🏠 Key Property Terms
Immobile
Literally means "immovable." In real estate, it refers to the property itself, such as a house, apartment, or villa.
Appartamento / Villa / Rustico / Casale
Appartamento: An apartment, usually in a shared building.
Villa: A detached house, often with a garden. If you see villa bifamiliare, that’s a duplex.
Terratetto: A single-family home spread over multiple levels, often sharing walls with surrounding homes, similar to a townhouse.
Rustico / Casale: A country house or farmhouse—usually old and in need of renovation.
Locali
"Locali" refers to the number of main rooms (bedroom, living room, study) but not bathrooms or kitchens (which are considered “service rooms”) or non-essential spaces like closets, entrances, and hallways. You’ll often see apartments classified as bilocali or trilocali depending on the number of main living spaces.
📄 Legal & Process Terms
Rogito (Rogito Notarile)
The final deed of sale. It’s the official document signed in front of a notary that transfers ownership.
Notaio
A notary public, but in Italy, their role is much more significant. The notaio is a neutral legal authority who ensures the sale is legal, registers the deed, and protects both parties (especially the buyer).
Compromesso (Preliminare di Vendita)
The preliminary contract. Once signed, both buyer and seller are legally committed. A deposit (usually 10–20%) is typically paid at this stage.
Caparra Confirmatoria
The deposit paid when signing the preliminary agreement. If the buyer backs out, they lose it. If the seller backs out, they must return double the amount.
🧱 Property Condition & Description
Abitabile / Abitazione da ristrutturare
Abitabile: Livable or move-in ready.
Da ristrutturare: Needs renovation, could mean anything from light cosmetic work to full structural repairs.
Superficie Commerciale vs. Superficie Calpestabile
Superficie Commerciale: Total area used for valuation (includes walls, balconies, shared spaces).
Superficie Calpestabile: Actual usable floor space.
📑 Other Helpful Terms
Catasto
The land registry office. Every property has a “visura catastale” (a cadastral record), which includes its size, use, category, and owner.
Planimetria
The floor plan of the home. You will want to see the floor plan that has been registered with the Catasto.
Conformità Urbanistica
Urban planning compliance certificate. If there have been renovations in the house and changes to the floor plan, this certificate proves that the work done corresponds to the permits that were approved.
Segnalazione Certificata di Agibilità (SCA)
A certificate of habitability. Required to legally live in the property. All new construction must receive this certificate, as well as homes that have has signification renovations and cases where there has been a change of use (ie a commercial space becoming a residential space).
Ready to decode that listing now?
Buying in Italy doesn’t have to feel like a legal maze. With the right knowledge (and the right help) you’ll be on your way to owning that dream home.
