
Thanks for adding this. I guess when you live somewhere for a long time, you lose a little pride and it just becomes "normal".
Tell your government to be very cautious about people who indulge in the Muslim faith. Not sorry to say 99% is not peaceful people. BEWARE😊
I can't wait to move to Italy!! SO glad I found your channel!
I'm excited for you!
@@casumarzu-fr2znto ignorant people 😂
Howdy! Thanks for the video. Given the title of your video, and that I used to live in Italy for months at a time when I was younger, | clicked on it to protest the title! But I appreciate the joke having seen it! I used to be a participant in the Festival dei due Mondi in Spoleto, Umbria. Recently I’ve been looking for a place near Spoleto in Umbria to retire to or maybe live there in the summer and rent out it in the winter. I appreciate your channel and agree! Thanks!:)
Thanks so much for watching and commenting 😁
Love your no nonsense approach to the naysayers.
Thanks for watching! 😄
Thank you for this video, I hope everyone read my comment. People who never go to Italy they don’t know about how strong those buildings are and how much they save on not to fixing them, those walls, when you close your door, zero noises. You feel so secure and any house is like a castle. I live in Florida for 30+ years and I keep fixing my house almost every year. People please go to Italy in vacation and see with your eyes the magnificent architecture in every corner of this country. I borne in Romania and is NOT like Italy. In my future I will buy something. I love the terracotta floors and ceiling, I love everything about the construction and designs. Taxes???? Everywhere you pay 🤷♀️ this is not good reason to don’t buy, language???? You don’t go to do conference, meetings or sale stuff and for restaurants you know what you like. I think Italy has the TOP houses in the planet earth. Those houses resist the rain, winter etc. you are not worried when you live. I am very worried in my Florida when I am not home.
I love to see those videos I watch them every day. Beautiful homes, strong, very friendly people, I love everything about Italy 🇮🇹
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for watching and telling us your story!
interesting
If you buy in the mountains, which is most of inland Italy there is always the possibility of earthquakes. There is the high IMU property tax you will pay on second homes unless you become a citizen ( I pay 2,000 Euros per year on my father's childhood home, which I inherited.) Winters are cold in Italy, not Minnesota or Maine cold, but it's a damp cold that chills you to the bone. The price of Natural gas is SKY High in Europe right now, due to the Ukraine war and the US blowing up the Nordstream pipeline. It will cost you a minimum of 500-600 Euros per month to heat a modest home to 65 F. Electric rates are higher than most of the US, I pay 30 euros per month just to stay connected to the grid with no consumption. The price of Groceries are equivalent to US. This is Just for starters. You can't live on a average US Social Security Check in Italy, like my great uncle comfortably did back in the 70's and 80's ain't gonna happen, those days are long gone.
@@charleshammer2928 I do understand what you trying to say but I work all my life 55 years nonstop paying my taxes and now I have good money to spend on my retirement. Usually people working under the table cash and in retirement have nothing. I pay my tax for the house $ 6,000 a year, I pay the electric bill $ 300 a month, I know everywhere is the same but remember, the best is yet to come.
Soon, very soon everything will change, the GOLDEN YEARS coming soon 🙏🙏🙏🙏
@@charleshammer2928 great! so as the video says don't move to Italy 🤌
Bingo..you hit the nail on this video! Thank you Tommy.
Thanks for sharing that!
Thank you so much for addressing these attitudes and concerns. I loved your approach. ❤❤❤
Thanks for watching!
Yes, they also have a lot of stairs that could contribute to weight loss
I also walk WAY more in Europe than while in the US 🚶
You will walk everywhere and get your exercise. Very few morbidly obese there for many reasons
Always helpful when you mention population size, that alone will give you an idea of the local amenities. Nice video btw.
Thanks for watching it!
Yes, that's usually an indicator, but not 100% of the time. For example, Fivizzano in northern Tuscany. It's a small town, but has a hospital, many restaurants, in close proximity to skiing AND beaches (< an hour!), weekly markets & lots of shops!!! Perfect!
Very straight forward
Got to love italy with its pros and cons
THanks for watching Olga!
I love your videos. I am in the process of moving/retiring to either France or Italy so I am glad I stumbled upon your videos. Thank you for having a big heart and see immigrants as humans and not a pest like some people see us people moving abroad.
Thanks for saying that and for watching!
Great job as usual! Well, I have 'bad' news, I Will be moving to Italy permanently in a very few months, and you can't stop me. Hahaha! Really enjoy your videos, great stuff. Excellent points you bring up. You do a tremendous job, keep up the Good work.
I appreciate you watching and commenting!
