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A Superb Restored Historic Villa with Contemporary Interior
€1,950,000
$2,125,500
€
$
Fauglia, Tuscany
7
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Ref #: 6322
Siena, TuscanyRef #: 6322
DRONE:
Wonderful Castle, the scene of frequent battles since the 12th century, today an important reality in the production of wines famous all over the world and an extraordinary accommodation facility where the flavour of the past blends in harmony with today’s comforts, surrounded by a historic park and an Italian garden, and the company vineyards that frame the panoramic view of Siena.
The locality has very ancient origins and was mentioned for the first time in 1189 in a papal bull of Clement III addressed to Bono, bishop of Siena, with which he was given the rights to the castle, which was set on fire and semi-destroyed by the Florentines in 1259 before the bloody battle of Monteaperti. Its name therefore derives from the strategic position of the site, which dominates the Val d’Arbia, in a border area where, over the centuries, Sienese, Florentines and Aretini clashed on several occasions. The Castle was the scene of frequent battles since the 12th century, a period to which a wooden shield depicting a burning tower dates back. In addition, the town boasts a long winemaking tradition. The Terre di Siena, traditionally, enjoy an extraordinary notoriety thanks to it’s denominations of controlled and guaranteed origin famous all over the world, such as Chianti Colli Senesi and Chianti Superiore.
An avenue of cypresses leads to the castle, a relaxing environment with unspoiled nature, dating back to the 12th century, it was an outpost of the Sienese militias who had to guarantee the defense of the city of Siena. Inside, the rooms and a suite have been restored in order to make guests relive the traditions and atmosphere of a period residence without sacrificing comfort and elegance. A suite and two apartments have been created around the Castle, in the expertly restored ancient farmhouses, to ensure maximum independence and privacy for guests. Also in the structure there are large common areas for accommodation, reception rooms for parties of the highest level, restaurant with a panoramic terrace overlooking the city of Siena and the cellar.
Very warm and expertly restored environments, where every single detail brings back to the old days but at the same time blends in harmony with today’s comforts – the typical Tuscan rafter ceiling and the ancient terracotta floor, small grey drawings on the walls, floral fabrics and bathrooms with marble sink tops, the presence of stone walls and brick vaults skilfully enhanced by a careful renovation
The winery is located on the splendid Sienese hills, the native vines of the area, including Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo and Colorino, are grown according to the most modern technologies. In support of the important Senarum Vinea project, the company is the custodian of seven indigenous varieties, formerly cultivated around the city of Siena. The ancient vines, five reds, Mammolo, Gorgottesco, Canina, Prugnolo Gentile and Giacche and two whites, San Colombano and Procanico, are destined to become, after careful micro-vinifications, “The Wine of Siena”. The vineyards are located on soils that, thanks to the presence of clays, are able to maintain the humidity necessary to ensure constant quality in wine production, allowing the plants to survive even in hot summers without rain.
The estate develops around the core of the buildings for an area of about 44 hectares, with vineyards, olive groves, woods and arable land. Large green areas, a splendid swimming pool in the olive grove, from which you can enjoy the splendid scenery of the Crete Senesi and Monte Amiata.
Potential use
An excellent solution for those who would like to continue their business in the wine production and hospitality sector, but which can also become a top-level private residence surrounded by own land.
Address: Siena, Tuscany
Location type: Rural
Condition: Restored
Bedrooms: 30
Bathrooms: 20
Property size: 2980 sq meters
Land size: 44 hectares
A notary is a qualified lawyer who is employed by the Italian government. When you are buying Italian property, it is a notary who conducts the legal transfer of a property from vendor to buyer, and prepares the deed of sale, checks there are no charges on the property, title issues and with the assistance of a technician such as a geometra or architect, checks the property conforms to all planning issues.
It is always the buyer and not the vendor who pays the purchase taxes due and who pays the notary fees also. This means that it is up to the buyer which notary is used. In practice it is usually one of the local notaries and we can recommend which one to use and which one is cheapest, as notary prices do vary.
We provide a detailed list of all fees and taxes (including the notary’s quote) before you sign any contracts.
Translator – if you do not speak fluent, enough to understand detailed legal contracts, you will need to have a translator at the notary deed. Your agent or the notary will usually arrange this so you don’t need to worry about it. The cost varies but is often 200-300 euros. This can sometimes be shared with the vendor if they are also non fluent in Italian.
This depends firstly on two things.
A. Are you buying as a resident or a non resident?
B. Are you buying from private individuals or from a company?
If you are buying from private individuals, then the taxes you pay are based on the cadastral value – a nominal value which each property has and which depends on its size, location, standard etc – nothing to do with the market value.
Example 1:
House price agreed €100,000.
Property belongs to private sellers.
Cadastral value of the property €32,000.
