The characteristics of a dream home according to Italians

If you're thinking of buying property in Italy, there are many things to keep in mind, not least the type of house you want to buy and the features you want it to have. Buying your dream home in Italy can be tricky, but we're here to help you find it by looking at the characteristics of a dream home according to Italians. A survey by Changes Unipol, carried out by Ipsos, has analysed the desires citizens in Italy regarding their homes, especially showing that after the pandemic, the majority of people have clearer ideas about what the ideal home should look like. These are the results. 

Staying at home is more important than ever

The pandemic to an extent has taken away our desire to socialise: compared to two years ago, 48% of people living in Italy spend less time at home with friends and more time alone or with household members. The home is now a more individual place, where people watch TV, read and listen to the radio (37% more often than before the pandemic), spend time with family (34% increase) and engage in hobbies, crafts, cooking and gardening (32%). With people therefore spending more time at home, making sure everything is perfect and to your taste is more important than ever. 

Home renovations in Italy

More time spent at home has prompted people in Italy to renovate their homes to make them more beautiful and more functional: in the last year, one in three Italians (32%) have replaced appliances and 23% plan to do so within the next year, while 18% have made changes to furnishings, 17% have renovated interiors and 14% exteriors. Renovation of interiors and exteriors, thanks in part to government incentives, remains on the agenda for next year for 27% and 24% of Italians respectively. Home renovation is also great way to achieve your dream home in Italy for less, by buying a cheaper property in need of some TLC, and renovating into your ideal home. 

Safety in the home

A safe home is also becoming increasingly important. 70% of those surveyed consider their area of residence to be safe, compared to only 8% who rate it as 'at risk', although this figure rises considerably in large cities such as Milan (17%) and Naples (15%). Related to this, 72% feel safe at home: the perception of being exposed to risks related to one's home, such as theft, fire or damage concerns only 3 out of 10 Italians.

The desire to move house

The certainty of changing home within the next two years is declared by only 6% of Italians, but this percentage rises significantly to 29% when we look at those who declare themselves "probably" ready to take this step. The certainty of change is most marked among the inhabitants of Turin (11%), Florence (10%) and Bari (10%).

When it comes to buying or renting in Italy, the preference for home ownership remains strong, but it is expressed by only 55% of Italians, compared to 17% who would prefer to rent: it is especially in the large cities of the Centre-North that the propensity to purchase is most marked, with percentages of between 60 and 70% (Milan in particular is in first place with 67%).

On the other hand, it is the younger Gen Z (up to 26 years of age, evidently also due to lower disposable income) who most frequently indicate - in 51% of cases - alternative housing solutions, such as renting, houses/residences with "zero worry" formulas or co-living.

Environmental impact of housing

Price remains the first criterion for choosing a new home (64%), but a strong focus on environmental impact and energy efficiency is beginning to emerge (37% of cases). Area (48%), brightness (42%) and square footage (41%) are also important. Among other factors, security (presence of cameras in common areas and a concierge service) is mentioned in only 18% of cases, in 8th place in the ranking order.

Among the inhabitants of metropolitan areas, the Veronese are the most virtuous and place low environmental impact/energy efficiency in 3rd place of the criteria, while in Naples, Bari and Palermo there is greater attention to security, indicated respectively in 22%, 31% and 29% of cases, compared to the national average. Among the different generations, it is the Baby Boomers (57-74 years old) who are most sensitive to the environment, in 46% of cases, while Generation Z is more oriented towards criteria such as safety (30%) and proximity to public transport (23%).

Living in the historic city centre? No thanks

The dream of living in city centres is one that is quickly disappearing: given the choice, only 1 out of 4 Italians (24%) would prefer to live in the city centre, compared to 40% who would much rather live in the suburbs, in order to have more space available, and 36% who would like to go out of town, in a quieter context, in contact with nature and in a larger house. The most inclined to the city centre are the young people of Gen Z (34%), while the preferences of Millennials (between 27 and 40 years old) focus on the suburbs (45%) and those of Baby Boomers on the out-of-town (43%).

The must-haves of the Italian home

What should not be missing in an Italian home? In addition to heating, which is considered indispensable by those interviewed, in terms of equipment and accessories Italians' priority is towards elements linked to the climate and the environment: the possibility of producing green energy or having energy-efficient systems is indispensable for 39%, followed by having a private garden (37%), air conditioning (32%) or a private terrace (30%).

It is above all in the metropolises of the south that air conditioning is considered essential (in Bari in 43% of cases, in Palermo in 46%), just as it is in the top three in Milan and Verona: in Florence, Naples, Bologna and Rome, on the other hand, a private terrace is preferred compared to air conditioning.

A hi-tech home, on the other hand, does not seem to be a priority for the time being, given that the latest generation TVs are indicated as a "must have" in only 19% of cases, as are home security systems (10%, but rising to 18% for Gen Z) and home automation (7%).

Find your dream home in Italy​​​​​​​

What features are you looking for your dream home? Do you want to live in the city centre or the countryside? Is sustainability and energy efficiency important to you? What about buying a house to renovate and make your own? There are endless options when it comes to buying your dream home in Italy, or even renting if you prefer, and here at idealista we're here to help.

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