Im first gen American my parents are from Sicily and when I hear pasta will make me fat I want to scream. It doesnt make you fat….the convenience of having pasta take out, bad unnatural processed ingredients, driving all the time instead of walking most places makes you fat. My cousins in sicily eat pasta almost every day….they are not fat. The uncles that moved to America and lived here for 20 years are fat. The ones that stayed in Sicily are not fat. So culture and convenience makes you fat not pasta. I ate like a pig when I visited sicily for a whole summer. I ate pasta at least one meal a day and I lost 15lbs in 3 months.
Yep, the food in America is not healthy. I'd much rather eat fresh pasta in Italy anytime!
Pasta doesn't make people fat.
American portion sizes make people fat.
Besides the obvious beauty, I want to move to Italy for the traditional “slow food” processes and naturally organic ingredients. I love the Lake Maggiore area, but didn’t know they had property that was affordable. I saw Piemonte region is one of best.
Some people forget the adventure of moving to a foreign country, immersing yourself in the culture, and the joys of challenging oneself. Those people aren't able to or are unwilling to adapt to change. If you're one of those people, you won't be happy living somewhere that's unfamiliar to you. It's important that you recognize this before you make a major move.
We don't know , what we don't know . most of us are "asleep at the wheel" but entering a new Culture is like clicking the 'refresh button'. It can be hard at times but we become more deeply conscious of our own Humanity .
Totally agree. Thanks for watching!
@@timmaloney6441 excellent point!
I am so glad I discovered your channel. Your videos are full of great information. Thanks!
Glad you like them!
Abruzzo is HIGH earthquake area. That is why everything is so inexpensive
Earthquakes are very rare in Italy. They average one every 4 yrs of 5.5 magnitude or greater.
More likely to get killed driving to the grocery store.
I understand the fear, but I would not let it affect a decision to move to Italy.
Thank you for this video. I recently became disenchanted with a page that I follow because people seem to be very negative with their comments. Nothing worthwhile is easy but the payoff is worth the effort you put into it.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching Suzy 😁
Great video and commentary! I’m dumbfounded when someone says “I will only move to a place that has low crime, is safe, has a great infrastructure and lots of amenities, excellent and affordable healthcare, and excellent schools for the kids and then say they don’t want to have to pay any taxes! If you want nice things, you have to be willing to pay for them!
“Taxes are theft!” 🤡
I appreciate your candor. Love the videos, thanks for sharing ❤
Thanks for watching!
Italy is great country very safe and great people nice place. 👍 super food and beautiful.. true about burocrazia but not one is perfect.. thank you 😊
Agree! Thanks for watching.
“Have some compassion and empathy” - best line of the whole video
Thanks so much ☺
I agree 100%!
Wow Tommy great video, the last property was amazing! You can't beat that view, I actually thought 1 or 2 were very good value. But love a where's view, that's exactly what I will be looking for in spring.
Glad you enjoyed it
Please consider to visit the region of Italy where I was born, Sardinia! It's a nice place to live and maybe to stay for the retirement, expecially in the northern part of the island. Beautiful beaches and delicious food are waiting just for you. If you go there even just for holidays you'll be surprised for sure. Best regards
Thanks for your comment.
I do know that Sardinia looks beautiful!
I plan to travel in many parts of Italy in hopes of purchasing something. I will be doing my research on the ideal location.
Sardinia is wonderful with its very own foods and traditions. Much like it had been for centuries. Very nice people, too ❤
@@brie1987 thank you!
so right Tommy....I see these personalities in USA....Although Portugal pulled the tax scheme for immigrants. They will now tax my capital gains. I am way before retirement and cannot afford to be taxed like this. Only way was because of the tax scheme in Portugal. Italy does not tax my capital gains...You are correct it all works out...hugs thanx for all your information. Do you live in Italy or spend at least 3 months there? Tell us your back story....thanx Cheers. Gina in Upstate NY USA moving to Portugal or Italy will know when I return in Spring...Headed to Calabria this time been to the north....you are so correct the language is NOT an ENGLISH SPEAKING Country LOLOLOLOLOL
I live in the US but have traveled Italy and France. I just love both countries.
I see an opportunity for Americans who might otherwise be priced out of retirement in the US.
They can move to Italy (or France) and help revitalize areas that have seen populations drop.
Seems like a win-win!
I signed up for newsletter & sent you message. Look forward to following your site. THANX and yes this is true. Great idea!@@RetireToEurope
@@RetireToEurope and would live much happier too
@@myitaliantherapyginafiore4414 Thanks so much for joining us!
@@AD12396 we still have a child in high school, who is about to graduate, so who knows about next year.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you 🎉if you live in a foreign country you adapt to the culture. One way is to learn the language. You may miss many cultural experiences if you won't adapt THANK YOU 🎉😂
Seems like part of the fun. I love learning new phrases and ways to order my wine! 🍷
"I'm going to get fat eating all that pasta!"
Have they seen Americans and the American diet??
