01/06/2026
A fascinating new report from Gate-away.com, authored by Emanuela Voltattorni, reveals the profile of the international buyer looking for a home in Italy in 2026.
Key insights:
🇮🇹 Buying a home in Italy is increasingly about lifestyle, not investment. Only 4% of buyers cite financial returns as their primary motivation.
🏡 The typical buyer is:
• Over 55 years old (83%)
• Well-educated (51% hold a university degree)
• Married or in a long-term relationship (75%)
• Primarily from the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, and Northern Europe
🌿 Why Italy?
• Quality of life (71%)
• Climate and nature (47%)
• Art, culture, and traditions (47%)
• Italian heritage and family roots (30%)
💶 Contrary to popular belief, most foreign buyers are not searching for luxury estates:
• 72% have budgets below €500,000
• The largest segment is looking between €100,000 and €250,000
💻 The buying journey starts online:
• 89% use search engines
• 49% use property portals
• Local agencies typically enter the process later
⚠️ The biggest barriers are not global events or market uncertainty, but:
• Bureaucracy (48%)
• Complex taxation (39%)
• Uncertainty around the purchasing process
Perhaps the most interesting trend: Italy is no longer viewed primarily as a retirement destination. More and more buyers see it as an opportunity for a complete lifestyle change and improved wellbeing.
For those of us working with international property buyers, the message is clear: transparency, expert guidance, and simplifying the buying process have become more important than ever.
Source: Gate-away.com, "Identikit 2026: Chi è e cosa cerca il compratore estero che vuole una casa in Italia" by Emanuela Voltattorni.