My name is Monia. I am the founder of Abruzzo Rural Property - an international real estate agency based in the region of Abruzzo, in Central Italy.

I have been working as an international realtor since 2011 - that is, for almost 13 years. What do I love most about my job? The chance to enter stunning character properties with incredible authentic details and historic value. Over the years, we have sold quite a few historic buildings. The features, which make these character properties unique, are amazing and have captivated their new owners.

The following are pictures of just a small selection of properties I am referring to.

Historic palazzo, typical early 15th Century Neapolitan architectural style, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2022.

Historic palazzo, dating back to the 1800s in Castelmauro, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2021.

Historic apartment in Agnone, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2023.

Ancient town house with antique features in Acquaviva Collecroce, Molise region, Central Italy: sold in 2023.

Historic palazzo in Casalanguida, Abruzzo region, Central Italy: sold in 2022, and currently on Instagram as 'Palazzo Abruzzo'.

Run-of-the-mill renovation work, such as a new bathroom, new plumbing, re-wiring, etc., was not the case here. Many of those buildings were also in need of restoration, and in some cases, extensive restoration. Experts, endowed with the relevant set of skills, carried out the work.

As realtors, we know numerous building companies but when we started dealing with properties requiring restoration, we quickly realised we would have to search out artisans/artists with the right skills. It was a difficult task! It is no mean feat restoring a fresco or an ancient stucco, or even upgrading vintage wallpaper without having to remove it completely, and risk destroying it.

 If you are not an Italian citizen approaching the Italian real estate market for the first time, you don't speak Italian and you don't know the laws, you might want to read this article to get a better idea about Italian Real Estate Agencies and their duties.

First of all, a registered Italian real estate agency must have a license number and a company registration code.

The company registration code is very important and is the most important document your agent must have.

The company registration code is also called R.E.A, this code represents the registration of the company at the local Chamber of Commerce.

The R.E.A. number is mandatory to work as a realtor in Italy.

There is a part of Italy that has still to be discovered by the outside world, with its charming and unspoiled regions steeped in history, where mountains, countryside and coastlines offer a great diversity of natural beauty.

This is where you can find the authentic Italy. Where time stands still. A slice of this authentic Italy can be very affordable. In many rural areas low real estate prices allow the dream of owning a home in Italy to come true.

This is the case of Abruzzo, so it is important to understand how the real estate market in this region has evolved in recent years.

Table of contents

1. A little bit of history from the past decade
2. Nowadays in Abruzzo
3. The real estate market in the past few years
4. Is it better to buy a house to renovate or a move-in ready one?
5. Local vs International property market
6. Is buying a house in Abruzzo a good investment? Can properties be rented to tourists?
7. What is new on the horizon?

A little bit of history from the past decade

I started working in the international real estate market in September 2010 and everything was different. Foreign interest mainly came from Britain and the Netherlands, and even though there were also enquiries from other countries, it was not enough to make for a real market case. Clients were looking for houses to renovate, old buildings or ruins in the countryside in need of a total makeover, many of these clients wanted to renovate the houses themselves without hiring contractors.

Abruzzo was not famous abroad, not as a tourist destination and certainly not as a hotspot for property investments.

Since March 2020 travelling around the world has been difficult and we have had to face various unexpected situations. In 2020/2021 we had many clients who were supposed to come to complete their house purchase here in Abruzzo but were unable to leave their home countries due to worldwide travel bans.

In these last two years we have learned how the process of international Power of Attorney works in several countries, and through this article we are happy to share the information with you and the expert knowledge gained so far.

Once you have chosen the perfect house in Italy for you, maybe through virtual tours with your real estate agent, you can also purchase it from abroad through the Power of Attorney.

Obviously, the process of obtaining a valid Power of Attorney is slightly different according to the country where you live, but its principles are mainly the same all over the world.

1. What is a Power of Attorney?
2. How much does it cost to get a Power of Attorney in Italy?
3. Differences between a Special or a General Power of Attorney
4. Who provides the Power of Attorney?
5. How does it work to obtain an internationally valid Power of Attorney? What is Apostille?
6. How to obtain a Power of Attorney with Apostille in the USA?
7. How to obtain a Power of Attorney with Apostille in the UK?

What is a Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is an agreement between two parties: a “principal” and an “attorney in fact”. The “attorney in fact” need not be an attorney at law commonly known as a lawyer. A power of attorney gives the rights to act on behalf of the principal.