This gave me a good laugh ngl
😂Thanks for watching!
Very good points.
Some additional points to consider. Most cheaper properties are in the outer suburbs or rural areas. Longterm leases in Italy are costly for vehicles. Can you drive a stick...on a hill...with a car right behind you? In your Borgo are the only bus runs for kids getting to school? Most rural buses do not run on Sundays.
Are you ok with carrying groceries up a steep hill? Does your Borgo have a real grocery store and not just a small one room storefront.
Too many properties in Italy have fewer than five windows. Most do not have AC. So many have no insulation. Most of the Country gets hot and humid in the summer. Ceiling fans are not the norm.
Customer service is not part of the job. Local government buildings have big black binders and limited digital resources. Bank employees rarely make eye contact since that would mean they would need to help you.
Italian business owners have made using the bathroom an art form. They know right away if you are not a customer and you need to pay to use the bathroom.
Good luck with real estate agents. Call, don't send emails. They often don't respond.
Thanks for watching and you comments 😀
Good work. Nice properties too.
Thank you!
I moved to Italy 10 years ago (Lake Maggiore) and have been very, very happy with my decision. Once you get to know how things work, you'll find that the bureaucracy, though at time annoying, works quite efficiently (at leat in the north!), the healthcare system is good once you get used to it, the food is varied and of amazing quality and your neighbours will be lovely. Plus all the other benefits of history, beauty (where else could I wake to views across the lake to the mountains?) and the sheer variety of the country. Choose your area well, though. Where I live, within 10km of the Swiss border, property prices are very much higher than, for example, Puglia or Abruzzo.
Thanks for sharing this!
Living in the north is my dream! So happy for you ❣️
I have been watching many videos about the reasonably priced homes in Italy. I am intrigued by the culture, and way of life.
Are there any hangups when attempting to purchase a home in Italy? Are there some unknowns that prospective buyers should know before purchasing in Italy? If so, this might be a good video for people looking to buy.
Thanks for this suggestion. I agree it would make a good video.
I'm in the process of scheduling interviews with people who have gone through the process to find out what issues they had.
Thanks for sharing!
Great video, love it! Your responses to the attitudes are spot on. Obviously in Italy people speak Italian mostly and on the immigration part; can’t they see what’s happening in US, very ignorant some people . I would love to move to Italy one day, countryside 🙏 thank you!!!
Thanks so much for watching!
Actually, I think that travel, especially to other cultures, is beneficial to people and the world. My prior comment reflectsmy exasperation with people go somewhereexpectingit to function exactly like the place they left. I will add that, in my experience, U.S. citizens areparticularly prone to this form of obnoxious expectation.
@@jamesbassett1484 Yes, it's frustrating when people travel to another country and are shocked to find things work differently.
People need open minds and understanding.
Great video! Totally respect your point of view.
I appreciate that!
😂😂😂😂😂I absolutely love this video. It just reaffirms my desire to live in Italy way before my retirement
Thanks for watching!
Tomorrow's video will show you how affordable Italy can be for retirement.
Never been to Italy. Don't know much about it, but man, I LOVE Italian food. However, isn't Italy a pretty old population? SO my question is are there laborers still there who can do plumbing, remodeling, etc?
In my research, I have not heard of issues finding laborers. I have heard it's very much a I-know-a-guy/girl system. Much less advertising, certainly much less online.
If I learn more, I'll share it in a video.
This is a good first filter that may help to get more Italy lovers. Grazie! Would be noce if in the future you can give a view of Viterbo.
I'll check it out!
I love your videos. I'm 2.5 years away from retiring. I've spent a good bit of time in Italy, but have never really visited many rural areas. I always travel by train in Europe, and I really want to be car-free if I retire in Europe. I know that the train service is excellent between larger cities, how would traveling inside of Italy work without a car if I lived in a village?
Of course it depends on the specific town/region, but bus service is widely available in Italy. And, of course, there are taxi's and private paid transportation.
Thanks for watching!
THANKS! @@RetireToEurope
@@herrrob14 Also this is good to have handy while searching for properties:
www.italiarail.com/italy-rail-map
@@RetireToEurope So helpful! Thanks! I will keep you posted when / if I make the move. I will be spending three more weeks this May in Italy and will be trying out my fledgling Italian language skills!
Well presented. Every point makes sense.
Thanks for saying that!
Thank you for showing us this information.
You bet! Thanks for watching.
I like the one in Puller I like the vaulted ceilings in the large windows. The price is nice too.
Puglia looks really beautiful!
