Why You Shouldn’t Trust Every “How to Buy a House in Italy” Blog or YouTube Channel

​A Trend Full of Myths and Half-Truths
Over the last few years, social media and YouTube have exploded with “experts” teaching Americans how to buy a home in Italy.

The problem?
Most of these creators have never bought, sold, or assisted in a real estate transaction in Italy. Many don’t speak Italian beyond pizza, pasta, buongiorno, and ciao bella — yet they’re confidently giving legal and financial advice about one of the most complex property systems in Europe.
These articles and videos often repeat the same superficial lines:

• “Closing costs are 10–12%” (which is entirely wrong!),
• “Just find an English-speaking agent” (yes, but one who also speaks Italian — and sometimes even local dialects),
• or “Just sign the preliminary contract, it’s simple” (when in fact it’s a legally binding document that needs careful drafting).

But anyone who has actually worked inside the Italian real estate system knows: the reality is far more nuanced.

Real Experience Makes All the Difference
My name is Piero Lorenzo, and I’ve been a licensed real estate broker for over 24 years --
Thirteen of them spent on the ground in Florence, Italy, primarily with local Italian buyers and sellers, and the last eleven years in California, helping Americans navigate Italian property purchases safely and confidently.
Over the decades, I’ve attended hundreds of notary closings, negotiated contracts in two languages, handled due diligence from title checks to building compliance, and guided Americans through every legal and cultural difference that makes the Italian process unique.
Every single transaction is different — and often requires creative, experience-based solutions that go far beyond what ChatGPT or a YouTube “guru” could ever suggest.
Because in this business, real-life experience — the hard-earned kind that only comes from years of doing the work — is everything.
You can’t improvise when people’s money, trust, and dreams are on the line.
There are no shortcuts. La gavetta — earning your place through experience — is crucial.

 Why Misinformation Can Cost You Thousands
When buyers rely on content made by people without professional or on-the-ground experience, they risk:

• Paying more than necessary, due to poor negotiation or misunderstanding of Italian price structures;
• Misunderstanding how taxes work — for instance, not realizing that buying from a builder involves VAT on the full price, while buying from a private seller involves a much lower registration tax based on the cadastral value.  
• Signing the wrong agreements, which fail to protect the buyer’s rights;
• Underestimating due diligence, missing crucial issues like liens, zoning violations, or unauthorized renovations.

Buying in Italy isn’t “complicated” — it’s simply different, and it requires a deep understanding of Italian real estate law, notaries, and municipal procedures.

What You Deserve Instead: Real Guidance, Not Recycled Advice
If you’re serious about purchasing property in Italy, you deserve more than copy-paste information.
You deserve real guidance from someone who:

• Speaks both languages fluently,
• Has closed transactions in both countries, and
• Understands how to protect American buyers under Italian law.

That’s what I’ve been doing for over two decades — bridging the gap between two systems to make your Italian home dream a safe, transparent, and achievable reality.

Before you follow a YouTube tutorial or a blog post written by someone who’s never seen an Italian rogito (closing deed), ask one simple question:
“Have they actually done this — or are they just explaining it?”
Because in real estate, experience isn’t optional — it’s everything.

Would you like to discuss your Italian property goals?
Visit pierolorenzorealtor.com or contact me directly to schedule a personal consultation.