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Gia-Gina Across the Pond

So I've decided to follow my husband to his native Italy. Follow our adventures as we eat, drink, travel, adapt to and explore this remarkable country. Part food blog, part photo blog but mostly my rants and raves. After our two years in Italy, we relocated across the Atlantic "pond" and are back in the States.

Monday, July 17, 2006

House Hunting

Deme’s mom has a giant apartment on the top floor with an ample terrace, near a very large park and somewhat close to the center of Rome. After the birth of the baby, we also hope to move to Rome to be closer to Deme’s family but mainly to play a more active part in the lives of our niece and nephew, Ginevra (8) and Giordano (13). (BTW, Giordano is here in Torino with us for a month for intensive English lessons and to focus on better study habits.) When an apartment in the same building as Deme’s mom came up for sale, we decided to have a look at it. Being on the ground floor is no ones first choice for an apartment because of the noise, the likelihood of break-ins and the loss of privacy. Still we had a look at the place; the couple that’s living there has occupied the apartment for over 20 years. Needless to say it needed a lot of work. For 125 square meters, or 1291 square feet they were asking for 900,000 Euros! That’s about a million dollars! “Absurd” I thought. We then picked up a real estate magazine and began looking around for other apartments.

Then it struck me, Rome must be one of the most expensive places to live in the world. I just could not see living in an overpriced apartment. The cost of a little villa is much lower but also out of the city a bit and to get into town one has to contend with traffic. Like all real estate agents say, “Location, location, location” make all the difference in the world.

Then I found this article for the most overpriced cities in the U.S. Seattle is expensive and I am surprised it did not make the list.

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5 Comments:

At 4:33 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've looked at houses in Seattle, it's really hard to believe they didn't make that list.

 
At 5:38 AM, Blogger Joy said...

I'm not surprised Honolulu made the list. Good luck with your house hunting!

 
At 3:12 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

At least it's a world capital....Bologna house prices are absurd and it's just ... Bologna.

 
At 9:13 PM, Blogger Piccola said...

It's rather ridiculous, but if the price range is around there. You might have no choice but to get it if you want it in the city. For me, i'd don't mind a little travelling for cheaper and quieter lodgings.

 
At 5:49 PM, Blogger Open Roads Mama said...

Vancouver is very overprices as of now too and the prices for property are still rising very quickly. The further you go out of Downtown, the lower the prices, but they're not low-low, they're just a litttttle bit lower, crazy! Good luck in your house-searchinng!

 

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