I forgot the langauge thing. All my family is pretty much bi lingual Spanish. My younger sister teaches in all hispanic school and does their Cinco de Mayo and other things. Many I grew up with dont bother learning the culture of who their own neighbors are? Our mother took us to the library since before I even remember not going. We are in USA and she refused to spend the money on a TV until I was 10! yep! Read books, dictionaires and encyclopedias. She made us world curious. Made us volunteer and made us learn skills. I said I sew in my other post but I was on my mother's treadle age 5 and sewing on electric with patterns by age 10. Helped my dad repair our cars. Found the electrical short age 17. I use power tools, paint etc. I can now fix vintage sewing machines but only learned that 4 years ago and 68 now. And I have my own 102 year old treadle. You all are lucky. Its all on line! I had to pick people's brains to know more about sewing or convince some guy to show me a miter saw! Id sum it up if you dont know all about how lives on your block dont go moving to ANY other country and expect them to adapt to you.
wont let me edit ...WHO lives on your block...not how.
Great story! Thanks for sharing (and watching the video).
Wow. 7% for ten years is killer. At 76 I likely won’t be here in ten years. I love the landscapes in Italy.
Italy is a beautiful country!
Great video Tommy!
Just loving your posts!
I wait for your videos every day.
Do you live in Italy?
Thanks for watching!
No, I live in NC, USA. Just a huge fan of Italy and France and the opportunities they offer.
Great video!! Great houses!!! Great advice!!!
Thanks so much!
Part of our traveling experiences is learning some of the language before we travel. Italy is a historical, cultural and food heaven. I would suggest that anyone interested in moving there should spent some time renting first.
I’d definitely want to experience an area for a few weeks or months before I committed to buying 👍
Moving to Italy for part-time residency, moving to Italy to work and live full-time, moving to Italy to retire, are all different scenarios. I would be in the last category. While living in a rural or semi-remote area would be preferable, you still need to be reasonably close to essential services.
Thanks 👍
Terrific video Tommy! New viewer here and excited to find your channel! Italy is one of three countries I'm considering moving to for retirement this coming year. The insight and housing options you talked about make me even more motivated to choose Italy. I love that part about immigrants...'stay in your little bubble'. LOL! Is there any place in the world where immigration isn't an issue? It certainly is in the US if you believe the media. Grazie!
Thanks for watching Jack.
Glad you’re here!
Great video! Very helpful. Next spring I would love to visit smaller cities in 7% areas that when retired I could just rely on public transportation. Suggestions?
Google maps can show you local transportation options. 👍
Thank you for this video!!
You are so welcome!
Timely! Excellent video. Thank you 🤗
You're so welcome!
Hey Tommy, I actually never thought about the tax issue until I saw this video! So for me it is more important than for someone just looking to relocate from the U.S. because I pretty much had it down to either Ecuador, OR Italy. Now Ecuador does not tax ANY income not made in it's territory, so my Social Security, and my Pension would not be taxed. Also, the cost of living in Ecuador is much lower than Italy. But, I am not excluding Italy just for that because to me, (I have been there three times), Italy seems safer and is definitely more beautiful. Can you give me your thoughts on this dilemma? Again, I just found out about the tax situation in Italy, but I don't want to give up quite yet. I am part italian and the place calls to me in many ways.
Thanks!
To me it would come down to:
• Can I live in either sustainably? (finances)
• Which place do I naturally identify with more?
• Which will I regret not living in when I'm 85?
I would recommend a "test drive" and stay in each place for at least a month, if possible.
Then you'll get a good comparison on day-to-day living and the "vibe" of each.
I hope that helps!
@@RetireToEurope Yes that helps very much. This is exactly what I am planning to do next. Spend some time in Lazio, then Molise to see if Italy will be excluded. Will do the same in Ecuador, but have already been there. Need as you say to stay at least a month there too to check out the vibe, the weather, all of the outside stuff we usually don't think about. Thanks Tommy!
I've been learning Italian, you'd be surprised how much you can figure out by reading the writing.
Many similarities to English and also if you speak French or Spanish you can get by in Italy!
That’s great. I think the hardest thing is hearing the language.
Do you have any tips?
@@RetireToEurope I'd listen to a talk radio station and let it play in the background so your ear gets used to the sounds! It just takes time and learning the vocabulary.
@@pashminagal Yep, that's a great idea. I do this sometimes with my French learning.
My greatgrand parents from Italy 🇮🇹 and I respect the Italian language in their country. Their many apps you can install in your cellphone as a translator. That's will also help you learn to speak Italian. I'm so anxious to move to Italy for my retirement.
Yes, apps can help bridge the language gap. But learning to speak (and “hear”) the language is important!
Thank you for your "rant". As a multi-cultural person who's lived in several countries, including the U.S., I appreciate your forthrightness. There's nothing worse than going to a get together of expats who do nothing but complain about where they moved to. LOVE your channel. Grazie mille!
Thanks for your kind words Anna!
