2 Years Living in Italy as Expats: The Real Truth

Thank you Brad, enjoy your life in Italy, it’s a beautiful place to live.

Hey Brad. Thanks for this very informative video. Have you been able to get an Italian driver’s license? My understanding is that in order to purchase a car in Italy you need an Italian DL. Is this true? Thanks in advance.

My cousins gave me a birth certificate from my mother who passed away a few years ago in Sicily. I was born in new jersey and I was wondering how will this work if I move to Italy? Pass ports etc.

Hi Brad. Sorry you have encountered so many challenges with your home purchase. You and Olivia must really love the house to still be working on closing. Wishing you all the best with this. 🙏🏻🩵

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Thank you Brad for your advice. What if you are a west European citizen?

Ignorant question, is it beneficial to go with a company or local legal counsel in order to get some of these things done faster? Some countries, like Thailand, have businesses that can mean the difference between getting some done 5 to 10 times faster!?! Thanks for the video, never purchase a home that hasn't been inspected and passed!

Non si capisce perché uno straniero non comunitario debba poter vivere facilmente in Italia. Negli USA succede forse il contrario? Non mi risulta proprio. Adesso poi con Trump....

great, as always. Thanks Brad. See, I told you you could get a loan.

Mr Brad,.you said one time that you still have family over here. Do you go bsck and forth often?

Appreciate an honest video on some of the issues that may be encountered.

We have lived 6.5 years in Bavaria Germany and we have gotten our 3rd temp residence card, for another 3 years. We're retired and it takes about 6 to 7 weeks after applying. We love it here, do not speak German, but do okay with eveything. Love traveling Europe! Maybe we see you! Caio!

Grazie Brad, it's always helpful to hear about how it all gets done (or not!). Just getting an appointment for a visa interview is impossible now in many US Italian consulates...one needn't be on Italian soil for the bureaucratic frustration to take its toll!

I really don’t get it how do buying property and move to a Country without residency?? I personal don’t watch YouTube to listening complaints.good luck 🍀

Your advice is so invaluable!. I thank you greatly for it!.

I really enjoy your videos. I have been a licensed real estate broker for almost 40 years in NY. Both me and my husband have Italian citizenship. If I could be sure that we would be able to do home hemodialysis (my husband) in Montepulciano, we would seriously consider leaving the US. Things here are crazy. We cannot travel easily, so I would need assurance that he would be OK. I am sorry to hear about your troubles with "abusivi". Sometimes people in Italy think that they will stay in a home forever, and they don't think about the consequences of doing work without a permit. It also happens in the US, and it can hold up closing too. Good luck to you both and continue to enjoy la dolce vita con qualche pieghe.

Hello Brad,
I have my EU citizenship through Ireland. I looked into moving to Ireland, which is a beautiful country with amazing people. However, they are having a huge housing crisis there. My question is my significant other (we are not married) wanted to move to Italy, I am hearing different things online about how easy it would be to get his visa if we get married. I was wondering if you have any insight into that scenario? I definitely would rent 1st. We have money to buy, but I want to see what area will fit us best. We have been to Italy, but it has been a while. Thanks. Great video. You are direct, and we appreciate the honesty. I just dont think I can take 3.5 more years here in the US. 😢

I’m sorry, but I love your passive political comments about the US! 😂

Never buy a property that isn't properly registered. That's why notaries exist: to check the accuracy of contracts, in the interests of both parties. In any case, violations can be remedied. If you need advice, you can contact your notary; if you want to consult another, my sister is a notary in Prato.

Brutal honesty is best! I agree, there is no place I’d rather live. My granddaughter has a condition that keeps me from moving from the racist US. At least for now. One day, maybe, the dream will be my reality. Keep these videos coming. Love them!

Thanks Brad for your honesty! I’m a bit worried about the value of the dollar. 😩 I live in Italy, and hope it doesn’t drop much further. When i moved to Europe 6.5 years ago, it was about 1.18.

One Question, why you are not transfering your us dollars in euros right now? 😮

Great update Brad. Really. Non importa: queste frustrazioni impallidiscono quando vivi il tuo sogno. Sei un'ispirazione. Grazie mille. Keep it up!!

