How to Buy a Home in Tuscany: The First Steps for International Buyers

During an initial conversation, international buyers often begin by describing the property they imagine: a farmhouse surrounded by olive trees, a home within the walls of Lucca or a villa where family and friends can gather.

But before looking at properties, there is a more important question to answer:

What should this home make possible?

Buying in Tuscany becomes much clearer when the search begins with the life, priorities and practical needs the property will need to support.

The right starting point is not a catalogue of available homes. It is a clear understanding of how the property will be used, which responsibilities it may involve and what kind of project the buyer is prepared to undertake.

This guide explains the first decisions international buyers should consider before beginning a property search in Tuscany.

Looking for a detailed overview of the entire acquisition process? Read our Complete Guide to Buying Property in Tuscany in 2026.

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Begin with the Life, Not the Listing

Property searches often begin online. A buyer saves a stone farmhouse, a villa with a swimming pool or a beautifully restored apartment in a historic centre. Within a short time, the search may include dozens of attractive but very different properties.

The problem is not a lack of choice. It is a lack of direction.

Before arranging viewings, it is useful to define what the property will need to support.

Will it be a second home used for a few months each year? A future primary residence? A place where several generations of the family can spend time together? An investment or hospitality project? A property that must be manageable from abroad?

These questions influence almost every part of the search:

- the most suitable location;

- the amount of land and maintenance involved;

- proximity to services and airports;

- the need for local property management;

- renovation tolerance;

- accessibility throughout the year;

- the professionals who may need to be involved.

We don’t start by asking what can be bought. We start by understanding the life our clients want to create.

Choose the Right Area Before the Right Property

Tuscany is not one uniform property market.

A home inside the walls of Lucca offers a different rhythm from a farmhouse in the surrounding countryside. Versilia provides access to the coast and a more seasonal lifestyle. Florence and the Chianti area attract buyers interested in culture, international connections, vineyards and hospitality projects. Val d’Orcia offers an iconic landscape, but may involve different considerations around access, planning restrictions and property management.

The most beautiful location is not necessarily the most suitable one.

A buyer planning to live in Italy throughout the year may prioritise services, community and accessibility. Someone looking for a family retreat may place greater value on outdoor space, privacy and proximity to an airport. A hospitality project requires an additional assessment of demand, operations and the property’s permitted use.

The purpose is not to identify the “best” area in general. It is to understand which area is compatible with the client’s daily life, long-term plans and level of involvement.

Tuscany is the principal area of focus for Benedux Studio. Selected projects may also be followed elsewhere in Italy when the same quality, local expertise and professional structure can be assured.

You can learn more about our approach to buying property in Tuscany and selected areas of Tuscany

Define a Realistic Overall Budget

The asking price is only one part of the financial picture.

Depending on the buyer, property and transaction, the overall budget may also need to account for:

- purchase taxes;

- notarial costs;

- real estate brokerage;

- technical and cadastral checks;

- legal or tax advice;

- surveys and specialist inspections;

- renovation or improvement work;

- furniture and equipment;

- utilities, insurance and ongoing maintenance;

- property management when the owner lives abroad.

These costs vary considerably. A restored apartment and a rural estate with land, outbuildings and private systems cannot be evaluated in the same way.

A responsible budget should therefore consider not only whether the property can be purchased, but whether it can be maintained and used comfortably after completion.

Understand the Main Stages of an Italian Purchase

The Italian purchase process commonly includes three important contractual stages:

1. the purchase proposal, or proposta d’acquisto;

2. the preliminary agreement, often called contratto preliminare or compromesso;

3. the final deed of sale, or rogito.

The exact sequence and documentation depend on the transaction. Each stage can create different commitments and financial consequences.

The notary has a central role in the final transfer of ownership, but buyers may also require independent technical, legal or tax advice depending on their nationality, circumstances and the characteristics of the property.

For this reason, questions about deposits, contractual conditions, deadlines and the timing of due diligence should be addressed before documents are signed—not after.

Identify the Professionals the Property Requires

International buyers sometimes expect one professional to answer every question. In practice, different aspects of an Italian property purchase require different expertise.

Depending on the project, the professional structure may include:

- a licensed real estate agent;

- a notary;

- a geometra, architect or engineer;

- a lawyer;

- a tax advisor or accountant;

- a building or systems specialist;

- a renovation professional;

- a property manager.

Not every purchase requires the same team.

A renovated apartment in a city centre raises different questions from a historic villa, a farmhouse with agricultural land or a property intended for hospitality use.

Every property is different. The professionals involved should reflect the actual needs of the project, not a predefined structure.

Carry Out the Right Checks Before Committing

A property may appear straightforward during a viewing while carrying a much more complex history behind it.