If you are an American, and retired but have passive income and can qualify for the retirement visa , and your passive income (Modified Adjusted Gross Income, yes, its on your 1040) is at or above 75K, you can only live in the 7% areas of Italy and enjoy life. Anyplace else in Italy, your tax would be about 40%. If you want to buy a house/flat for under 100K, keep in mind that there's a reason why there are so many of these places for sale in Italy--they are in need of work--lots of work and might not be structurally sound. Best to spend 200-300K and get a real place. And know that the sellers wanting 200-300K, that's a lot of money in Italy, people don't make 50K routinely--so their asking prices are REALLY inflated. Average people there do not make a lot of money.
Thanks for watching 😎
Love your points on not moving to Italy!!!
Thank you!
I had to wait 11 months for a colonoscopy.
Doctors visits are free.
Emergency services and ambulance service is free.
Specialist are not. €48
Tests are not.
Holter monitor €48
Sonogram/ ecg €48
Still glad I moved here.
Bought a 110m2 country home with a garage 150m2 on 2.5 acres of land for €70,000.
I'm a dual national 🇮🇹🇺🇸
Thanks for this info. Like in the USA certain specialist visits are very long wait.
Where did you end up buying?
@@RetireToEurope
Central Sicily. Province of Caltanissetta. I have a view of Mt. Etna. 😁
@@glidercoach Wow! Sounds like a great spot. 🌋
@@RetireToEurope
I'm happy with it. I need to redo the kitchen and bathroom. It's livable. It's quiet in the country.
It has 20+ olive trees, walnut and almond trees. Everything was neglected so I'm busy pruning and nursing everything back to health.
I like places that has character, vaulted ceilings and big windows. Nice floors.
Thanks for watching 😎
Thanks for posting this. I'm forwarding to all my friends that say to me not to move to Italy!.
Do it! 😎
I'm moving there from Toronto Canada. When you know what to expect and speak the language it's much easier. It's definitely not for everyone, but in my case it's an easy decision. Canada never made sense to me. The only thing that motivated me was to work hard, then take your money and run. The Canadian dream became a mirage over the last 15 years. I'm done trying to find a reason to stay. When the average person can no longer afford to pay rent or buy a home...that to me is a turd. 💯
Excellent vlog , thanks
Thanks for watching!
One of the most informative vfideos.
Thanks for saying that. I appreciate you watching!
Before moving, please consider also where you want to move! Each region of Italy is different from the others. If you want to retire, please consider the quality of local healthcare. Healthcare is managed locally by the regions, and the regions of the south are more poor so the quality of healthcare is affected. For instance, Calabria is beautiful but it is also poor and isolated. These are problems the Italians are facing, so please consider them before moving.
Great advice!
Even though Italy has good healthcare overall, it’s all about the local hospitals and medical facilities.
I lived in Italy for many years, I am bilingual Italian-English (and trilingual Spanish), I love pasta and appreciate the high quality of Italian wheat, nothing like it in the world that I know of. And I loved the archeological sites and museums. But I left a long time ago and have never gone back.
I understand that in many cases the tax issue is not a deal-breaker, but in my case taxes are a deal-breaker and 7% enticement is a joke that I'm not falling for. The bureaucracy is also a near deal-breaker, so coupled with taxes it's another nail in the coffin.
There are cheap houses of all kinds in many ex-urban areas of the United States or Latin America or Asia, so on that score nothing unique about Italy or anywhere in Europe. Meanwhile the cost of living in the major Italian cities, including and especially the buy price of housing, rivals any city in the US and Europe and some cities in Asia, so nothing unique about Italy on that score either. On top of that, no, the architecture is not magnificent in every corner of Italy; on the contrary, most of it is plain and drab, like everywhere else in the world, especially buildings constructed after WWII.
Which brings me to my last point. Personally I find that Italians have been way too eager to give up their sovereignty and most of them are boring conformists; that was a painful experience for me.
Having said all that, for most people who are looking for a less expensive place to retire than an expensive part of the US, the tax issue will fly under their radar and they can and do find satisfaction in some ex-urban _comune_ in Italy. Best wishes to them.
Thanks for the extensive comment.
And thanks for watching.
Interestingly, Italians are known to be masters at tax avoidance. So, taxation being a motivation to go there may actually be beneficial, especially under the 7% flat tax regime.
I"m not saying there aren't some great tax advantages in Italy.
Just some folks are SO obsessed with NOT paying taxes.
It bothers me. Obviously. 😂
@@RetireToEurope Well, I'm probably one of those. Though I wouldn't quite say I'm obsessed. I believe citizenship-based taxation is pure evil. Why should I fund the USA's mismanagement when I first of all don't support that mismanagement and second of all don't even reside there because of the mismanagement?
Beyond that, I don't believe governments should tax the labor of individual citizens. Doing so is almost as evil as citizenship-based taxation.
