From Handshake Deals to being Taken out to the Countryside: My Unforgettable Journey to Buying an Italian Home

Once I decided the Church house was for me, I called the realtor to put in the offer. It was much more informal than I expected but I should have known Italy has their own way. I told my agent the offer. She called them to present it, nothing in writing. They countered, again nothing in writing. I agreed at €57,000. It was a yes over the phone, a modern handshake deal.

I am sure Italians would be comfortable with this but I was unsettled until I had it in writing. What if someone else came and wanted to snap it up? The agent sent me the ‘compromise’, which is the preliminary contract, to review in English and Italian. The document was 2 pages. 

Prior to my arrival in Mussomeli I had reached out to a contractor and asked if he would be able to look at a home while I was there if I found something. He made time to see both the Church House and Lemon House and advised me on what was needed for each. I could have requested inspections done at my cost prior to the offer, but I was comfortable with his feedback.

It Italy real estate is passed down to the family when the owner passes. Therefore, it is common to have many sellers on the contract. I had heard of one person have 14 decedents on the paperwork. It was explained to me that this is where the risk is. If one of those descendants does not to agree the home sale won’t go through. “How many are on mine?” I asked. She said 21. AUGH. She reassured me that there was a primary couple that had the authorization to represent the family.

She made an appointment in 2 days for me to sign the contract at the office and send the deposit. I was shocked to find I would be sending the 10% deposit to the seller’s bank account. No escrow. It is extremely common to do this but you can arrange and escrow account at an additional fee charged to you. I also paid a 4% agency fee at this time.

The contract had a closing date of 6 months. This sounded like forever. I had heard stories of sellers backing out weeks before closing. In this case, per the standard contract, the buyer gets double their deposit back. I have also heard it isn’t simple to get it back.

When I went to the office for my appointment, present were the agent, translator (they provided) and contract specialist who prepared the documents. We were chit chatting a bit and I was confused as why we weren’t getting started. Then walked in a couple. I thought they were the next appointment but they were the sellers. I had no idea I would be meeting the sellers.

They were a lovely couple. Through the translator they asked about me.  My son had just gotten married the previous month so I showed them a picture of my family from the wedding. They said with a smile, he looked Italian. I asked about the house. They proudly said it was the largest on the hill. You could tell it was a significant and beloved part of their family. I assured them it would be in good hands.  

I was given their banking information to transfer the deposit. I had already opened a Wise account and had funds in Euro. It was easy to use the app and transfer the money right in front of them. We signed the documents on October 21st and the closed was on or before April 21st. The wait begins.

During this time the Land Registry Department review the document to verify the land and home and calculate the value.  It is similar to the United States County Assessor’s office. This can take some time. Once they are complete they tell you the cadastral value of the home. Even thought the purchase price was €57,000 they assessed the home at €80,000. I would be paying the tax off that fee.

I elected to go back to Mussomeli to sign the final paperwork. I did this in March. It was a month before the closing deadline on the paperwork however all of the paperwork was complete. This appointment was at a notary which is an attorney there.

Had I not been able to travel back for the signing I would have had the contract and paperwork sent to me to notarize granting limited power of attorney to represent me at closing. This notary though is an Aposolite which is uncommon.

The agent said they would be taking me to the country to sign the papers. Is ‘take me to the county’ the last I will ever be seen? Thank goodness my 6’5” nephew is with me. It would be a greater challenge to get rid of 2 bodies. I was to transfer the balance due before the signing and have the proof of transfer for the final file. Yes, they had all my money, I had no deed, and I am going to the country. Have I lost my mind?

Off we go to the country. By country they meant a farm outside town with goats, cows and farm dogs. There were a dozen people there, smartly dressed of course, and smaller than my 5’7” height. I guess I didn’t need my body guard. They were all there for the signing. I am beyond frustrated I can’t speak to them in Italian and hear their stories. Through the translator we exchanged pleasantries and little more. 

I sat in the notary’s office and signed the documents. He read them out in Italian and in English. Still, it was just 2 pages. No disclosures, waivers, or the 2 inches of paperwork I have experienced purchasing property in the United States. As each owner was summoned to the office from the sitting area to sign, they smiled at me and we hugged or shook hands. It was evident how proud they were of this home. I feel a responsibility to maintain it in a way that would honor its history. I invite them to visit when I complete the renovations.

We left the farm in a caravan of cars and I wondered what they were thinking and feeling. And yes one of those was ‘this American is a sucker’. In my gut I don’t believe that. I feel I am a better version of myself there.

I will be tested though in the coming months renovating the property.