Thinking of buying real estate in Italy?

Roberto,
I'm contemplating moving back to Italia - permanently. Do you have recommendations on honest real estate firms for long term leasing? I lived in Orvieto and loved it. I'm thinking I may try something that is not so challenging to get to (walled city and winding road to get up, then creeping along the ancient lanes to get to my apartment car park). I liked the central location -- I often took a road trip without a real destination and knew I could be on either coast or up in the northern lakes or down south before dark.

I truly would like to be close to water -- a lake would be more affordable and practical than either sea. I prefer to live outside large metropolitan cities -- being able to drive to Auchon and Ikea in Rome was close enough for me!

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Caterina e Jake

I spend a ridiculous amount of time on both the immobiliare and idealista real estate sites, wishing that someday retirement will actually happen and I'll be off to Italy like a shot. I intend to follow Caterina's lead and rent for a year first, but that doesn’t slow down my fantasy home shopping. Caterina, my latest obsession is Lago d'Iseo. It seems convenient to Milan, Bergamo and most cities in the Veneto, prices are more reasonable than on other better-known lakes, and it’s stunning. Another favourite place, though the lakes are tiny, is Avigliana in Piemonte. It’s within commuter rail distance of Torino. I was very stuck on Lago d'Orta for a few years, but prices are much higher. Happy hunting!

ETA: both sites also have long-term and vacation rental listings. I have been checking out rental listings too, and there’s always something decent available longer term in the towns I’m looking in.