Governments have plenty of other tax mechanisms to easily fund legitimate government operations without stealing from individual citizens. The USA became the greatest nation the world has ever seen over the course of 200'ish years without an income tax. So, it is proven that it can be done and also maintained. It wasn't until the wealthiest bankers in the US decided to meet on Jekyll Island, Georgia at JP Morgan''s hunting estate to scheme up a plan for the bankers to centrally control and profit from the US Dollar directly, that an individual tax was implemented to provide the credit basis for fiat money ultimately backed by US Government debt issuance (following the planned removal of the gold-standard).
So, yeah, I'm pretty passionate about escaping that scumbaggery. Are you saying you support the banker's cause, and not the individual being robbed by them and their crony politicians? Most resident-based taxation systems (ie. Italy and most of Europe and Asia) are simply slightly less evil than the citizenship-based US system.
Is it any surprise to you that America's 100 or so year decline has mirrored the decline in value of the US Dollar (one 1913 US Dollar worth about 5 cents today) through deliberate fiat money inflation? Maybe you should revisit your understanding of this issue.
By the way, Italians are just about the most obsessed people when it comes to tax avoidance, maybe only matched by US Citizens who wish to escape citizenship-based taxation.
Sorry for the second comment. Are you a real estate agent in Italy or do you assist in the purchase of property there? Thank you!
I don’t. Currently I’m just in the education side of things.
Have you see the A Home In Italy channel?
I know David does help with purchasing and relocating. And he lives in Italy.
Your video popped up and it is excellent! Could you find areas that support disabled retirees? Of course, flat areas but there could be some that have ramps, elevators etc. plus one story homes thanks 😊
This is a great idea. I’ll add it to my research list.
Thanks for watching!
Do you have any videos or know of some good information about what is covered by the wealth tax In Italy?
This article has some info on wealth tax in Italy:
taxsummaries.pwc.com/italy/individual/other-taxes
Is there some form of mail in the Country. How do you get bills or standard mail or packages (Amazon) to where the residence is located.
I don’t know details, but yes, Italy has mail service and also Amazon.
Abbiamo tutto ciò che occorre..... (non siamo il terzo mondo...) Ci sono almeno una decina di sistemi postali estremamente efficenti, ovviamente 'Poste Italiane' è quello nazionale e funziona benissimo. abbiamo ovviamente Amazon..... io ho un locker sotto casa......
Non so, e a volte non capisco come possa esserci ancora così tanta ignoranza sulla mia nazione ed in generale sull'Europa....(sopratutto negli usa) e, penso che se non hai ancora ricevuto risposte negli ultimi 4 mesi non è perchè non abbiamo o sappiamo usare internet....... (mio suocero ha 93 anni e lo usa tutti i giorni), ma forse perchè si sentono offesi.
Informarsi e approfondire.
Thanks Tim for stating " it's Italy, they speak Italian " I hate hearing English when I'm there and you are right, learn it , or don't go there and I love it when Americans say it's not safe, but there's no mass shootings in Italy, great advice
I agree! Thanks for watching. 😁
Thank you for demonstrating common sense and Empathy
Seems like the right thing to do 😁
First House is the best for the money. And House number Three has great interiors. And House Six looks the best of the detached houses.
It’s stunning with the proximity to Rome.
I like the house in the mountains too
Me too. I'm definitely a mountain person!
Great video
Thanks!
Nice video, thank you. I feel for you ... seven properties? I've got two, I'm Italian, and I'm struggling.
It may be added that your property rights are rather limited, almost anybody can walk themselves into your property unless it is fenced all around, and even so, good luck having them prosecuted (prosecution for general trespassing is hardly a thing in Italy).
If you strike gold in your property, that gold is not yours: I'm forever praying I'll never strike gold, or oil, or whatever valuable substance below ground on my Italian property: I would infallibly lose it. So far, I've been lucky enough not to find any.
I'm sure you know we are blessed with a very long documented history, and that's great. But I wouldn't be very happy if I found - say - golden or bronze Roman or Etruscan artefacts on my property while ploughing: I would then be obliged by Law to stop plowing as soon I realize the situation, alert the Authorities, and possibly be forced to host excavations campaigns, God knows for how long depending on the availability of funding.
If your peaceful rural property includes any significant stretch of land, remember that hunters may have the right to walk into and across it with no need to ask for your permission, according to game's and their dogs' whims (they are rather noisy people, on top of everything else). The same applies to such people as mushroom collectors, truffle diggers (these mostly work in the dead of night), and what else, provided they pay dues to the jurisdiction your property is located within: the JURISDICTION mind you, NOT YOURSELF as the rightful owner of the land.
