The Lake Garda region is considered as one of the most beautiful places to live in Italy. The region covers parts of Veneto, Lombardy, and Trentino-Alto. It enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with scenic mountain views, clean beaches, and a host of beautiful picturesque towns and villages. Lake Garda is also the largest and most beautiful lake in Italy.
There are many reasons that would attract you to Lake Garda besides the region’s scenic landscape and availability of affordable real estate properties. For a start, most people who decide to switch countries are always driven by the need to live a quiet peaceful life away from the hustle and bustle of their native countries. If you are interested in leading a more comfortable, less dangerous, quieter, less noisy, and a high quality lifestyle, then Lake Garda is the perfect choice for you.
Why invest in Lake Garda housing market?
Real estate market in Lake Garda area provides a lucrative property investment opportunity as it actually receives thousands of tourists every year. Especially the summer months of July and August bring in hordes of tourist couples and families looking for holiday homes or villas to rent. Estimates produced by official departments claim that Lake Garda hosted 4.5 millions tourists in 2013, and the first two months of 2014 already registered a +17% compared to the same period of the previous year. This means that this trend is growing each year.
The small resort towns dotted around the lake are quite popular in water sports and other outdoor activities including sailing, mountain biking, hiking, mountain climbing, kite surfing, and windsurfing among others. You can invest in rental properties in this region and make a good profit during the summer months.
Alternatively, you can buy a house in one of the wine growing areas around Lake Garda and start a wine producing business. This is a unique venture that many hardly ever know about. If you are a wine lover with the necessary experience and knowledge in this field, then buying a house around Lake Garda could actually turn into a very lucrative opportunity.
In fact Lake Garda boasts some of the best Designation wines in Italy. One of the popular wine producing areas in this region is Valtenesi which lies on the western part of the lake and covers towns such as Manerba, Padenghe, San Felice Portese, and Moniga among others in the area between the lake and the hills of Moraine. Valtenesi has a rich history dating back to the Roman times but is famous today for production of excellent wines.
Also the northern part of the lake, belonging to the Trentino Alto Adige region, is recognized for production of excellent dry white wines while Lombardy is famous for its Garda Classico white and red wines.
Another lucrative investment in this region is the production of extra virgin olive oil. All the oil produced around Lake Garda is actually extra virgin and certified as DOP Garda. The Veronese east bank of the lake is popularly known as the Riviera of Olives and is famous for both DOC olive oil and wines including Bardolino and Bianco di Custoza.
Lake Garda real estate market
Similar to most coastal areas worldwide, in Lake Garda, properties overlooking the lake cost more than those located inland. Exclusive resorts such as Desenzano, Bardolino, Sirmione, and Lazise are among the most expensive with prices fluctuating between € 2,700 and € 3,800 per square metre. There are many apartments that come complete with a garage and swimming pool in towns like Desenzano where a new 45 to 52 square metre one with a terrace or garden goes for between € 2,900 and € 3,000 per square metre. However, luxury properties can cost as much as € 4,000 per square metre.
The areas around Manerba, Moniga, Peschiera, and Padenghe have more affordable property prices than Desenzano for instance. However, property prices remain high in these towns due to the constant flow of tourists into these areas coupled with the region’s beauty and close proximity to major cities like Verona and Milan, and the corresponding national and international airports. The closest airports include those at Verona, which is about 15 km away and Brescia-Montichiari about 30 km away. Both airports are located on the southern part of the lake and are further served by an airbus service. Around 80 km from the town of Lago is another major airport at Bergamo-Orio al Serio. You can also use personalized transfer services to and from all locations around the lake. The Milan, Venice, Linate and Malpensa airports are about 100 km away from Lake Garda.
Areas located in the Lake Garda hinterland, only a few miles from the lake, have more affordable homes with still great views of the lake. For example, in Lonato del Garda, a commune in Brescia which lies on the south-western side around 10 km from the lake, a large property of around 260 square metres with a terrace, garden, and cellar goes for € 660,000 which is equal to € 2,500 per square metre. Anyway here prices might go down by as much as 1.200 € per square metre depending on the type of property and location.
