Who doesn’t dream of living in the Italian countryside? Luscious scenery, rolling hills, and the bright blue sun shining down for the majority of the year.
There’s a reason why Italy is a top destination for people who want a dream-like holiday and those looking to relocate.
Sardinia is a popular option for travellers due to its semi-isolation from the rest of the country, as well as its stunning landscapes and picturesque coastlines.
If you’re looking to visit or buy land in Sardinia, there are some important things that you need to know. Check out our full guide below to buying farmland in Sardinia.
Where Is Sardinia?
Sardinia is an island province of Italy located off the west coast of the mainland in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
It is the second-largest Italian island after Sicily and is designated as an autonomous province. This means that, whilst it is still part of Italy, the area is able to govern itself with regard to the law.
There are a lot of regions within Italy that have this same domestic autonomy, and it’s one of the things that make Italy so appealing to investors.
What Is The Cost Of Living In Sardinia?
Despite how idyllic Sardinia is, buying land and living there is actually comparatively cheap compared to the rest of Italy, and even Europe. This is one of the reasons that the area is becoming so popular.
Although the average wages are quite low, so is the cost of living, so luckily it all balances out.
Should I Invest In Property In Sardinia?
At the time of writing, Sardinia is a fantastic investment opportunity due to the fact that it remains something of an untapped market. The property prices are low and the demand is on the up and up.
However, something that you should keep in mind is that, as more people start flocking to the region, the market is going to begin to skyrocket.
Therefore, if you’re considering investing in some land or property in Sardinia, you should look at doing this sooner, rather than later.
Can You Buy Farmland In Sardinia?
Yes! Italy is basically considered a “no-restrictions” country when it comes to purchasing land and property, although this isn’t going to be 100% true.
There will certainly be some restrictions once you get down to the nitty-gritty, but, on the whole, foreigners are able to purchase land and farmland across Italy with no restrictions.
Has Brexit Changed Anything?
Yes, but only if you’re new to purchasing land or property. If you bought your property before the end of the Brexit transition period (January 2021) then you won’t have any new permits or registration paperwork to complete.
However, if you’re looking to purchase property in Sardinia post-January 2021 then you will be required to prove that you have the right to withdraw from the UK which might mean that you need to submit a EU residency certificate or something of a similar nature.
This shouldn’t complicate things too much but might prolong the process and require more communication with your local council.
What About Getting Citizenship?
Once you’ve purchased your property, you might think that this would entitle you to Italian citizenship. However, the whole business is a lot more complicated.
You will need to go down the route of Naturalisation (meaning that you have lived in Italy for a required period of time, or you had forefathers who were citizens of Italy), unless you’re going to marry somebody with an Italian citizenship.
You will need to research what visas you will be able to apply for prior to spending any prolonged periods in Italy.
However, in general, if you are visiting from the UK, you are able to spend up to 90 days in Italy without a visa, or 3 months if you’re visiting from the United States. Any longer than this, and you will need to apply for a working visa.
How to Buy Farmland in Sardinia
Luckily, there are many ways that you can go about purchasing property and land in Sardinia that won’t require you to stay in Sardinia whilst you go through the process of buying. Let’s go through a few of the options here.
Property Websites
The first place that you’ll probably start looking at when the idea of purchasing land in Sardinia first crosses your mind is the internet.
There are loads of Italian property websites that you can check out to get an idea of what is available and what kind of prices you will be looking at.
Bear in mind that these websites aren’t very personal and are better for a general search, rather than actually making any purchases.
Property Agencies
If you’re ready to take the next step, contacting a property agency is going to be your best bet. Because foreigners and tourists buy a lot of property and land across the entire country, they know exactly what they need to do in order to help you on your journey to buying land in Sardinia.
Not only will they be able to help you find the perfect property, they will also be able to advise you with any advice that you need to be aware of whilst you go through the process.
What to Avoid
When purchasing land in Sardinia, there are a few important bits of information that you need to be aware of. For example, never buy property you haven’t viewed.
You might feel as though you’ve seen everything you need online or in photos, but you can never be sure that the property is everything you’ve been told unless you actually get to view it in person.
Also, be careful to avoid sellers who won’t meet you in person. You will need to ensure that you use your intuition and avoid anything that feels weird or off.
You should expect that your agent or seller actively wants to sell the property, so if you sense apprehension or hesitation on their part, be very wary.
You should also keep in mind to be wary of a bargain that seems too good to be true. Even if everyone loves a bargain, it’s important to know what you’re signing up for.
Some people want to buy a fixer-upper, but a house with no working plumbing, electricity, or structural damage might be beyond what you were expecting.
If you’re buying a property for a small price, make sure that you understand exactly why it’s that cheap.
Conclusion
There are many different avenues and options that you can consider before buying farmland in Sardinia, but hopefully, you feel more confident about the process following this article.
If you have specific questions or are ready to make the first step into purchasing land, then you should talk to a property agent and discuss your next move.
Sardinia is a truly gorgeous region, ripe with farmland that is just waiting for development – could you be just what the landscape is waiting for?