Say some uninvited id*ots hurt themselves while on your rural and somewhat isolated property, a far cry from any Police station; then you are likely to be sued, and very much likely to lose. Seems to stand to reason, but I'm told that this also applies to burglars and the like: they may conceivaby be prosecuted for theft, and perhaps be sentenced to serve some time (if any, and provided they are ever caught). But if they get hurt, you may still be held responsible for their well-being while they were busying themselves raiding/rifling/robbing/blasting/setting on fire, or otherwise damaging your property. Don't even think to try and protect your life and property in Italy using force: you would end up being arrested and tried. Basically, the only strategy you are allowed to use in such predicament, without incurring the wrath of the Italian Law, is soft-spoken verbal persuasion; but that rarely works, I'm told.
Authorities keep a keen eye on any modifications you do to your property. Things you can do without notifying them are precious few: you can hardly drive a nail, which you rightfully own, into a wall of which you are the rightful owner, without finding yourself accountable. Notice that most times you can't notify on your own: you will need to hire a qualified professional to do that in your behalf, wich of course you will need to pay out of your pocket. Be advised that there are at least two different record keepers of your property (besides yourself), and these are the Comune and the Catasto. God forbid the one's files differ from the other's, you are automatically the guilty part, and must again pay good money - one way or another - to remedy the situation. So, pray that the previous owners you bought the property from did their homework, because THEY might have been sloppy, but YOU are now accountable.
That said, yes, we do have some nice people (and some bad, or even very bad, people); some of us may be able to decently speak and understand the English language and help you; and sometimes we do indeed have fine weather, provided we are not worried by droughts lasting six months in a row (when - to be fair - the sky is very much blue for the entire duration of the phenomenon); or the occasional flood; or the odd earthquake; or Spring frost which - one year out of any three on average - kills the buds of fruit trees and vines. Additionally, you are likely to find meat, dairy products, groceries, and wine, a tad less expensive than in your Country; I'm not that sure about the meat, though.
I consider it most kind of you to be able to find your Italian experience a valuable one.
Best of luck, and keep in touch.
Thanks for watching and commenting 😎
Bravo! Finally some good analisys, far from the usual clichees about mafia, siesta, etc..
Thanks for watching!
If you actually try very hard to learn the language and speak it as much as possible , Italians love it as they are trying to preserve their hustiry and language.
Just a healthy place overall. If you come and spend your money there, it helps revive the economy
Great point!
It takes me months to get a doctor’s appointment now, even my GP. Gun violence is out of control in the US.
Sad but true 😔
Thing about taxes is you actually get something for your taxes verses the U.S. where you just get a bloated military and ineffective government.
I agree! Thanks for watching 😎
Italian language is the easiest of all for English speakers. The grammar is like Spanish and English borrowed a ton of words from Italian during the Rennaissance so almost every Italian word is a distorted English word. "Have" = "Avere" see the commonness?
Thanks for adding this!
I agree that learning Italian is achievable and not as hard as many believe.
Learning, a new language is an excellent exercise for your brain. so I recommend not just learning Italian learn an additional language to Italian.
I speak American, English, Canadian, and a little French. 😂
@@RetireToEurope so you speak english and a little French … I speak English, French, Chinese a little Swahili and I am learning Russian. Like an idiot I should have learned Spanish. I think I would like to learn signing I do have a few friends that are deaf and it would just be nice
We are tempted to sell our California property and move to Italy. BUT, comments I read in other videos it’s not promising if you have teens. Seems like the young generation are moving out Italy. I don’t know what to believe.
Lots of young still in Italy. Like any country parts are growing and parts are shrinking.
I would do a long recon trip to get a feel for different areas.
Do not just up and move without serious research and planning!
@@RetireToEurope Definitely 👍 Thanks
I love when they always say the happiest countries on earth. What was the criteria to ascertain who’s happy …. By asking people ? People are typically prideful so don’t go by that. If you look to see which countries consume the most antidepressant medications they are the European countries. That speaks volumes about who’s really happy
Or it could be that with universal healthcare everyone who needs the meds can afford it.
@@RetireToEurope to each his own but I’ll choose to keep my dignity than to live on government handouts
@@cheli2676 I wish the best for you!
For an American man with 300k in his account Italy is paradise! For a local boy who just finished school and has tu build his future with 800€ a month, it's a nightmare!
Geo-arbitrage is very beneficial for folks who live in high-income, high cost-of-living countries and can relocate to low cost-of-living countries.
The win-win is that Italy actively incentivizes those folks to come and bring their money to spend in the local economy, or fixing up abandoned properties to revitalize towns and villages.
But I agree. If you're a young person looking for high-paying employment, southern Italy is not the place to look right now.
