Italy: a 'niche' market

Property investment in Italy is a "very specialised and niche market", one industry figure believes.

Steve Emmett, managing director of Brian French and Associates, explained: ‘Italy differs from many other global markets as rural areas are more popular with buyers than urban districts. Typical buyers, such as business people who have done quite well, are not always looking to maximise their rental returns.

”Many of these investors would purchase a farm house with some land that had either been recently restored or that they could restore themselves. "If they do decide to let their property, they will let them during the summer for a week or two and get something in the range of £3,000 a week."