Looking for a real estate attorney in Abruzzo, advice on cash transfers for purchase/bills

To search a house you can do so online or engage a real estate agent. The use of a real estate agent is however not necessary. For example I sold a house in Tuscany this past month without using one (found the buyer through word of mouth), but I used an agent to sell one in Florence a few years back. The agent basically advertises the property, shows the property to potential buyers, etc. You can also engage an agent to search for one on your behalf.

Once you find the house you want to purchase, the actual sale transaction is handled by a Notary Public (Notaio). The Notary Public in Italy is not the same as a Notary Public in America. The Notary Public in Italy is an Attorney at Law and is a Public Official. The documents s/he compiles have the value of an official public document. What the Notaio attests in the documents s/he prepares assumes a legal value, according to the law, and has a value unless it is ascertained that a criminal false act has been prepared. Any judge will consider an act of a notary as an official legal public document. The Notary, as a Public Official, therefore is the guarantor of the rights of the parties entering the contract and represents the State in that role.

The role of the Notary in a real estate transaction is mandatory.

The tasks completed by the Notary are similar to the ones carried out in the US by a variety of figures (Title company, Notary, Licensed Home inspectors etc.). The Notary engages several professionals for that role (primarily a Geometra, or surveyor).

The Notary performs the following on behalf of the contracting parties:
- Verifies the Property title of the seller
- Verifies the identity of the contracting parties
- Ascertains the presence of debtor or judgement liens on the property
- Researches and verifies the conformity of the property to the public registries and cadastral registries, to the urban zoning, and building codes (s/he will engage a Geometra for these verifications).
- Compiles the Sale Contract at the time of contract stipulation
- Acts as an impartial counsel clarifying any questions by the parties
- Collects the taxes and fees due by the parties on behalf of the State and deposits such taxes to the Italian Tax Agency.
- Deposits the Sale Act to the Public Cadastral Registry so that the ownership of the property is updated.

The choice of the Notary belongs to the BUYER. The buyer is also the one who will fully pay for the services of the notary. The cost of a notary for a real estate purchase is about 2000€-2500€. Since you are the buyer, you will be fully responsible for that payment.

The entire process before the notary takes no more than 30 minutes, and it will require all parties to sign the contract and other documents (I don't think there are more than 5 or 6 signatures to appose).

You will need the following documents:
- Identity document
- Official Codice Fiscale.

Although you can derive your codice fiscale online (it's based on your name, date of birth, place of birth) however you will need that official codice fiscale from the Italian authorities. The notary will need to make a photocopy of the Codice Fiscale Card. You can obtain that Codice Fiscale at the Italian Consulate with jurisdiction for your State. Below is the info from the Italian Consulate in San Francisco. You don't need to be an Italian citizen to get it, but you (and your spouse, in case of community property) will need it for a real estate purchase. If you are not an Italian citizen, you must specify the purpose of your needing a codice fiscale (see instructions below).
https://conssanfrancisco.esteri.it/en/servizi-consolari-e-visti/servizi-per-il-cittadino-italiano/altri-servizi/codice-fiscale/

To pay for utilities, etc. you should open a bank account in Italy. That is also possible even if you reside abroad (I have one and I use it for my transactions in Italy). Tax payments require F24 platforms not available with foreign banks.

I can't suggest an English speaking notary for Abruzzo, as I'm not from that region, but maybe you can find something online.

You don't need a lawyer. At most you might need a real estate agent or similar to search for you and act on your behalf.

I can comment on Wise.

I signed up to wise for my trip to Italy 3 years ago for credit card but are now using it to move about 20k euro a year between Europe, USA and NZ.

I find it really effective

When you sign up you can set bank accounts in a number of countries.

I have an EU, USA, Australian and NZ bank account set up

I hold balances in each account and can convert easily between them. Fees are really low compared to the alternatives.

You can transfer money back into your real accounts with low fees. Typically a few dollars.

You also get a physical debit Visa card and can set up 3 virtual cards for online payments.

I’ve found it highly effective to transfer money between US EU and NZ with transfers happening within a day

Reach out if you have more questions

All of the preceding is good advice. I am aware of the use of notaries in Italian RE transactions, I am seeking a lawyer for reviewing contracts of purchase that I may prepare as well as interpreting rules/regulations should we end up buying a condominio o apartamento. For instance, in one apartment purchase there was a clause that requires notification to all other residents if one is going to cook outdoors on their balcony. Good to know and easy to lose in a 20 page agreement in Italiano. Cellmate: What are you in for? Me: Grilled meat.