Let’s say you intend buying the house as a non resident (.ie. you do not intend moving to Italy permanently and applying for residency).
Taxes payable are 9% on cadastral value €32,000 so €2,880 plus a few smaller fixed taxes.
Or, if you intend moving to live in the house permanently, applying for Italian residency, then as long as you don’t already own another property in Italy;
Taxes payable are 2% on cadastral value €32,000 so €640 plus a few smaller fixed taxes. A minimum figure may be payable.
Please note, you could buy the house as a resident and pay the lower rate of tax if you intend moving there and obtaining residency within the next 18 months. Don’t be tempted to do this unless you are definitely sure you will become a resident. If you then do not, you need to pay the difference in taxes plus a penalty of around 30%.
If there is substantial land (not just a garden) with the property, then 15% is payable on the value attributed to the land, which can be quite low, eg a value of €15,000 could be attributed to the land so 15% of 15,000 = €2,250 would be the tax on the land.
Example 2:
House price €100,000
Property is being sold by a company
Cadastral value of the property is €32,000
Let’s say you intend buying the house as a non resident (i.e. you do not intend moving to Italy permanently and applying for residency).
Taxes payable are 10% VAT on full market price €100,000 so €10,000 plus a few smaller fixed taxes.
Or, if you intend moving to live in the house permanently, applying for Italian residency, then as long as you don’t already own another property in Italy,
Taxes payable are 4% VAT on €100,000 so €4,000 plus a few smaller fixed taxes.
Once we know
– which house you want to buy, its cadastral value and who owns it (company/individual)
– whether you intend to buy as a resident/non resident and if it’s your first property in Italy
only then can we ask the notary to provide a quote for the precise taxes payable.
Other circumstances
Then of course there are other scenarios.
If the value of the property you want to buy is very low (eg €50,000) then purchase costs are likely to be a higher percentage as there are set minimums to pay for all fees and taxes. So on a €50,000 house, you are likely to pay 12-15% instead of 10% (non resident).
You might want to buy a property (being sold by private individuals) with your company. Taxes are considerably higher in this case, as they would be 9% on the sale price (not on the cadastral value). So it’s cheaper to buy a privately owned property as a private individual, not as a company.
But, in the case of a country property which is a farm/winery/agriturismo, these are often owned by a farming company (azienda agricola) , which has considerable tax advantages as you can buy the farm and pay just 0-1% (depending on the circumstances) on the purchase price in tax.
Taxes would be different for a commercial purchase, eg if your company is buying an Italian company (ie a farm or other company). Buying the shares of a company usually meets zero taxes, just a few fixed fees, and notary and accountancy fees.
The above is a guide, and once you have found a property you are interested in buying, we can obtain a notary quote for you, with a full breakdown of the taxes and fees due.
Notary fees – approx 1-2%, more for a lower priced property due to some fixed taxes.
Agency fees – in Italy both buyer and seller pay the agent. These are payable to the Italian agent (one of our partners) you view the house with at compromesso (preliminary contract) stage and for each party are usually 3% plus VAT. VAT is 22% in Italy. Minimums apply. Nothing is payable to Casa Tuscany so you will not pay double the fees, you will just have double the assistance!
Compromesso registration fees – approx €380 plus a part payment of taxes which is deducted from the total taxes due at completion.
Translator for the deed signing at the notary’s office. Required if you do not speak Italian well enough to understand legal deeds. Approx cost €250 – €350 depending on the notary.
Technical report for the notary. Checks all the planning issues of the property, making sure it matches the official plans, no works have been carried out without permission, gathers all previous permits, checks the house is sellable and not illegal in any way. Carried out by a geometra, architect or engineer and costs vary considerably, a minimum of €761 including VAT/ Please note this report is NOT a structural survey, that is an optional additional report you may wish to instruct.
Local council tax – IMU (formerly ICI) – payable only by non residents. This needs to be paid twice a year at the post office – no bill is sent. Most people use a local accountant or property manager to calculate it.
Refuse tax (TARI)
In some areas, mountain community tax.
If you buy a property which is part of a condominium, e.g. with shared pool and grounds, lighting etc, then there will be annual condominium fees to pay which usually range from about €200 to €1000/year unless it is a particularly luxurious property with many amenities in which case costs could be higher.
Utilities
You don’t really need an Italian bank account for buying a property in Italy any more as money is usually sent by bank transfer, although some notaries insist the funds are sent from an Italian account set up by you.
You could of course open an account to handle bills but bear in mind that some utilities companies refuse to arrange direct debits for non resident accounts, and some bills cannot be paid by direct debit.
You could always pay your bills online or if you have a property manager then send them the funds for settling all the bills.
If you do intend opening an Italian bank account, bear in mind that Italian bank charges are high . Usually there is a monthly fee to pay, plus charges for receiving money, paying bills, sending statements, etc etc.
