To start with, Sicily is simply gorgeous. This sun-kissed Mediterranean island is very lively, boasting amazing landscapes and dreamy sea views.
It also has two volcanoes, relatively harmless if your property isn’t too close, and able to provide the island’s inhabitants with a spectacular show occasionally.
By the way, if you are a prospective property buyer in Sicily, you’d better keep those two in mind – when they erupt, they do tend to cover the nearby villages with ash.
Buying property in Sicily – market overview
The property market is blessed with stunning opportunities framed by a backdrop of exquisite scenery, an excellent climate, and a very attractive way of life.
This is why Sicily has long been a favorite holiday home destination with Northern Italians.
In a location where house prices are low anyway, this means more value for money for foreign buyers.
Regarding non-Italian buyers, it’s a trickle rather than a flow. However, as the travel connections with the mainland are improving, the number of those interested in property investment is growing.
If you are after luxury, some exceptional period houses in southern Sicily can set you back £1 million.
If you don’t have a spare million for your perfect holiday home, then the east coast is a better location to look for property. A modern villa with a pool close to one of the beaches is likely to be less than £300,000.
Small stone houses in villages, almost all of which require extensive renovation, can be picked up for a mere £5,000 to £30,000.
Fancy a house in Sicily for 1 Euro?
In an attempt to revive the economy and increase the number of residents, a few remote villages in Sicily are running schemes selling old and very derelict houses for literally one euro.
There are, however, some conditions attached to the deal: buyers must use local builders when renovating the property and finish the renovation within three years. There is also a minimum budget the buyer should spend on renovation.
In general, there really are plenty of reasons to look more closely at Sicily if you’re after a home abroad for your own personal use, with perhaps a little bit of rental income on top, as Sicily is a very popular holiday destination both for Italians and foreign tourists.
Connection with the mainland and infrastructure
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is surrounded by a handful of smaller islands and islets.
It’s separated from the Italian mainland by the Strait of Messina, although there have been plans in the pipeline for many years to connect Sicily and Italy with a suspension bridge.
Whether these plans ever come to fruition remains to be seen.
To access the island, one can fly directly to either Falcone-Borsellino Airport in Palermo on the west of Sicily or Fontana Rossa Airport in Catania on the east side, with both airports served by daily flights from across Europe.
Alternatively, the Strait of Messina is crossed regularly by passenger and car ferry, and so getting to and from the island is relatively simple.
Depending on where you choose to hunt for property, however, you may find that road infrastructure is a little on the rough side!
Buying property in Sicily doesn’t mean acquiring an Italian lifestyle
Sicily is not Italy!
It doesn’t feel like the mainland. It doesn’t look like the mainland. Its architecture and landscapes are different and are carved from thousands of years of exciting and sometimes violent history!
The cultural mix across the island is heady in its intensity, and it is evident in everything from the way people speak to the food they cook and enjoy, from their customs to the ways they have of organizing life.
However, if you love Italy and all things Italian, it’s not so different, and you will probably adore Sicily. You really should commit to spending time exploring the island before looking at properties for sale, and get a feel for the place and how it might be to live there. Sicily is not for everyone.
The island has been repeatedly dubbed ‘the new Tuscany’ – yet, it’s nothing like Tuscany!
Yes, there has been a mini influx of foreign buyers acquiring homes on the island, but that’s about as far as the comparison can go. Once you are assured that Sicily is for you, the pros and cons of home buying get simpler to explain.
The cons of buying property in Sicily
Beware properties with “history”
Very often, properties’ historical transactions, related paperwork, and ownership haven’t been kept in order.
Homes and land on the island have traditionally always been handed down through generations of the same family.
Quite often, it’s been the case that the odd transfer transaction has ‘somehow’ missed being filed correctly, taxes have been avoided, and the path of ownership is not clear.
Therefore, foreigners buying property in Italy on the island of Sicily are very strongly advised to get independent legal advice from either a lawyer who is well-versed in Italian/Sicilian property law.
If your Italian isn’t too hot, you can find an English-speaking lawyer on the mainland.
Whilst there are, of course, well-qualified lawyers in Sicily, it’s often considered wise to put some distance between your legal affairs and where you’re going to live in Sicily.
Check the debts
It isn’t always obvious whether there are any outstanding debts on a property.
The potential existence of outstanding debts has to be investigated carefully by your lawyer. All outstanding debts or loans have to be paid off by the vendor. Otherwise, the buyer risks inheriting the debt.
Watch the buying costs
The buying costs associated with purchasing in Sicily are high – factor in at least 10% on top of the sales price just for taxes and fees.
Renovation means paperwork
If you’re going to be buying property to renovate, consider the fact that building contractors and costs are high in Sicily, and planning permission can be long and arduous to come by.
Add to this the fact that the rate at which you will be able to get things done will be far slower than you’re used to in the UK.
Luxury homes in popular locations are expensive
And the final con is that property prices for well-established homes, off-plan properties, and houses in the most desirable areas, such as to the north and east of the island, are not cheap!
With the likes of Madonna, Giorgio Armani, Julia Roberts, Mick Hucknall, and Peter Gabriel all, apparently, fans of Sicily, the island’s celebrity appeal and exclusivity are going to keep the prices in most popular locations relatively high.
Less internet, more legwork
You won’t find many property details while doing online research. Agents don’t upload multiple images and descriptions of properties, so buyers can’t approach sellers directly and leave the agent without their fees.
Also, for the same reason, viewings are always conducted together with the agent.