I have been using a local RE agent in Abruzzo for the last two visits. The individual that I'm working with leaves a LOT to be desired but most agents do ( I am a retired Agent/Broker, I know what I speak of). I have spoken to and chatted via whatsapp with several agents, none of whom were motivated enough to get off their butts to do any legwork. Nor do agents want to respond to online queries requesting more information about their listings. In short, I find them as a whole, spectacularly incompetent, much the same as 80% of RE agents everywhere in the US. They wish to list property, then collect the commissions without expending any effort. I find it crazy that hundreds of millions of $$ and euros are spent advertising for sales leads that no one pays any attention to. Off the soapbox.

I do have a friend that is in the construction trade who has put me together with many property sellers who are not using Agents and I may very well use that route. The main reason for buying rather than renting is that there simply is so little to rent in the province of Abruzzo. I DO NOT want to live in any city, even a small one like Chieti. Pescara is definitely out also. We also want at a minimum, 100 M sq, and a bath and a half, preferably two. Almost impossible to find. If I buy a house, I can convert it to meet my needs/wants. Also, like the idea of passing on a home in Italy for my children so they can enjoy visiting Italy.

Thank you for confirmation of WISE. I believe they offer the overall simplest means and a very low cost structure. I'm sure there are brokers who could shave something off, but I'm not sure I would want to to have to put every transaction out to bid.

I am considering getting my italian citizenship while in Italy. Looks like about 90 days compared to years in the States. I believe then I can own a vehicle WITHOUT being a "resident" (183+ days). I have no problem with paying tax in Italy as there is a reciprocating policy with the US to eliminate double taxation. And I would have the 10 year tax "honeymoon" available living in Abruzzo.

Lastly, If anyone knows of a competent RE Agent in Eastern Abruzzo I would love to have contact info.

Thanks, Darwin

This guy posts on Youtube like crazy and has for years, in one of his episodes he sits down in a cafe and goes through the whole purchase process, step by step by step. I gave up after a while but obviously it's up your alley.

Also, you should really be posting on expat sites not a tourist site.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwhpoIQdpDLQ1IgG8M7sfjQ

Phred
Can you give me some direction to a good expat site?
Thanks

I have no experience with Wise. I have a bank account with Chase in the US and they charge zero fee for international bank wire transfers for amounts over $5,000 or $5 for amounts below that figure. Obviously the transaction is not without a gain for Chase, as the bank will make money on the bid-ask spread. I generally transfer funds to my Italian banks and then use my Italian account to transact moneys with Italian parties. Once you own property in Italy, you will need to make regular payments for water and utilities (in Italy those come on a bimonthly basis), for TARI/TASI (Tassa Rifiuti e Tassa Servizi Indivisibili) tax (a municipal tax which covers garbage, street lights etc.), and IMU (Imposta Municipale Propria) tax, which is the property tax levied on houses that are not the principal residence (there is no property tax in Italy for your principal residence, unless the property is classified as luxury dwelling).
To pay taxes in Italy you need to use an F24 paper or electronic form. If you have an Italian account registered with Italian tax authorities that is simple, otherwise you need to individuate the IBAN relative to each tax and send a bank transfer to that IBAN. To pay for utilities the easiest way is the automatic payment via bank (called RID in Italian, Rapporto Interbancario Diretto, or Direct Interbank Transfer). It is probably possible to accomplish with a foreign bank, but I suppose you will have to pay recurring fees. Given the complications, I think opening an Italian bank account, once (or before) you have a property there, is the easiest route.

For acquisition of citizenship. If you are a former Italian who lost citizenship and intends to re-acquire it, moving to Italy is a requirement. If you are seeking to acquire citizenship through descent I don’t know how long it takes but apparently it depends on the Municipality where you apply, while if you apply while abroad it depends on the Consulate. I doubt it would be only 90 days. If you don’t qualify through reacquisition, or through descent, or through marriage, then you have to reside in Italy for 10 years before you can apply.

