International Buyers Grow in the Italian Real Estate Market

The first half of 2025 closes with rising numbers in housing requests from international buyers. This is highlighted in the latest report published by Gate-away.com, the Italian real estate portal for foreign buyers, confirming that Italy remains a highly sought-after destination for those looking for a new home abroad.

“Spring months in particular,” comments Simone Rossi, co-founder of Gate-away.com, “remain a very dynamic period in terms of property requests. It’s during this time of year that international buyers, often visiting Italy on vacation, look for their dream home, view it in person, and frequently proceed with a purchase on the spot.”

“This trend,” Rossi continues, “is confirmed by the increase in requests submitted by users while physically in Italy, which grew by +32.29% in H1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This period,” Rossi concludes, “represents a unique opportunity for real estate agencies and property sellers to connect with an international clientele.”

Where International Buyers Come From

While the United States remains at the top of the ranking with 26.08% of total requests, new trends are emerging that point to an evolving market. Notably, UK citizens recorded a +28.01% increase in requests in H1 2025 compared to H1 2024.

This growth brings the UK to 12.72% of total requests, rising to second place and overtaking Germany (7.98%), which continues its downward trend seen over the past two years. Following in the ranking are Canada (4.15%), the Netherlands (4%), and Sweden (2.66%).

A notable trend comes from parts of Central and South America: Mexico (+81.51%), Argentina (+41.18%), Chile (+69.84%), and Brazil (+19.16%). In these cases, the main motivations are reconnecting with Italian roots or reuniting with family. Buyers are mostly looking for homes under €100,000, especially apartments in Liguria, Piedmont, and Lombardy.

Also worth noting is the rising interest from the United Arab Emirates, with a +27.69% increase. Here, buyers are looking for properties over €600,000—typically farmhouses, villas, and countryside homes in need of renovation, especially in Umbria, Tuscany, Sicily, and Puglia.

Demographics of Foreign Buyers

The typical international buyer is over 56 years old (81%), with a strong presence of those over 66 (38%), up from previous surveys. Most users are married or in a relationship (78%), and one-third have dependent children. It’s not surprising, then, that retirees account for 42.77% of buyers. Among non-retirees, employees (31.10%) and self-employed individuals (23.82%) dominate. More than 40% hold a university degree.

Where They Searched for Homes in H1 2025

The most requested areas in H1 2025 were Salento, Lake Como, Lunigiana, Valle d’Itria, and Monferrato. This trend marks a shift in preferences compared to the past, when areas like Chianti, Maremma, Versilia, or Lake Garda were the undisputed leaders for second-home purchases.

Today, while Tuscany remains one of the most sought-after regions (15.11% of all searches), it’s no longer the only hot spot. Regions such as Sicily, Puglia, Piedmont, Liguria, Abruzzo, Calabria, and Umbria are seeing strong growth, thanks to their combination of natural beauty, historic cities, local cuisine, and more affordable prices compared to traditional tourist destinations.

This shift is also reflected in the new top ten most searched municipalities: Ostuni (BR), Santa Maria del Cedro (CS), Caltagirone (CT), Noto (SR), Carovigno (BR), Todi (PG), Nizza Monferrato (AT), Scalea (CS), Casciana Terme Lari (PI), and San Vito dei Normanni (BR).

Among major cities, Rome ranks first, driven by the Jubilee event, with an +80.24% increase compared to last year. Next in line are Catania (CT), Florence (FI), which grows +2.73% year-over-year, Genoa (GE), and Milan (MI), up +20.99%. Further down the list are Palermo (PA), Bari (BA) despite a +38% YoY increase, Naples (NA), Turin (TO), and Bologna (BO).

Property Values and Types Sought

The average value of properties requested in H1 2025 is €407,942, a slight increase of +0.32% compared to the same period in 2024. Most requests focus on properties under €250,000, covering more than 70% of the market. Specifically, 44.89% are for homes under €100,000, and 25.09% fall between €100,000 and €250,000. Only 6.65% of buyers are searching for properties above €1 million.

International buyers prefer properties that are already restored or habitable (61.81% of requests), though this percentage is slightly down from last year (-9.45%).

The most popular property types are: apartments (19.53%), villas (17.02%), and detached houses (13.04%). Noteworthy increases from H1 2024 include country homes (+18.41%), penthouses (+24.68%), and buildable land (+18.64%).

The main motivations for purchasing a home in Italy are: retirement (46.3%), lifestyle change (30.8%), vacations (16%), and investment (6.3%).

The internet remains the most widely used search tool, followed by real estate portals and agencies.