What We Do
Buying an income-producing property in a foreign country is complex. Language barriers, unfamiliar legal frameworks, opaque pricing, and difficulty verifying actual revenue make it risky for overseas investors. We bridge that gap. Our buy-to-let acquisition advisory service handles the entire sourcing and due diligence process, connecting you with verified, functioning properties that match your investment criteria.
We focus exclusively on properties with existing revenue: operational hotels and B&Bs with guest history, established Airbnb apartments with booking track records, agriturismi with seasonal income, and long-term rental portfolios with tenant histories. We do not source land, development projects, or properties requiring conversion. You are buying a business that already works.
Property Types We Source
Hotels & B&Bs
Licensed accommodation businesses with established guest flow, online reviews, and verifiable occupancy data. From boutique 5-room B&Bs to 20+ room hotels.
Airbnb & STR
Furnished apartments and houses with active short-term rental listings, booking history, and CIN registration. Single units or multi-property portfolios.
Agriturismi
Farm-stay operations with guest accommodation, often including agricultural income (olive oil, wine, produce). Seasonal but high-margin businesses.
Long-Term Rentals
Residential rental portfolios with existing tenants and lease agreements. Steady income, lower management overhead, predictable cash flow.
Pricing
The deposit covers our initial market research, property sourcing, and preliminary due diligence across your target regions. If we cannot find a property matching your criteria, the deposit is refundable minus reasonable research costs (typically under EUR 100). The success fee is payable only when we present a property you choose to proceed with.
How It Works
Brief & Deposit
You tell us your budget, target regions, property type, and yield expectations. You pay the EUR 490 deposit.
Search & Source
We research the market, contact agents and owners, and identify properties matching your brief. Typically 2-4 weeks.
Due Diligence
We verify revenue claims, check licensing, review operational costs, and assess the property's investment fundamentals.
Shortlist & Negotiate
We present 2-5 vetted options with full financial breakdowns. If you proceed, we negotiate with the seller on your behalf.
What's Included
- Market analysis of your target region(s) with current pricing and yield data
- Property sourcing from our network of Italian agents, notaries, and direct owner contacts
- Revenue verification: we request and review booking data, tax returns, and occupancy records
- Operational assessment: staffing, maintenance costs, licensing status, regulatory compliance
- Yield calculation with realistic projections based on verified data (not seller estimates)
- Negotiation support with sellers and their agents
- Introductions to trusted English-speaking Italian property lawyers and mortgage brokers
- Post-acquisition guidance: property management company introductions, CIN registration advice, tax obligations overview
What's Not Included
- Legal services (contract review, notaio fees, cadastral checks): we connect you with qualified lawyers
- Financial advice or mortgage arrangement: we introduce you to brokers but do not advise
- Property management after purchase: we can recommend management companies
- Renovation or construction project management
- Tax advice: we recommend English-speaking Italian accountants (commercialisti)
Regions We Cover
We source properties across all of Italy, with particular depth in: Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, Tuscany (including hilltop towns like Cortona, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Lucca, Volterra), the Italian Lakes (Como, Garda, Maggiore), and Liguria (Cinque Terre coast). If your target region is not listed, contact us to discuss availability.
Who This Service Is For
This service suits overseas investors who want to acquire income-producing Italian property but lack the local knowledge, language skills, or network to source and vet deals independently. Common profiles include: UK and US investors seeking Airbnb portfolios in Italian cities, retirees looking for a small hotel or B&B as a lifestyle business, property funds acquiring multi-unit rental portfolios, and entrepreneurs seeking agriturismi with tourism and agricultural income.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of buy-to-let properties do you help investors acquire?
We source functioning income-producing properties across Italy: licensed hotels and B&Bs, established Airbnb/short-term rental apartments, agriturismi (farm stays) with existing guest operations, and long-term rental portfolios. All properties we present have existing revenue history and operational track records.
How does the pricing work?
You pay a EUR 490 deposit to begin the search. This covers our initial research, market analysis, and property sourcing across your target regions. A EUR 1,000 success fee is payable only when we find a property that meets your criteria and you proceed with the acquisition. If we cannot find a suitable property, the deposit is refundable minus reasonable research costs.
Do you handle the legal and financial aspects of the purchase?
We are not lawyers or financial advisors. We handle property sourcing, due diligence on operational performance, yield verification, and negotiation with sellers. For legal work (contracts, notaio, cadastral checks), we connect you with trusted English-speaking Italian property lawyers. For financing, we can introduce you to Italian mortgage brokers experienced with foreign buyers.
How long does the process take?
From initial brief to shortlist presentation: typically 2-4 weeks. From shortlist to agreed deal: depends on negotiation complexity, usually 2-6 weeks. The full process from deposit to closing typically takes 2-4 months, though this depends on legal and financing timelines.
What if you can't find a suitable property?
If after thorough searching we cannot identify properties matching your criteria, we will tell you directly and refund your deposit minus reasonable research costs (typically under EUR 100). We do not present unsuitable properties to justify the fee.
Ready to Start?
Email us at info@directbookingsitaly.com with your budget range, target region(s), preferred property type, and any specific requirements. We will respond within 48 hours with next steps.
Get Started