There are no limits to the amounts you can wire to a foreign account, however your financial institution will need to electronically file a CTR with FinCEN within 15 days for any international wire transfer exceeding $10,000. That is a BSA requirement. You will also need to file an FBAR with FinCEN for any foreign financial assets over $10,000 at any time during the year (FATCA requirement) as well a form 8938 with IRS with your tax return. My CPA does all of the above every year. Make sure you comply with all of that because penalties are stiff.

I am of Italian descent. My grandparents were both Italian Citizens, they moved here shortly before my father was born in 1919, then returned to live in Italy until 1924. They then returned to the United States. I did some legwork with an attorney in Italy to establish that I am entitled to birthright citizenship, however I do not know that I necessarily want to pursue that. My goal is to spend 6 months a year living in Italy. That requires vehicle ownership for me. So, my understanding is that I either need to establish residency or citizenship. Not keen on driving to Rome every 30 days to swap expensive rental cars :o(

Should certain situations come about, I may find that I wish to permanently reside in Italy. If I am either a resident or a citizen, that is simply a matter of remaining in Italy. If I am on a long term Visa I suppose there is a a process to convert to a resident.

I have a acquaintances in Abruzzo who live in England. They own a home in Abruzzo and are not "residents of Italy. Yet, they own a vehicle, registered and insured in Italy. I'm still trying to figure out how.

That is not possible.
You can own a vehicle and register a vehicle in Italy only if:
1. You are a permanent resident of Italy (regardless of your nationality).
2. You are an Italian residing abroad registered at the AIRE (Anagrafe Italiani Residenti all’Estero). In this case one would need to elect a domicile in Italy c/o a physical person, for example friend or relative, or an agency for automotive consulting (like many driving schools that perform bureaucratic activities for car owners). Ex per art 134 of the Italian vehicle code.

Some explanations are below. Your friends in Abruzzo who live in England must be Italian citizens living abroad or are residents in Italy. Or maybe they registered the vehicle in someone else’s name (an Italian resident). Legally there is no other way. A foreigner can register a vehicle as EE (escursionista estero) but only up to a year. The EE is used by foreigners who buy a car in Italy, stay in Italy for a few months, and then return to their country with the car they purchased in Italy.

https://damianianddamiani.com/it/ecco-come-uno-straniero-puo-intestare-unautomobile-in-italia-con-il-decreto-salvini/

Regarding the cost of car ownership over leasing for 5 or 6 months one has to evaluate carefully. You still have to pay for registration and insurance. Also Italy requires a full revision of cars (not just smog check) every 2 years and there are restrictions on old cars (over 10 years of age) being able to travel to many city centers, as a result depreciation costs are high. Keeping a car idle in a garage for 6 months causes issues too. All things considered, you might be better off with along term lease.

Try closed Facebook groups.
Again, inheritance laws are very important to know before you buy. People are mentioning only income tax.

I’m not sure why inheritance taxes entered this discussion. The OP is planning to buy property not to inherit property. In any case Italian inheritance tax is as follows:
1. Direct descendants (spouse, children, grandchildren). No tax for the first €1 million. 4% for values above.
2. Indirect descendants (e.g. brothers and sisters, nephew and nieces, etc.). No tax for the first €100,000, then 6% for values above.
For inherited real estate property, the value considered is the cadastral value, which is often considerably lower than the market value.

Thank you Roberto. Correct, it would not apply in my situation. Oddly enough, I was just made aware today of a property being sold by an owner. A friend of mine there who is also a building contractor pointed it out to me. Looks very promising but alas, I will not be there until October. Fingers crossed that it will still be for sale.

Yesterday, I contacted yet another Real Estate firm, this one in Ortona, via whatsapp. I explained my situation, that I have been looking for some time and am ready to buy on this trip. No reply, niente.

darwinottolini, 15 year ago I did the same thing in Budapest. Not, Italy, but I dont know if the generalities are much different.

For the deposit I flew to Hungary with just shy of $10.000 in cash in a bag tied around my waist. It was observed in LHR and I ended up dropping my drawers in the security line. I got cheers for my cartoon boxer shorts.

In Budapest I opened up a local bank account and converted the money at the bank. A few days later I wired the balance of the money to my Hungarian bank account. The attorney said that he would keep the balance in an escrow account, but again I was nervous. So I kept the money in my account and after the papers were signed we all went to the bank and I transfered the money to the seller. Today it would just be an electronic transfer in the attrorney's office.

