Real estate investment in Italy: legal assistance for foreign clients

For more than ten years, lawyer Boryana Gospodinova has assisted foreign clients — individuals, companies, investors and digital nomads — in the purchase of property in Italy. She follows them at every stage of the transaction, with complete and tailored legal assistance.

Our goal is to protect the client and their investment, to prevent risks and critical issues, and to accompany them to the conclusion of the transaction with the greatest possible security.

Your investment in Italy, with a professional by your side

When you buy a property in a foreign country, the risk does not concern only the correctness of the contract.

First of all, the legal status of the property must be verified: that the seller is truly its owner; that there are no restrictions or encumbrances, such as mortgages and foreclosure proceedings; that the documentation is in order. And all the elements that can affect the security of the investment must be checked.

For this reason we consider it essential to intervene before the client takes on binding financial commitments, accompanying them from the earliest stages of the negotiation.

Our firm can become the client’s legal point of reference in Italy and coordinate, when necessary, with the notary, the real estate agency, the surveyors and the other professionals involved in the transaction.

Assistance from the first assessment to the closing

We can accompany the investor throughout the entire purchase process, up to the closing: the deed of sale signed before the notary.

In particular, we can assist the client with:

• the preliminary assessment of the real estate transaction;
• the review of the documentation relating to the property;
• the verification of the ownership of the asset;
• cadastral and mortgage registry searches, that is, the checks on the public property registers;
• the verification of mortgages, foreclosure proceedings, restrictions and other third-party rights;
• the identification of any critical issues that may affect the purchase;
• the analysis of the purchase proposal and the preliminary contract (the so-called compromesso);
• assistance in the contractual stages and in dealings with the counterparty;
• coordination with the notary and the other professionals involved;
• assistance up to the signing of the final deed;
• physical presence at the closing, if requested or necessary;
• assistance after the purchase is completed.

Naturally, the work adapts to the type of property, the structure of the transaction and the client’s needs.

Buying a home in Italy from abroad

One of our clients’ main needs is to be able to buy a property in Italy even without living permanently in the country.

For this reason we offer assistance designed for an international clientele: clear and constant communication and, as far as possible, remote management of the various stages of the transaction.

The client can count on a legal point of reference in Italy, who knows the legal context and directly pursues their interests.

This is particularly important when the purchase concerns:

• a home intended as a residence;
• a second home or a holiday home;
• a property intended for investment;
• a property purchased by a company;
• a plan to relocate to Italy;
• a real estate investment made from abroad.

Why it is important to rely on a lawyer before the purchase

A legal check at the start of the transaction can make it possible to identify in good time problems that, discovered later, could cause delays, additional costs or, in the most complex cases, the loss of money.

The goal of our assistance is not simply to check that the documents are formally correct. It is to protect the investor before the risk turns into a problem.

For this reason we analyse the transaction in the light of the client’s specific objectives and help them make informed decisions before committing their capital.

More than ten years of experience alongside investors

The experience gained over these years — first at an international firm in Rome, and since 2017 with BG Studio Legale — allows us to know the problems that can arise in a real estate transaction in Italy. And to intervene in good time, to prevent or manage them.

We work with an approach focused on the security of the investment, the prevention of risks and the successful outcome of the transaction.

The firm works with a team of specialised accountants: this way we can also offer tax assistance and complete support to the client.

In addition, we work with architects, surveyors and other professionals, who can step in when needed or when the client asks, to meet their every need.

For those buying from abroad, having trusted professionals in Italy who represent and protect their interests during the transaction is often one of the most important aspects.

Legal assistance built around your investment

Every real estate purchase is different.

For this reason we do not offer standardised assistance: we assess the specific situation, the type of property, the buyer’s needs and the objectives of the transaction.

From the first check to the closing, our firm stands by the client to make the purchase of a property in Italy safer, more informed and more efficient. With legal, tax and technical assistance tailored to the case, also thanks to the professionals we work with.

Are you considering a real estate investment in Italy?

If you are a foreign investor, a person who wishes to relocate to Italy, a digital nomad, a company or a buyer interested in a holiday home or a real estate investment, we can offer you an initial assessment of your situation.

Contact us for an initial assessment of the transaction you are considering.