Ram's activity

Questions Asked

Suddenly there is a new forum and lots of new members appear from nowhere asking really useful questions!  it's almost as if someone somewhere is trying to make the new site justifuy its existence.  Which is nice.

Fri, 05/24/2013 - 01:13

One for Charlotte - i have an American client, executor of his fathers estate who says that under the Uniform International Wills Act he can deal with the Italian succession of his American/Italian father.

Wed, 01/23/2013 - 06:36

'Tourists' in ITaly have now got a deroga from the government allowing them to buy stuff that costs more than 1000 euros with cash.

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 03:22

There is a hugely important element to the manovra published yesterday. For people who took residence in Italy to get prima casa, but dont actually live here...From 2012 you will pay 7/1000 on the value of any property owned OUTSIDE ITaly.

Thu, 12/15/2011 - 02:52

oops apologies - going blind in my old age

Thu, 12/02/2010 - 03:55

So the Nationwide has introduced bank charges - £1 fee and 2% commission on every withdrawal via ATM abroad - Im gutted. But, I had no advance warning and am also deeply annoyed. Anyone else in the same boat?

Thu, 11/18/2010 - 03:54

Somewhat open mouthed to see a large ad for Giambrone on the front page of the Italy Mag website.

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 04:04

Does anyone have any info on the scudo fiscale.  It seems that the new version is not only retroactive, but anyone bringing money into Italy could be liable for 5% tax if they are resident.

Tue, 01/05/2010 - 13:05

 The disaster in the province of Messina goes to prove the instability and 'eyes wide shut' approach to living in Italy.

Mon, 10/05/2009 - 04:04

Comments posted

Wed, 08/24/2011 - 06:08

As far as I understand it, bringing in money from a blacklisted country opens you up to the laws on antiriciclaggio - and if the money was going straight into the vendors account they could end up in trouble with the agenzia dell'entrate.  I would check with my notaio but he's still on a beach somewhere.   I am happy to be proved wrong though :)

Wed, 08/24/2011 - 06:04

Basically yes - it depends on your bank.  Some are very efficient and you can do the trasnfer in front of the notaio and he is satisfied.  otherwise you technically have to do the transfer before the signing of the atto, and produce the receipt of transmission for the notaio.  Some notaios will also demand that the money is received by the seller before the act is signed - so there are lots of phonecalls in the notaios office.   A notaio cannot receive your money (in escrow) and then send it on.  Is your bank a euro bank?  The other way out is to transfer the money to am FX company (I can recommend one wholeheartedly) who have all the details of the recipients bank account.  They forward the money when you call and tell them to do so, in front of the notaio and send an email immediately showing the it has been done.  However it all has to be done with the consent of the vendor.  Also bear in mind that a foreign bank transfer costs the recipient money - sometimes a percentage of the amount, so you will have to add 0.15% to the money you transfer to the seller - if its over 50.000 euro.

Wed, 08/24/2011 - 03:10

Yes but - it depends where your offshore account is.  If it is on a blacklisted country not only is it illegal but it also falls into the scudo fiscale legislation which can make you liable to large tax surcharges.   Alan H story is interesting but bear in mind that with the change in the laws underdeclaration is illegal and heavily punished.  There is no fiscal advantage in underdeclaring for the buyers.  Dont do it, they will find out. 

Fri, 08/19/2011 - 13:15

Sebastiano is absolutely right - it is not just a case of asking for money and being given it.  For any European funding, it comes through the region and a bando is issued with all the relevant details.  You must use a consulente to fill in the paperwork and preference is usually given to under 35 female 'imprenditrice'.  For any sort of business you will have to be resident in the region, and have a company opened and running by teh date of the issue of the bando.  For local funding its a bit different, there are funds for doing up your facade so as not to disgrace the neighbourhood - or for B&B (per bed space) etc.  They all require residency in the comune, with the exception of the preferential mortgages/loans from banks like Monte dei Paschi which can be got for second homes.    Perhaps in Tuscany there is a sportello unico at the comune for some funding, but to be honest, it is nearly all alot more effort than it is worth with no guaranteed result.  In Siracusa (Ortigia) there is/was funding for interior and exterior of properties, but it all ran out 7 years ago, and it is still being distributed and the graduatoria is still existent.  On the other hand Ragusa has a local scheme for case vacanze that is ongoing, with money available to restore the fabric of buildings.  As I said, it all depends where you live as to what is available.   Some estate agents will blithely say that there are grants available, but they omit to tell you its a soul destroying 10 years process.   The reality is not to purchase a property if you are reliant on possible funding.  You will always have to match the funding with a healthy bank balance, even if it is at fondo perduto - and the checks are ever more stringent. 

Thu, 08/18/2011 - 13:35

It depends where you live.  Some comunes/provinces have local schemes, others not.  Some are funded by banks at preferential interest rates.  Some are European funding under POS schemes or Regional European (3rd world) funding.  

Thu, 08/18/2011 - 13:32

Basically, you cant do anything without the consent of the person who uses the right of way.  if they refuse your offer of a new right of way, you are back at square one.  

Fri, 08/12/2011 - 07:20

have English spades and forks, with handles you can hold.   

Tue, 08/09/2011 - 03:13

Yes, you can but you must have the agreement of the notaio and the vendor, who may ask that the cheque is banked and credited to his account before the act - which is a risk the buyer takes.  The notaio may carry out further cheques on the validity or not of your bankers draft.   However the law and accepted practise require traceable money from an Italian bank account - so while your vendor may be worldly enough to realise that other banks exist they dont have to accept a cheque that way...  

Fri, 07/29/2011 - 03:08

buying in italy 2011 - its on Amazon, or from buyinginitaly.com as an ebook..... 

Thu, 07/28/2011 - 07:02

Sprostoni you've got your words mixed up - you're talking about a preliminare di vendita.   The caparra (deposit) is either confermatoria or penitenziaria and basically both cover your options.  However a confermatoria means that either party can go to court to force the sale, a penitenziaria its just losing the deposit or double the deposit as you wrote.