For the attorney the real estate company recommended one. I got cold feet at the last minute and called the only person I knew in Budapest at the time and got the name of a an attoreny. I hired her to watch the real estate company's attorney. So everything was checked twice.

I was pretty niiave at the time and really bad things could have happened. I am blessed that they didnt. These days to purchase a foreign national needs state approval. Not hard or expensive but a required step that takes a few weeks.

For all the utilities, house costs, taxes, etc I hired a local apartment managment company. We also did a pretty extensive renovation and they handled that too. I found them by searching on-line and then interviewed a couple before choosing. They take care of my home to this day. They keep me legal, they speak the language so they can do trouble shooting and they take care of maintenance. Before I lived here full time, they handled short-term rentals to tourists. That took care of the cost of ownership and created a little extra for plane tickets. I live here now, know enough about the system to handle it all mysef, but their charge is so small, i just continue using them.

Its a fun adventure, good luck.

Sorry, saw the rest of your questions. The wire transfer is good for the purchase. In the EU most every significant expediture is done by wiretransfer as thoughtliessly as we hand cash to people in the states.

For day to day living I still use my US bank account and my US credit cards. I dont pay a fee on international transactions so there is not reason to do it any other way. I dont know about Italy, but here, every single bank transaction has a fee associated with it. A deposit a withdraw, a wire transfer or just to let it sit and do nothing ......... you get charged. I still have my Hungarian bank account but its got about $100 in it and I havent used it in years. i go on line from time to time to make sure everything is okay with it, but thats about it.

Unless Italy has something unique, ownig a flat will not get you residency. Thats a whole different can of worms. But do get an attorney to tell you you rights and limitations on property ownership.

Have you searched on www.immobiliare.it? Also on www.idealista.it?

Roberto, I started my search on Idealista years ago. I had traveled to Italy several times 30+ years ago and I got it into my head that when I retired, I wanted to live in Italy for one month a year. That grew to two monthly trips per year and now a desire to spend half my days there and the possibility that I may want to live there.
Anyway, for the last two years I sit down at my computer every morning with my coffee and look at the Immobiliare.it and Idealista.it listings that come in overnight. I pretty much know right where I want to be so I have my searches tailored to those areas. I just wish the Agents weren't so lazy. I'm a retired RE Agent, it' ain't that hard. Frustrating. An associate of one of my friends informally promotes for sale by owner properties there, he's pretty much the only reliable resource I have.

If you want to stay 90+ days without moving there with an elective residency visa you need to acquire citizenship through descent. That would make it easier to purchase a vehicle as an Italian living abroad. I wouldn’t search exclusively using an agent. They show you only the properties that the seller has engaged them to sell. The agent’s commission is about 2-3% of the sale value.
If you live in Italy besides income tax there is the IVAFE and the IVIE. Those are wealth taxes respectively on the value of your financial assets held abroad and on the real estate property held abroad (if you keep your house in the US). IVAFE is 0.2% of your financial assets held abroad, while IVIE is 0.76% of the property purchase value held abroad. I think you can deduct any property tax paid locally. Income tax is also very high. Basically 35% for incomes over 28,000€ and 43% for incomes over 50,000€. There is no standard deduction. Investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains) are taxed at 26% flat rate. You are taxed on your global income (including income earned in the US). If you live in Abruzzo, but in a municipality with population under 20,000, you are off the hook from both for 10 years. So make sure you check the population of the municipality (Comune) where you intend to buy.

Thanks for clarifyingItalian inheritance because just over the border in France where I live, it is cutthroat for children, even some surviving spouse, if not done right: offspring get 100k tax free and the imposition rises quickly 10, 20, 40, 60%. However, certain methods of purchasing can pass the property on tax free. Italy has some leeway, but not all countries are generous. It’s a consideration if one has children and grandchildren.

