Why Americans need a Human Expert, not just AI, to Buy in Italy

By Piero Lorenzo

Buying in Italy: a dream with hidden complexity
For many Americans, owning a home in Italy is the ultimate lifestyle goal — whether it’s a Tuscan farmhouse, a seaside villa in Puglia, or an apartment in Rome. But behind the dream lies a maze of laws, local customs, language barriers, and market nuances that no online guide or AI chatbot can navigate on its own.
I know, because I handle these complexities every day. I​ have been working in Italian real estate for 24 years, and I bridge not just time zones and currencies, but two very different real‑estate cultures.

What AI can (and can’t) do for a buyer
AI is an excellent tool for research — it can list regions, describe architecture styles, and explain the basics of Italian property law. But AI:

• Cannot verify the current zoning or legal status of a property.
• Cannot negotiate with a seller’s agent in Italian nuance.
• Cannot review the visura catastale or atto di provenienza for red flags.
• Cannot arrange a trusted notary, surveyor, or geometra who will actually show up on time.
• Cannot discuss safe contingencies, and many more aspects.

In short, AI can give you information. I give you results.

How I turn information into a safe purchase
Here’s what I do that no AI or search engine can replicate:

1. Pre‑screen properties — eliminating those with hidden legal or structural issues before you waste a trip.
2. Negotiate in two languages — ensuring cultural nuances work in your favor, not against you.
3. Assemble your team — notaio, lawyer, surveyor, architect, contractor — all pre‑vetted for integrity and experience.
4. Manage due diligence — from title and zoning to seismic compliance and renovation permits.
5. Handle all paperwork — codice fiscale, power of attorney, contracts in Italian and English.
6. Protect you after closing — utilities, furnishing, renovation, rental licensing if desired.

Real examples: where human expertise saves the deal

• The hidden heritage restriction: A client loved a historic villa in Umbria. The listing didn’t mention it was under strict restoration rules — I caught it before they signed, saving months of frustration.
• The zoning surprise: In Puglia, a property’s extra guesthouse turned out to be unauthorized. I negotiated a seller‑funded permit process before closing.
• The off‑market win: A Lake Como villa never hit the public listings — my network brought it to my client before competitors saw it.

The smart way to use AI
Yes — use AI to dream, research, and learn about Italy’s regions. Then bring me in to:

• Verify the facts.
• Filter the noise.
• Execute the purchase safely and efficiently.

Think of AI as your map. I’m the guide who gets you there without wrong turns.

Your next step
If you’re serious about buying in Italy, don’t risk the process to chance or partial information.
Contact me!!

​2025 Blog - By Piero Lorenzo

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