The checks required will vary, but they may include:

- ownership and title documentation;

- urban planning and building authorisations;

- cadastral information;

- the authorised use of buildings and outbuildings;

- landscape or heritage restrictions;

- access rights, shared roads and easements;

- utilities and private systems;

- structural conditions;

- renovation possibilities;

- the status of existing swimming pools, annexes or other structures.

These checks are particularly important for farmhouses, historic villas, rural estates and properties that have been altered over time.

A beautiful feature should never be treated as automatically compliant, and a future project should never be treated as automatically possible.

That is why no responsible advisor should give definitive technical answers during a property viewing.

The right answer comes from the appropriate professional, after reviewing the property and its documentation.

For more specific examples, read what international buyers should verify when considering a swimming pool in Tuscany, a guest house or converted outbuilding, a property requiring renovation.

You can also explore the articles in our Property Due Diligence collection.

Do Not Redesign the Property Too Early

I have seen buyers redesign an entire property in their minds within minutes of arriving.

The old barn becomes a guest house. A corner of the garden becomes a swimming pool. An unused room becomes a private studio. Some clients imagine a space for elderly parents; others are already thinking about children or grandchildren spending their summers in Tuscany.

These ideas are valuable because they reveal what the buyer truly wants from the property.

But they are not yet facts.

Before those ideas influence an offer, the buyer should understand whether they are compatible with the property’s planning history, physical characteristics, restrictions and permitted uses.

Sometimes a less spectacular property quietly supports the client’s plans far better than the home that creates the strongest first impression.

Search Beyond a Single Catalogue

The right property may be presented by B Studio Real Estate, another agency, a local professional, an existing relationship or a selected private channel.

What matters is not where the opportunity originates. It is whether the property deserves the client’s attention and whether it is compatible with the project.

A coordinated search should therefore focus on selection rather than volume.

More viewings do not necessarily produce greater clarity. A well-defined brief, careful filtering and an understanding of the local market can make the process more effective and protect the buyer’s time.

You can view a selection of properties currently presented by Benedux Studio.

How Benedux Studio Supports the Process

Benedux Studio helps clients define the search, understand which opportunities deserve attention and coordinate the professionals required around the property.

The work begins with the client’s objectives and continues through the decisions that require context, continuity and a clear overall direction.

Real estate brokerage is carried out through B Studio Real Estate when needed, while Benedux Studio coordinates the strategic direction of the overall project.

The professional team is then built around the requirements of the property and the client—not the other way around.

Discover more about the Benedux Method and why international buyers choose Benedux Studio].

Our Independent Advice

Do not begin by booking as many property viewings as possible.

Begin by defining the life, practical requirements and long-term plans the property will need to support. A clearer brief leads to a more focused search, better questions and more informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners buy property in Tuscany?

Many international buyers can purchase property in Italy, although the rules applicable to an individual buyer may depend on nationality, residency and reciprocity arrangements. The buyer should obtain appropriate legal and notarial advice for their particular circumstances.

Do I need to be in Italy throughout the purchase?

Not necessarily. Depending on the transaction and the advice received, some stages may be managed remotely through appropriate professional arrangements. Buyers should confirm the practical and legal requirements before relying on a remote process.

Should I appoint a surveyor before making an offer?

The appropriate timing depends on the property and the proposed contractual structure. Technical checks should be planned before the buyer becomes irreversibly committed. The professionals advising the buyer should clarify which checks are required and when they should take place.

Can Benedux Studio search beyond its own listings?

Yes. The search may include opportunities presented by B Studio Real Estate, other agencies, local professionals and selected private channels when appropriate. The objective is not to promote a single catalogue, but to identify opportunities compatible with the client’s project. The [properties currently presented on the website](https://www.beneduxstudio.com/en/properties) therefore represent only one part of the possible search.

When is the right time to contact Benedux Studio?

Ideally, before arranging a large number of viewings or committing to a specific property. An early conversation can help clarify the area, type of property, budget, professional structure and questions that should guide the search.

Before You Begin Your Search

The best property is not always the most spectacular one.

It is the property that supports the life, plans and responsibilities you are prepared to take on—with clarity before commitment.

The search begins with the client.

Not with a catalogue.

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Planning to Buy a Home in Tuscany?

If you are already considering a search or have a specific property in mind, tell us about the life and project you want the property to support. Benedux Studio will help you understand how to begin, which questions to ask and which professional structure may be appropriate around your search.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SEARCH

Still exploring?

Download The Benedux Guide and begin with a clear overview of the process.

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AUTHOR

By Alessandra Beneducci

Founder of Benedux Studio and co-founder of B Studio Real Estate. Alessandra defines and coordinates property strategies for Italian and international clients in Tuscany, with selected projects across Italy.

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