Victoria Nikonorova, Sales Manager at Le Rocchine that is a luxury complex in Tuscany, a joint project of the Dutch and the Italians tells ee24.com readers about the prices for a good life in the Renaissance homeland that gave Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci to the world; about increased demand for real estate in Italy among the Russians and that luxury properties in Tuscany won’t become cheaper.
- We are the developers of the premium complex Le Rocchine, located on one of the hills in the heart of Tuscany near Florence. This is a resort area of thermal springs of Montecatini and Monsummano. Our complex is a village (8 hectares), consisting of 69 villas and apartments and the central infrastructure: large swimming pool, restaurant, supermarket and gym. The complex includes park area where different kinds of sports may be practiced. Here are bike paths and wildlife area with didactic paths. Basically in Tuscany building of new housing is difficult and we are obliged to readjust the existing housing, therefore our complex is truly unique.
Building plan
- Are the customers embarrassed by the fact that you are located quite far from the sea?
- The sea is located only 60 km away. But potential buyers, especially the Russians often say: "It is so far! I want the sea to be seen from the windows". But actually it is quite close, only 45 minutes away by car. Riverside accommodation is not always the best and safest choice but rather a tourist option. When people want to settle in Tuscany, they move deeper into the region to feel the real Tuscan lifestyle.
In addition to the relative sea proximity the complex has other advantages: the thermal springs of Montecatini can be reached in 15 minutes, the nearest town of Pistoia in 10 minutes and the Tuscan capital Florence is located just 30 minutes away. This is a unique opportunity to live close to the European pearl and one of the most beautiful cities in the world; you may become familiar to the architectural masterpieces or visit to museums and concerts. By the way, some apartments offer breathtaking panoramic views to the beautiful Florence. When the weather is fine, you may clearly see the Florence Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), and it takes only an hour for winter sports fans to get from home to first-class ski slopes of Abetone.
Florence
- Is housing in this project more expensive than the average in Tuscany?
- Prices in our complex are about €3500-4000 per sq. m. (this is the average cost of property in Tuscany), but they already include the interior, stylish quality furniture, fireplace, high quality bathroom fixtures and appliances, plasma TV, refrigerator, dishwasher machine and so on. High quality natural materials are used for decoration: carrara marble, travertine and other. The area of the villas ranges from 95 up to 275 meters. The prices start from €380,000. The buyer receives not only housing, but also a spacious garden area with developed landscape (from 200 up to 1000 sq. m.).
Siena
- Who purchases this property?
- Mainly the Dutch, the Belgians, the Scandinavians, the Russians, the Italians, the Americans and the Chinese. Our target audiences are people who love Tuscany, appreciate its high quality of life, culture and art and care about their health and the health of their children.
During the May holidays we have special sales days, when we meet clients and show them the objects. And in the summer we will become even closer to Russia: Milan budget airline Air One - subsidiary of Alitalia - launches direct flights between St. Petersburg and Pisa, Pisa and Moscow.
- But Russian buyers still cannot move to Italy, because residence permit in Italy is not issued with real estate purchasing
- It is so, but we cooperate with the world famous consulting KPMG Company, that is ready to help property owners at Le Rocchine in obtaining a residence permit in Italy. However, it won’t include labor permission that may be obtained after 5 years of residence in the country in case you own a real estate. But people mostly purchase houses to spend holidays there not for a permanent residence.
- Does it happen that the Russians do not want to live next to compatriots?
- Sometimes, but it's not only about the Russians - the Dutch and the British, and other foreigners do so. Therefore, we try our project to be more or less proportional with the number of buyers from different countries. On the other hand, our customers are above-average income level - they are doctors, engineers and top managers. This are refined people interested in communication with representatives of other countries and new experiences.
- Is it difficult for foreigners to buy property in Italy through a mortgage?
- EU residents can get a mortgage but for the Russians this process is more complicated. We as developers offer own program for real estate purchase by installment even for the Russians.
- In the past few years, housing prices in Italy reduce each year by a few percent. What do you think will happen with prices in the second half of 2014?
- Prices for quality, prestigious housing in Tuscany never decrease. New housing in the region is practically not build due to the difficulty in obtaining construction license as the entire region is under the UNESCO and Italian government protection. Demand for existing housing is high, so the investments in real estate are always profitable. In addition, anyone may lease housing through the management company and receive 4.5-5 % per annum, returning the invested funds and covering maintenance costs.
- What kind of mood you were going to this exhibition and what can you say about it? (our talk took place at the exhibition in St. Petersburg in April 2014 - comments ee24.com)
- We think that even in the era of technology face – to - face communication with our target group is very important. We are looking for a unique customer and yesterday showed that exhibitions are visited not only by people who are ready to buy a cheap property in Bulgaria or somewhere in Spain, but also by those who are looking for premium options. This is not the first show where we are involved and we see good progress in our project. People come for the second time, ask about the details and we provide them with all the necessary information.
Interview: Alexander Fetyukov, ee24.com
At the photo: Victoria Nikonorova (left)