Great to see your new video today, Brad. Always learning and enjoying these. Stay well, and best regards.

It is possible that if the municipality does not accept the amnesty requests for the illegally built parts of the house they will have to be demolished

You give great insight on how it would be to move to Italy. I always say I want to move to Italy someday but it seems to be such a hassle to get a visa. The cost of living is lower than here in the US, however can I find a job there? How will i survive without knowing the language? It’s just question after question.

No no your Italian is not so bad at least you can speak . i am Italian (speaking italian - valid passort codice fiscale etc - retired living in Switzerland (dual citizenship) in the process to move to Italy in 2026 but still need to decide where. Either my home town Trieste or the region Tuscany / Umbria. Will contact you by private message for more details. Thanks

So everything you're describing seems similar to the US... except for the healthcare system. In the US, if you need something from the feds, like dealing with medicare, medicaid, social security etc, you will have to be very patient with the bureaucracy. Banks in the US won't necessarily want to give you a good mortgage if the house doesn't meet basic standards, unless you are putting down a HUGE downpayment. Most of those properties will be purchased with cash. But you give some very very good advice.... consider purchasing a property in Italy if it's only in tiptop shape. I see so many inexpensive properties, but I'm shifting my gaze to ones that look nicely updated and well cared for. Seems better to pay up front then waste years, stress and frustration, and end up paying for mistakes or unfavorable currency rates. Amirite????

I worked as a waiter in a fancy restaurant in Oakland, and one of my favorite wines to sell was from Montelpuciano. I always said the name with serious flare. Everyone loved it. Just talking about it, I swear I can still taste it.

Curious what bank you use for your home loan, looking ahead and thinking of setting up an account to build a history with them.

Great information.and greatly appreciated. Gosh, I think I would be backing out of that house purchase. Keep life simple and your health good. ❤❤❤

Great info. Thanks for sharing.

Brad, su italiano, no es horrible, it sounds cute, and perfect, congratulations!.
I really , really hope all the problems you have with the house you put an offer will be solved fast! For what i was able to see it is a very beautiful house, and you got a terrific interest rate. The only problem as you said is the currency exchange rate. Now you must tell us how much it cost you if the deal goes through, cause it will give us an idea how much a house like this can cost in an area like this. ( no secrets allowed here ! 😂)

Thanks, Brad, for your updates and info. I'm based in Australia, and I'm a dual citizen looking at retiring back at home in Sicily (Giardini Naxos/Taormina) in a few years time. The killer here is our exchange rates. The USD is almost parity, whereas the AUD is nearly 50% less, so makes moving somewhat more painful financially. Hopefully, there will be some movement in our favour, but I can't see it happen anytime soon! Thanks 🇦🇺🇮🇹

Brad thanx so much for your truth. You really have i down realistically. I am closing on my property in US on Tuesday. In order for me to qualify I have to create passive income. It's really costing me a lot of money to do this then be taxed on it and I have a great tax attorney now with the dollar is really not making it easy to do Italy. I am thinking Montenegro. I bought a flat in Abruzzo but I seriously am stopping myself from getting residency in Italy. Between the passive income then the taxes it's really expensive then the dropping dollar. I love the idea of it but I also like to travel so will go back and forth. We will see. I am moving into my other propery and have to sell it after it's done then i can decide what to do but I hear ya as far as it costing you more to buy your house, same here. I was going to buy another property in italy to rent out but I am reconsidering. Good luck on your projects. Cheers.

Brad ----in the half hour--Ive developed a very vague concept in my head--a business idea that you and Claudia could do. It would not be work with maybe half your customers/potential customers.
But it might cut about half these problems for the other half of your custmers/veiwers. and if succsessful could expand your potential custmoer base by doing exactly that.
This concept has to be more fleshed out more in my head first, let alone some basic research. But if after more thought and I get to Italy next year, you can look at it and tell me what you think.
Cheers--Love Your Videos Andrew

Why we love your channel… Honesty, and practical advice.

08:08 Your Italian healthcare costs will be increasing as the USA will no longer be subsidizing the "free" healthcare in Europe with outrageous costs on the US population.

Yeah the exchange rate is disgusting!!