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Amanda Lamb talks about buying her property in Italy
Jonnie and Jasmine help Mary and Iain find the perfect holiday home in the country. It's a choice between the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, where they can holiday every weekend, or a flight to enjoy northern Tuscany in Italy. Will practicality win, or will they be seduced by the Italian dolce vita?
Mary and Iain Farquar live in a beautiful house in an idyllic setting on the Clyde Coast with perfect panoramic views. But as beautiful as the West of Scotland may be, the harsh weather and buckets of rain are getting them down. With their retirement approaching, the couple have decided to buy their own home, a suntrap, which they can escape to when the weather gets them down.
While the Yorkshire Dales may not be as sunny as Italy, it is within driving distance from their home, which means they can bring along their golden Labrador, Max. But in Italy not only do they get plenty of sunshine but also a lot more for their money. Will they choose home or away?
Home properties - The Dales
Yorkshire is a historic county of Northern England and the largest in Great Britain. Known in Britain as "God's own country", the county boasts some of the finest British countryside, with the Dales a designated area of natural beauty and one of England's few national parks. Because of the high tourist footfall the area is expensive for property hunters, with prices above the national average.
Away properties - Massa-Carrara
Famously described as an ‘open air museum’, Italy tops the tables for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 44 at the last count, and is the destination of choice for lovers of Renaissance art, Roman ruins and of course romance. The Province of Massa Carrera is situated in the northernmost part of Tuscany, in the centre of beautiful places such as the Golfo dei Poeti, the “Cinque Terre” and Tuscan art cities. The excellent geographical position and the exceptional variety of the territory make this part of Tuscany as a paradise, the right destination for any type of tourism, and also provide a wealth of different property options which vary greatly in price.
One busy Londoner explains now owning a share in an Italian property is the perfect antidote to her hectic lifestyle
With prices down 30 per cent, now is the time to buy a home in lovely Tuscany
There's more to the Italian lakes than Como and George Clooney
The Italian tax system can be complicated with different levels of tax applied by national, regional and local government. Although we strongly advise getting professional help, here's a short guide to what you can expect...
Our experts answer your rental questions: I have a gîte in Brittany that I would like to rent out but am unsure of a few things when it comes to asking for payment. How much should I ask for as a deposit, when should I ask for it and when should the remaining balance be paid (I’m guessing before the guests arrive, but how long before)? Also, should I take a refundable deposit to cover breakages or damage and typically under what circumstances could I justify keeping some of that deposit?
Setting up any company is a risky and complex business particularly in a foreign country. To many people looking to move abroad, a B&B seems an obvious source of income and B&B’s are becoming increasingly popular in Italy with official figures showing demand for them going up by about 10% each year...