Buying in Santo Stefano al Mare: what overseas buyers should know
Santo Stefano al Mare is a small coastal town on the Riviera dei Fiori, best known for its marina and its position between Sanremo and Imperia. It appeals to buyers who want a compact seaside base with easy access to the water, within reach of the French border and the larger towns nearby. Overseas purchasers, including buyers from the UK, look here for seafront apartments, homes with sea views and villas on the slopes above the coast.
What buyers are looking for in Santo Stefano al Mare
Property in Santo Stefano al Mare is led by apartments near the seafront and the marina, with villas and smaller homes on the terraced hills behind. The presence of one of the larger marinas on this coast makes the town a natural choice for buyers who sail or keep a boat. Its size keeps stock relatively contained, which suits those looking for a manageable second home rather than a large resort.
Buying as an overseas buyer
UK buyers can own freely in Italy under reciprocity and will need a codice fiscale, the Italian tax code. As a visitor you can spend up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, with an elective residency visa available for longer stays. A notaio, the public notary, oversees the purchase. The main costs are the registration or purchase tax, which is lower on a main home than on a second home, plus IMU on second homes. Italian banks do lend to non-residents, usually with a larger deposit, and a local partner agent can point you to fuller detail. Start your search to see property for sale in Santo Stefano al Mare, or contact our team to be connected with a local partner agent.
Where to find property for sale in Santo Stefano al Mare
Santo Stefano al Mare sits on the Liguria coast around its marina, so much of the choice comes down to how close you want to be to the water: apartments near the seafront and harbour, or villas and terraced homes on the hillsides above with wider sea views. The marina and beaches are the focus for most buyers here.
Nearby towns broaden the options. Sanremo (San Remo) lies to the west with a fuller range of period villas and apartments, while Imperia is close to the east with the services of a larger town. Explore our collections to shortlist by the way you want to live.
