Jacky
Cavalli and her husband
Paul, both in their
fifties live in Orpington
in Kent but have always
loved Italy which probably
stems back to Paul’s
grandparents who are
Italian. Whatever the
reason, they frequently
visited for holidays but
the lure to own their own
property grew over the
years and they have now
bought a 100 year old
village house, which has
been thoroughly modernised
by previous owners, to
give them a wonderful
second home for around
£98,000. The property is
at Nobiallo near Menaggio
on Lake Como.
“We
really did our homework on
which area we wanted to
live in”, says Jacky. “We
needed to be somewhere
close to skiing areas
which is a hobby of ours,
but we also wanted
something that was equally
satisfying in the summer
months and that was
reasonably priced.
We
found Casa Travella’s web
site
www.casatravella.com
and chatted to Linda which
was of great help.”
The
couple have settled in
very well. They travel out
every month by air and
drive out three times a
year, Christmas, Easter
and Summer, for longer
breaks.
“We
absolutely love our 2nd
home and have even managed
to get a mooring for our
boat on one of the many
new pontoons which have
been built on Lake
Como. Skiing is a major
hobby for many people
resident in the UK and
Italy offers some of the
finest slopes in Europe.
“UK
residents are showing an
increasing interest in
buying near ski slopes in
Italy”, says Linda
Travella of Casa Travella,
a company specialising in
quality homes in Italy.
“It need not be expensive
but it can certainly
provide a wonderful place
for Winter visits for
owners and their families
and of course when they
are not using it, the
ability to rent the
property is enormous. For
just £71,000 (103,000
euros) you could own a
brand new property in the
pretty town of Aprica, an
area which until now, the
British have been
unaware”.
Aprica
is unspoilt, with ski runs
for all levels. The
properties are easily
accessible with a choice
of any of the three Milan
airports and a drive of
just one and a half hours
through beautiful scenic
landscapes to the slopes.
The properties are located
almost opposite the piste.
“These
are an exceptional
purchase, “continues
Linda, “and come with
mortgages of 60% over 15
years subject to
criteria.”
All
properties have a garden
or balcony and prices
start from £71,000
(103,000 euros) for a
studio, with the most
expensive two bedroom
property costing £150,000
(220,000 euros). You
can buy a property on Lake
Como from £70,000 close to
skiing areas around
Gravedona and Domaso.
Great skiing is also
available just 45 minutes
from Lake Maggiore and you
can buy a new property in
a residence with a pool
and beautiful lake view
from as little as £80,000.
Jacky
and Paul are just over an
hours drive from Madesimo
and Aprica for skiing, an
area which they absolutely
love and about two hours
from the larger resorts of
Livigno and St. Moritz
with plenty of good ski
runs. “It was one of the
best decisions of our
life”, concluded Jacky.
“For just under £100,000
we have completely turned
our lives around and now
constantly look forward to
the next trip out”.
Concluded Linda, “Italy is
a year round destination
because when the skiing
season is over, it
provides fabulous other
outdoor pursuits making a
property here valuable in
terms of rental income.”
For further informationl:
lindatravella@hotmail.co.uk