Citizenship would be nice but I also see no issues with an elective residency permit. If I'm missing something, let me know. I have the means for independent support so no problem there. But I would definitely seek citizenship while I was in Italy, rather than here. And since it takes years to do it here (incl the wait for an appt of course), that sets the timetable for being in Italy back quite a bit

miuccia I have tried everything I can think of to convince agents that I am a buyer. I explain that I know what I want, where I want it and how much I am willing to pay. I point out that I have no need of financing and can close with minimum of difficulty. And I'm not looking for one of those pie in the sky cheapo house either. But I'm not buying something that doesn't meet my needs or I don't like. I've studied the market for two years and I am realistic regarding price/value. I do have one agent that I worked with during my last trip but she is very un-aggressive and seems only interested in pushing her firm's listings. When I was a Realtor, I worked when my clients needed me. Unheard of in Italy as far as I can tell. Asking for a showing on a weekend or after 6pm is pretty much blasphemy. While in the states I email her listings I am interested in. I seldom get a response to the point where I have pretty much given up on her. A nice person, just not cut out for the RE business. YMMV

Elective Residency puts you automatically in the 'tax person' category, so make sure you elect to reside in a municipality under 20,000 pop. in a southern region.

Italian realtors working on weekends and after hours? For about 1500€ a month (net)? Do you think they are immigrants?

Have you tried Majellacase? They were the only agency that responded to my many queries, and my expat friends have also had positive experiences with them.

Also check out a private Facebook group called Abruzzo Expat Community.

I pay all my utility and tax bills with Wise, sometimes directly through IBAN transfers, sometimes through a government payment app such as IO, and sometimes with shoe leather to the post office, but all through my Wise account. After 4 years, I do not have an Italian bank account because their fees are ridiculous. Utilities are all auto-pay except the water company, which will only accept an Italian IBAN. They’re the only one, and I can pay it with Wise online, just not by automatic debit.

Are you aware that you will also need to pass an Italian driver’s license exam, in Italian, within a year of acquiring residency? Yes you can own a car if resident, but you can’t drive it legally after one year. They can impound both your American license and your car, and impose a hefty fine (e.g., 5000 Euros) if you are pulled over and found to be driving on a foreign license after a year as an official resident (whether you were physically resident or not).

And I agree with the comment above that the resale market is non-existent. Luckily I have no plans to sell in my lifetime, and I know I’ve put more money into the house than I’ll get out, but I went into it with eyes open. And I agree with you that rentals are very hard to find here.

All that said, the life in Abruzzo is wonderful. Come on over!

Additional comments: I didn’t use a lawyer, just the RE agent and a notaio, and had no issues. I signed the promesso at the notaio’s office, then sent money to an escrow account and executed a limited power of attorney for someone to represent me at the closing. I’d say the key issue is to make sure all owners have been identified and agree to the sale. Or better, to buy a house with only one or two owners (inheritance rules make multiple owners very common.)

My U.S. brokerage automatically sends my monthly withdrawal directly to Wise and it shows up like clockwork, in USD. I convert it as I need it or when the rate is favorable.

darwinottolini As you read an expat forum or two, notice how some expats get really fed up with some aspects of Italian life, be it the Residenza / Citizenship bureaucracy, the idiosyncratic daily schedule, or difficulty finding needed products or services. I suggest with respect that in buying a house you are also buying a way of life as well as an attitude toward daily living. Things are different in Italy and they are not going to change. The acceptance, forced or voluntary, can be part of the pleasure of being in the Bel Paese.

Mike’s comment is spot on. I came over to change my way of living and I don’t get riled up if I have to try the same errand three times before I get the process right. Those expats who have become friends are the ones who are also open to change, and we help each other figure out the processes instead of complaining about them. (Ok, we do have a good laugh sometimes.) I have become enmeshed in my community, including volunteering with the Civil Protection Agency, providing services for our neighbours such as driving seniors to doctor’s appointments or doing shifts as fire lookouts. I participate in the local festas and processions. I work year-round on improving my Italian skills, which were at a pretty high level before I got here. Being retired gives me the time to figure things out, but you do need a mind set that encourages learning a different way to do things.

I agree that Italian bank fees are ridiculous, but not all. Some online banks are not.
Fineco Bank has low fees, unfortunately they don’t open accounts to US residents (my mother had it and used it on her behalf when she was alive).
MedioBancaPremier (formerly CheBanca) has low fees (and you can open as a U.S. resident).
I’m thinking of switching to the latter, since my current bank (Banca Intesa San Paolo) is indeed ridiculously expensive. Unfortunately I have so many automatic payments set up with it, that changing them scares me.
I’ll also inquire into Wise, which I have opened but never used.

Yes, once you buy an old house in Italy, in a small town, it is very hard to resell it, unless you are willing to take a major hit. There is in fact no market for those old houses. Therefore every renovation you do, will never be recouped in an eventual sale. So don’t buy with the intention to flip and make a profit. You won’t, unless it’s in small towns like Montepulciano or Pienza. Even in Tuscany it is hard to sell, unless your property is in the right town. It took me over a year to sell my last house (in Tuscany), at a very low price.