The pros of buying property in Sicily
Rental income opportunities
The appeal of Sicily is timeless and undeniable. This, of course, makes owning a property on the island a lifetime investment and one that can reap dividends.
A purchase should not be considered a short-term profit generator, though. Rather, any income or profits can be generated from well-located and attractive homes that can be rented out to either the Italian market or the British market.
Demand for holiday homes on the island during the long summer months is strong, and because local taxes on such income are favorable, this is an added bonus!
Good choice of property prices for every budget
There is a whole range of property types on sale in Sicily.
You can choose from abandoned homes in Salemi which can be bought for almost no money at all as long as one renovates within two years, uses local labor, and doesn’t mind that one’s living in an earthquake zone, to mansions with royal connections and with masses of land overlooking the ocean.
In other words, there are property types for all tastes and budgets.
Luxury high-end property in Sicily offers more value for money than on the Mainland.
The higher-value houses in Sicily are still cheap by overseas holiday home standards compared to mainland Italy or some other popular Mediterranean destinations.
As Sicily has only recently started to recover from the 2008 crisis, property prices have been much slower to rise than in many other Mediterranean locations. Consequently, property buyers can enjoy great value for money when purchasing a Sicilian house.
The cost of living is relatively low
When it comes to day-to-day expenses, the cost of living in Sicily is inexpensive. Just find places where locals shop and eat out, and the prices won’t disappoint you more so if you choose to live a bit further away from the big cities.
Final thoughts on buying a property in Sicily
Sicily is an appealing location in many aspects. If it feels right for you, a property purchase could provide a good investment and a great place for a holiday home or a permanent home to start a new life abroad.
Just remember when going through the house hunting and purchasing process to be patient, be sure the property is right for you, and get professional advice and help before entering into any contract.
You might find useful:
- Living In Italy – The Expats’ Essential Guide
- The Best Places To Live In Italy For Expats
- Didn’t find what you were looking for or need further advice? Contact us with your question, and we will do our best to help.
Helpful external links:
- All about one euro homes in Mussomeli, Sicily – Casa1Euro.
- Sicily property prices trend – Immobiliare.it
Nice article .
As a born in Sicily I have to confirm: Sicily is not Italy, is far beyond. With a lot of pros and some cons. The property market in the latest years increased a lot and finding the right property at the right price has become more and more difficult. For millionaires or billionaires, the problem is solved: you can find paradises for nuts, English pounds nuts. For normal people is more difficult but not impossible. You need help, as every other person who wants to buy a property out of his own country. I bought a property in London and it was a nightmare trying to understand what a Leasehold is and trying to deal with what a “standard clause” means for a smart freeholder. But Sicilians have patience, so I found a way to make them understand that being standard it doesn’t mean being right.
Same in Sicily, you need to understand the culture before “flow” into the purchasing system. You need help, especially technical help: people who have the experience to read correctly the different papers (some of them say different things) and who have the experience to predict the potential of the property. Who analyses the local market in terms of profitability, and has a mix of technical and business expertise. most foreign people buy a holiday house in Sicily and they want to know how they can pay back the investment by renting the property.
At Bureau69 we are a team of architects, engineers, and other professionals specialised in property, design, construction, and the tourist market. We speak several languages and we have worked in different countries, therefore we know the way other people think and what they expect from us.
If you are thinking of buying a property in Sicily, please contact me at bureau@bureau69.com. our website http://www.bureau69.com
We are happy to help. Sicily is welcoming!
I lived and worked Italy for a long time but moved back to U.K. a few years back. I want to go back and live in Italy but Brexit has destroyed that. I know Sicily well, I go there every year for several weeks.
My question is, if I buy and invest in a property in Sicily, can I get residency in Italy?
Hi Julian,
Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately, buying a property in Italy does not entitle you to residency. Italy’s residency laws are very strict, and you’ll need to meet certain criteria to be eligible. These include having sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family. Another option is to prove that you have bonds with Italy through family ties or cultural activities.
You can find more information in our Living In Italy guide in the residency section: https://expatra.com/guides/italy/living-in-italy-the-expats-guide/#residency-in-italy-for-non-eu-citizens.
Hope this helps
If you are looking to buy why not contact us at info@thedolcevita.co.uk .We are property finders specialising in Sicilian properties. We provide our professional services including ‘Find a Property’, negotiation and bi-lingual language support at no additional cost to what any buyer would have to pay a local agent when purchasing a property in Italy. In effect, our customer focused, friendly and efficient bi-lingual service is free .
We are here to guide and safeguard you through the buying process.
Very informative article! Sicily does indeed offer a great investment option for those seeking a rewarding challenge. The depth of culture and diversity is what makes Sicily special for me, many years ago local municipalities provided international artists with free housing within areas in need of rejuvenation – a property in return for art works which were donated to local businesses and the town hall, fabulously romantic concept! Working as the destination specialist for the award winning international real estate consultancy firm ‘Waterfront Portfolio’ I am lucky enough to visit many exotic and historical places world-wide. Sicily is one of my favorites next to Lake Maggiore and Apulia where there are some amazing investment deals too!
Great article, thank-you for put ting it together.
I am from Canada and I was wondering what’s the agencies’ responsibility since Agency fee is € 3,000.00 + VAT 22% € 660.00 Agency total cost € 3,660.00 (for cheaper properties). This is very high considering the property only costs 6000 €
Very interesting article. I’d love to contact the author. How might I do that?
Hi David,
The original article was written in 2008, and only got updated and expanded recently by a different person, so it’s a team work. Hopefully you have found it useful.
Great article, many good points to consider for the uninitiated…. thank you