· Having lived in and loved the Emilia Romagna area for many years, we decided it is an area fresh for development.
The beautiful foothills south of Bologna gradually rise up to the majestic Apennines. There are vineyards on the lower slopes nearer the city and chestnut woodlands at higher altitudes until you reach scenery which, further away from Bologna, is quite wild.
· These valleys lie between Bologna and Florence. They are wonderful in themselves but also serve as a great starting point for both cities. Bologna is now on the world map, thanks to John Grisham's best seller, The Broker, and the city has long been well-known as Italy's gastronomic capital. It also offers a lot for visitors: a winter programme of cultural events, including opera and classical concerts with world-class musicians. There are lively cafés and bars where, for a few euros, you can have a glass of wine and a wide variety of appetizers. People in Bologna (the Bolognese) work hard and play hard and every year the city usually heads the national charts for cash spent on entertainment. There's also a summer festival of events, featuring open-air performances in the city's beautiful piazzas and guided evening visits to galleries, museums and historic sites.
· For centuries, Bologna has been a cultural cross-roads: Florence is an hour away by train or a drive through the Apennines, Venice is only two hours away and Verona is even closer, offering opera at the Arena in summer. There are other wonderful cities to visit in the Po Valley, offering art exhibitions and excellent local cuisine: Modena, Parma, Ferrara, Faenza and Ravenna are just a few.

1) The offer to buy subject to contract, or Proposta di acquisto irrevocabile

This is a formal, written offer from the buyer to purchase the property from the vendor. At this stage, it is common practice for the buyer to make a financial commitment with the payment of a small deposit, in order to demonstrate his/her serious intention to go ahead with the purchase. The offer includes the price that the buyer is willing to pay, as well as contractual clauses, milestone dates and any other special conditions that may be specified by the prospective buyer. He or she may, for example, make the offer on condition that intended planning permission will be granted, or that the property is not subject to rights of way. The intending buyer fixes a time limit to the offer (for example, ten days or two weeks) during which time the vendor may consider the proposal. It is obvious that if the conditions specified by the buyer cannot be respected, then he or she may withdraw.

2) The Preliminary Contract, known technically as the Preliminare di Vendita or more commonly as the Compromesso.

This contract is really the basis for the final stage, and is a firm commitment by both parties (vendor and buyer) to complete the transaction within a given time and at the stated price. At this stage, it is crucial that both parties are determined to proceed with the sale: if the buyer withdraws after the Preliminare, he will lose his deposit. On the other hand, if the vendor withdraws, he will have to return double the amount of the deposit to the buyer. It is at this phase that any application for a mortgage is determined and other conditions may also be laid down, such as agreement on any repairs needed or any furniture included in the purchase.

3) The definitive act of transfer or the completion, called the Rogito or Atto Notarile.

Completion takes place before a Public Notary. It is the buyer who has the right to choose which Notary. Obviously, if the buyer is not familiar with the area, he/she will probably be willing to accept the name of a Notary recommended by us or by the local Italian agent.

The Notary is responsible for checking the legal validity of the title deeds. By this stage, it should have been ascertained by the Notary, in association with the Agent and Vendor, that the vendor has legal title to the property, has no outstanding debts and has not made illegal additions to the property which do not appear in the public records.

Once the transaction has been completed, the Notary will register the new title within twenty-one days. If the buyer has applied for a mortgage, this will also be registered by the Notary.

1) At Home In Italy co. uk. Ltd. is a registered private limited company, registered no. 5665579.

2) Payment:

• If you decide to purchase one of our properties, you will be asked to pay a consultation charge to At Home In Italy.
• Fees are payable by cheque or bank transfer. Cheques should be make payable to At Home In Italy co. Uk ltd.
• Extra charges: If the vendor is selling through a local agent, commission must be paid to the local agent by the buyer. Other fees to be paid by the buyer include those for the notary (notaio) and the surveyor (geometra).

3) Purchase contract
The Client must sign the purchase agreement with At Home In Italy. By this agreement, the client:

• authorizes At Home In Italy to act on the client's behalf in negotiating with the vendor and/or vendor's agent,
• agrees not to purchase, or attempt to purchase, a property found through At Home In Italy, directly from the vendor or through the vendor's agent, without the prior agreement of At Home In Italy. In this event, the full fee due to At Home In Italy will be liable.