Everyday life as an American living in southern Italy

I bought my dream apartment in Italy on Facebook Marketplace. It sounds like clickbait, but it’s true. Let me tell you how it happened.

From Impossible to Affordable

With the prices in Oregon, I never imagined being able to own a place, but moving to Italy changed everything. After two years of exploring (check out my earlier posts), my partner and I were finally ready to settle in Lecce.

We began by meeting with our relocation specialist to chat about our needs, budget, ideal location, and all the details.

It was exciting to hear that we could afford a 1-2 bedroom apartment here, where in Oregon we’d be looking at half a parking space or an abandoned shed.

The Disappearing Act

But here’s where things got tricky: apartments were disappearing faster than we could blink. Listed one day, gone the next. Some people were making offers sight unseen.

And the ones that stayed on the market, we realized, weren’t selling for a reason. One apartment we managed to tour was directly above a lively pub. Pro tip we learned: if you find a place you love, go check it out at 2 AM to see what the vibe is really like. Especially since nightlife goes so late in Italy! The place was cute, but we’d never sleep.

Another place reeked of mold from basement moisture issues, while others fell through when sellers decided to keep renting to tourists instead. The summer market was not in our favor.

Getting Creative (And Desperate)

We were constantly refreshing our browser tabs, checking for new listings on the same few real estate websites (Idealista, Immobiliare, and Gate-Away).

And then, we resorted to Facebook Marketplace. If you’ve ever dealt with FB Marketplace you know how messy it can be. But sometimes between a used toaster and a stained mattress you find a hidden gem. And here was a hidden gem!

A listing for an attic apartment just outside the historic center, recently remodeled, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. My first instinct was to keep scrolling. The listing said no real estate agents (red flag?), and the apartment was super modern. Maybe I had been romanticizing an Under the Tuscan Sun home, all rustic and charming. A modern apartment hadn’t really crossed my mind.

But I kept going back to the listing. What would it hurt to see it? And if we didn’t reach out soon, it might be gone.

How We Got Our Foot In the Door

Our relocation specialist messaged the owner and somehow convinced her to show the apartment to us first.The owner had been bombarded with messages on Facebook, but whatever magic our specialist worked, it got us to the front of the line.

When we met the owner for the viewing, we connected with her immediately. She was so sweet, and even took us out for a coffee! She really liked the idea that the apartment might go to someone who wasn’t just turning it into a vacation rental, but who would appreciate all the work she’d put into renovating it.

Adjusting Our Expectations (For the Better)

Walking through the apartment, we saw a lot of our boxes checked. The space was bright with windows on all sides, had a modern kitchen, beautiful views, and in a great neighborhood with everything walkable.

Sure, it wasn’t the rustic Italian fantasy I’d been picturing, but we’d be surrounded by historic architecture just by living in Italy! Maybe not dealing with crumbling old stone or renovations would be a plus.

The Fastest Closing in Italian History

With the high demand, we knew we couldn’t wait around to make a decision. So we made an offer that same day.

The owner didn’t want to work with a traditional real estate agent, which made us a bit nervous, but our relocation specialist organized everything perfectly. She got the contract in top shape, hired a geometra, arranged an inspection, and made sure everything was fair. She joined us for the signing and even hired an extra translator to ensure we understood the contract as first-time buyers.

Everyone told us to expect 6-9 months for an average closing in Italy, but just one month later, we got our keys!

Home Sweet Home

I still can’t believe we found our dream apartment on Facebook Marketplace! After all those heartbreaks and near-misses, everything worked out better than we could have imagined.

Thanks for following along on our house-hunting journey. More updates to come soon!

If you are considering relocating or purchasing a property in Italy, feel free to reach out for a referral to our relocation specialist.

xo
Allegra

After all those heartbreaks and lessons from Part 2, we finally had a breakthrough. At this point we were actually living in Italy, renting in the charming town of Nardò while exploring the region. Lecce (originally not even on our radar) kept drawing us back. The younger energy, fast train connections, access to a larger hospital, and proximity to both seas made it quite appealing to the whole family.

My parents were about to find their dream home, though not without some government drama that had us holding our breath for 60 days.

The House We Almost Skipped

We almost didn’t even bother looking. The real estate photos were dark and grainy, and my first thought was that it looked like a dungeon. But there was one thing that caught my eye: a little peek of gorgeous parquet flooring at the bottom of one photo. When I mentioned it to our relocation specialist, she immediately reached out to the listing agent to set up a viewing.

The moment we stepped through the front door, we knew those photos had done this place a serious disservice. We were standing in a piece of history – literally. The front of the house dates back to the 16th century, while the back section was added in the 18th century. It’s like having two different eras of Italian architecture perfectly blended into one home.

What really surprised us was discovering a lovely outdoor garden area. You never know what you’re walking into from the street view! Maybe the house doesn’t photograph that well, but it’s truly stunning in person.

The layout worked perfectly for my family too. The front half was great for my brother, while the back section had been thoughtfully updated with a modern kitchen, my parents’ bedroom, the main living area, and two smaller rooms that would inevitably become my dad’s music room and my mom’s study. Ready for whatever retirement hobbies come their way!

We got lucky that the previous owner was an architect who had done a lovely renovation that respected the original elements. It was a relief knowing my parents wouldn’t have months of construction ahead of them!

We also had a professional inspection that passed with no serious issues. Always a relief when buying a historic property!

The Italian Notary Experience

Watching the Italian property purchase process unfold was quite the production. In Italy, notaries are serious legal professionals, not just someone you visit at a UPS Store for a quick signature. They’re responsible for ensuring all documents comply with the law, taxes are paid, and the transfer is properly registered. Everyone shows up to the appointment (buyers, sellers, agents, sometimes family members), and the whole thing is very formal and ceremonial.

One thing that was classic my mom: being a former lawyer, she really wanted to sign the deed herself instead of giving power of attorney to someone else. So we all sat in the notary’s office while they read through the very long deed in both Italian and English. Let’s just say it took a while!

Our 60 day Cliffhanger

Then came a fun twist: “right of first refusal.” Since the house was classified as historically significant and located in the centro storico, the city of Lecce had 60 days to decide if they wanted to purchase the property instead. Italy really knows how to keep you on your toes.

Our relocation specialist assured us that cities rarely exercise this right, but those 60 days still felt long. When the time finally passed with no government intervention, a second deed was recorded and the house was officially theirs.

If you’re considering a historic property in Italy, just know this right exists. It’s part of how Italy protects its architectural heritage, but definitely something to factor into your timeline.

One Home Down, One To Go

After almost two years of searching, finding a home for my parents was such a relief. I’ll admit I was a little jealous they were finally going to stop living out of their suitcases and start shopping for furniture!

Now it was our turn! Watching their process gave us realistic expectations about timelines, paperwork, and the cast of characters we’d need to assemble for our own purchase.
Of course we were wondering, would it take another two years to find an apartment?? But you’ll never guess what happened next… Stay tuned for part 4!

If you’re considering your own Italian property adventure, I can’t recommend having a relocation specialist enough! Having someone to help navigate the translations and bureaucracy every step of the way was invaluable. You can reach out here for a referral.