@@RetireToEurope yes, the government believes that economy will rise again thanks to tourism only. I don't think it is enough. Surely it helps. Anyone moving to Italy should bear in mind that north and south have plenty of differences. A person with special needs (medical care or special kids) might want to move up north where infrastructure and services provided are of better quality. Cheers
For those that think that Italy is dangerous - Please do yourself a favor and come to South Africa, you will have a whole new appreciation for your life thereafter. Even Mexico and Venezuela are safer.
Italy is beautiful and I am considering immigrating.
Thanks for watching.
The immigration issue is likely the bigger cities where there is work. The small towns are being emptied of young people headed for the cities anyway.
Great point 👍
Great advice and properties. Yes, those people should stay in their little bubble. hahahaha
😁Thanks for watching!
Well, it is not the same for an American retiree being an immigrant in Italy. That person will have savings of their and live off their pension money. Which is definitely not the case for the other migrants from Africa or the Middle East, who will live off the Italian state. Ask the Italians for their opinion on the topic, they'll tell you.
What is the probably that the local Italians will start to deeply resent foreigners, even more affluent ones when their towns are flooded with them? I bet this is already happening when these ancient towns see foreigners living full time there. Their culture will start to change and Italy will be more like the foreigner's culture.
Anyone moving should work to integrate into the Italian culture.
But everyone has their own culture. Italy has people from all over the world.
Plus Italy was a bunch of independent states until the unification in the 1800’s.
Thanks for commenting.
Ha ragione, ha ragione: state a casa vostra! Vi scongiuro! ... Fateci e fatevi un favore. Grazie.😊
LOL 😂
Socialized healthcare is currently in shambles. In the specific regions with the 10 years 7% income taxes it is catastrophic. Socialized dental healthcare is virtually non-existing anywhere.
Thanks for adding a comment
Thanks for this video and especially for pointing out the irony :-)
My pleasure!
I moved from Canada two years ago to Sicily. Bought a beautiful apartment and got permanent residency. No winters, food is second to none and happy with my decision. However, an unpleasant piece of news about access to the health care; Angela Meloni has created new fees for the card. I have an EU German passport and if you haven’t lived here for ten years or married an Italian, it now costs €2,000 EVERY YEAR to be covered for medical care. Blood tests, medication, are extra. I was getting so many different stories about this, my Italian lawyer verified it, and alas, it is true. That’s €20,000 total for the next ten years. You can’t get citizenship sooner, after that, it’s free. Someone has to pay for the GD illegals and we are IT!
Thanks for this info. I know it’s painful for you, especially if you weren’t planning for the extra expense.
Here in the US there are many folks paying about $2,000 PER MONTH for healthcare.
It’s all relative I guess…
People who do not want to leave the country in which they live probably shouldn't.
Mostly agree. I do think it would help some to experience another culture.
Maybe give them more empathy and appreciation?
Italy is Italy and absolutely not like the circumstances in Sweden and many other countries. It is a very different environment. Try to live there for half a year and then decide. I lived in Amantea and Sicily for a year and then decied that Sweden is my home and Italy is for vacation. When you visit Italy as a tourist you will end up in areas that are "polished" for tourists. The backstreet och the parallell valley looks totally different. I f you comment this Italians tend to have a very sensitive skin. Italy is of course the greatest, moms food the best. But it is a lot of pasta, pizza, basta. Most Itlians have never been abroad and do not speak english so they know very little about what it is outside "home". When I lived there I liked the Italians and the places I visited - but I would never consider moving there. Try it out first, short term is a good advise.
Thanks for commenting!
Umbria and other central regions of Italy have periodic earthquake issues, I would not buy houses over there
I appreciate this concern.
But the chances of you dying in a car accident driving to your property is WAY more likely.
But still incredibly rare!
Love Italy! ❤️ That would be the only county I can live in besides my own.
It really is amazing 🤩
"if you are afraid of moving to italy because you are afraid of getting fat because of the food... then you should absolutely move to Italy!"
Of course you want to stop eating from fast foods and big chains, and look for healthy food, which is quite easy to find!
Totally agree! Thanks for watching 😎
I wish to.
I hope you can! Thanks for watching.
When someone immigrants to another country they need to be willing to integrate. There are many that come from countries where women are gays are not treated equally. I've been to Paris. It's unrecognizable. I do not what that to happen to Italy!
Agreed. Thanks for watching and commenting.
You are so wonderful and I love the way you handled some of those comments. You are so right, please all you people with the attitudes mentioned, please stay in America where complaining about everything is the national pass time 🤗🤗😘🥰
Thanks for watching!
Immigrants Go into the cities Not the countryside. I would prefer to buy a old Farm with some arce of Land. If you get to old to Farm you ihre one of those immigrants to Work 😁
Thanks for watching!
Great video - as a german, i have to say, if you wont a expat US colonie in Europe - and not like to intergrade in Europa (Italiy , France, Germany etc.) - please stay in the USA. If you like to intergrade, welchome in europe.
100% 👍