Fineco will open a non-resident account now. They are quite good with full services. For a conto corrente, it's 3.95 Euro/mo. It's associated with Unicredit so quite safe. A non-resident can get a Bankomat (ATM / Debit) card from them, but not, I think, a credit card. The website is a bit idiosyncratic, but one can pay utility bills automatically and fill out and pay some tax obligations (IMU, TARI on the F24 form). Fineco works well with Wise transfers - they show up in our Fineco account before our US banks shows the deduction.

I have a debit/ATM card with Banca Intesa. I’m sure Fineco has the same.

If they open to “Yankees” like me now, then I’ll open an account. I’m familiar with their platform and I preferred it to Banca Intesa. 3.85€/mo fees is not bad compared to the 33€/qtr I pay now (plus 1€ for every bank transfer/payment, which was free with Fineco).

Don’t open with Banca Intesa.

If you are going to Abruzzo for tax reasons, you may look into Carsoli. It is under 20,000 population and only 1 hour to Rome by train along the Rome-Pescara railway (the A24 freeway is there too). Regionali Veloci stop there.

seems only interested in pushing her firm's listings.

I'm taking a stab here that Italy works like France; if so, this will explain the above. Nelly, miuccia, Roberto, Mike--please correct and tweak so it applies to Italy. This may clear up the confusion.

Sellers sign a contract with an agency. There is no multiple listing service. Agents show only what they have a signed contracts to sell. Buyer's agents are nearly non-existant except a few catering to ex-pats, who you would pay yourself for their footwork for you. Splitting the agents fee between buyer's agent and seller's agent doesn't exist because buyer's agents aren't part of the culture. So when you go to an agent, you will see only that agency's listings.

The weird part is that sellers can sign with several agencies, at least in France. I see the same properties for sale by different agencies, using different photos and even different listing prices. Italy experts, what of this applies to Italy?

Bets, There IS a sort of multi list in Italy, at least it's practiced in Abruzzo. I have had an agent show me other agency's listing. Most cooperate but some explicitly DO NOT cooperate with other agencies. I'm not sure if there is a formal structure as in the US but it's definitely there.
Anyway, I at least got an auto-reponse from Majellacase. Hopefully it gets a followup on Monday. They are close to the areas I am considering.
And the Agents definitely share in the commissions, not sure where "$1500 a month" comes into. LIke most places, the more they list and sell the more euros they make

darwinottolini because every city in every country is unique, I dont have any specific helpful advice. In broad generalities I have learned not to take any issue involving legalities for granted. What makes sense in the US will not necessarily make sense where every else you are. I hope it work out for you; and it can and it will with a little planning and determination. My similar experience has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life.

G-d Bless and good luck with reaching your goal.

I’ve used an agency only to sell, but many do represent also buyers. It is not as common as in the US as many Italians build their first condo by building it after forming a Cooperative company. Every person I know (including my parents), got their first home that way. In the US co-ops are common only in cities like New York.

Real Estate agents are often used by buyers when one has to move to a different place (often when one has to move to a different locality. agents representing buyers push their listing because it is advantageous to them. If I’m a buyer I’m supposed to pay a commission (provvigione) of about 2%-3% (negotiable) at the time of the Compromesso (preliminary agreement), which usually occurs a couple of months before the Rogito (Final Sale Contract stipulation Act with signatures by the parties before the Notary Public).. If an agent represents a seller, s/he is entitled to a provvigione of similar percent. If an agent sells the represented buyer a property for which the same agent represents also the seller, the agent makes double the money, so obviously they push their own listing first. I don’t know if there is a system similar to MLS in Italy.

Since the buyer is the one who chooses the Notaio (who is a lawyer), it is important to select the notaio who also speaks your language.

As far as choosing the person to represent you (especially if you don’t plan to be present at the Compromesso or at the Rogito), that person does not need to be a lawyer.
Lawyers are rarely used in real estate transactions in Italy, because of the presence of the figure of the “Notaio”, who is a lawyer and responsible for the legal aspects of the real estate transactions.

Please read below:
https://www.seancarlos.org/en/faq-010-lawyer-buying-property-italy