Pasta And Present

Sep 30 2007 Laura Davidson

Surprise Meeting With An Old Flatmate Led Robert To Buy Dream Holiday Home In Italy Place In The Sun

A chance meeting with an old friend led Robert Galloway and his family to their dream home in Italy.

Robert had been considering buying a place abroad where he could go on holiday with fiancee Sarita Hamilton and their kids Kerris-Lee, three, and eight-month-old Robbie.

But when he bumped into old flatmate Marcus Bryson at a birthday party and found that he had become a foreign property agent, Robert reckoned it was fate.

He said: "I'd been doing my research on the internet like most folk but I was wary about dealing with a firm based down south. I wanted to be able to see who I was buying from face to face.

"I'd considered Italy and Marcus told me it was a really popular area with investors.

"I booked an inspection trip right away. It was strange because I hadn't seen Marcus for a few years - it was great timing when I bumped into him."

The couple, of Irvine, Ayrshire, hooked up with Marcus's firm, Let's Live Abroad, to go to Calabria, on the southern coast of Italy.

Robert, 43, a railway engineering supervisor, and Sarita, 35, an admin worker, had never visited Italy before their weekend inspection trip in May.

Robert said: "We loved everything about the area. At first we had considered Spain but were put off by the fact so many areas are too built up.

"To us, Italy was everything Spain was not. Calabria is relatively unspoilt. There are quaint little towns and villages where it looks as though they've had the same way of life for decades.

"There are gorgeous little village squares with groups of old men playing dominos in the shade and cafes with bustling tables of large Italian families having their dinner.

"Everyone was so friendly and we immediately fell in love with the place."

Robert and Sarita went to see several new developments in progress during their weekend stay and settled on Collinetta Village, a new residential area on a hillside overlooking the town of Marina de Caulonia on the Ionian coast.

Their two-bed apartment cost £49,000 (72,000 euros).

After paying a five per cent deposit, Robert paid 50 per cent of the purchase price from savings this month.

The balance will be due on completion of the development in 2009 and Robert reckons he'll take out an Italian mortgage at a low rate of interest to pay for it.

He said: "We plan to rent it when we're not using it and this area of Italy is really popular with Italians from the north who visit in July and August.

"We're projecting that if we get solid rentals for just a few months of the year, it should take care of our mortgage payments."

The couple's apartment will have an open-plan living area with kitchen and two balconies, one from the living room and one from the master bedroom.

Residents have the use of a communal pool and it is a 10- minute walk to the nearest beach.

Collinetta Village is just an hour's drive from Lamezia Terme airport and Robert hopes to use his new home as a base for exploring the western coast and nearby Sicily.

The family may even consider putting down more permanent roots in Italy.

Robert added: "It's early days but we have talked about moving abroad and we both love Italy. It would be a nice place to raise the kids. The weather is great and the way of life is so laid-back.

"We're definitely planning to go there a couple of times on holiday before our apartment is complete to get more of a taste for the area.

"Living there is our ultimate goal - but it's a dream that seems a little more attainable now we've got our own place in Italy."

'Solid rentals for just a few months of the year will cover our mortgage payments'

ITALY FACTFILE

Anyone wishing to buy property in Italy enjoys the same rights as Italian nationals.

The purchase tax paid by non-residents is higher but this also applies to Italian residents if the property they are buying is a second home.

The compromesso, or contract, is legally binding and a deposit will be payable at the time of signing. Make sure you have any issues with the property ironed out before signing as it effectively commits you to go ahead with the sale, no matter what.

The final completion documents are usually signed before a local notary (notaio).

It is the notary's duty to draft the purchase deed (rogito) to ensure that all the necessary registration documents have been signed and that all Italian taxes have been paid.

For more information, see www.letsliveabroad.com