Buying in Umbria: what overseas buyers should know
Umbria draws buyers who want the countryside and hill towns of central Italy with a quieter feel than its better-known neighbour. Landlocked and green, it appeals to those after a rural second home, a restoration project or a longer-term base surrounded by farmland and medieval towns. Property here is led by stone farmhouses, country residences with land, and apartments and townhouses within historic centres, positioned as a more private and affordable alternative to parts of Tuscany.
What buyers are looking for in Umbria
Demand is spread across the region's hill towns and the countryside between them. The areas around Perugia, Todi and Spoleto are long-established with international buyers, offering farmhouses to restore, part-renovated homes and turnkey residences with olive groves or land. Historic centres hold apartments and townhouses within their walls, while the surrounding valleys and ridges are where buyers find privacy and views. Renovation projects remain a strong part of the market, and much of the appeal lies in space, land and the slower rural pace.
Buying as an overseas buyer
UK buyers can own freely in Italy under reciprocity and will need a codice fiscale (an Italian tax number). As a visitor you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area, with an elective residency visa available for longer stays. A notaio (public notary) oversees the purchase. The main costs are a registration or purchase tax, which is lower for a main home than a second home, plus IMU on second homes. Italian banks lend to non-residents, usually with a larger deposit. This is a brief summary, so take local advice on your own position. Start your search to see property for sale in Umbria, or contact our team to be connected with a local partner agent.
Where to find property for sale in Umbria
Where you buy in Umbria shapes both the home and the setting. Perugia and its surrounding hills combine a lively regional capital with farmhouses and country residences a short drive out. Todi is a long favourite for its hilltop town and the countryside below it, while Spoleto to the south adds a historic centre known for its festival and homes in the valleys around it.
Property types run from stone farmhouses and estates with olive groves to part-renovated projects and apartments within walled towns. Many buyers weigh a turnkey home against a restoration, and land and privacy are often the deciding factors. Explore our collections to shortlist by the way you want to live.
