Italian property auctions: how to secure homes at 25% discount

Italian real estate at auction is not a gamble but a carefully structured process. Property reaches auction for three reasons: the debtor cannot settle with creditors, a company has declared bankruptcy, or a state body is selling assets (where auction is mandatory for transparency).

The cardinal rule: your bid must not fall below 75% of the base price. If an auction is announced at €100,000, the minimum bid is €75,000. Anything lower will simply be rejected. The deposit typically amounts to 10% of the base price and must be submitted with your application in a sealed envelope.

Before bidding, you must: read the surveyor's report (which details all defects), visit the property in person, establish who is living there and when they will be evicted. All listings are published on the Ministry of Justice website, the notaries' portal and specialist platforms.

Applications are submitted either to the court or to a delegated professional, often a notary. You will need a copy of your passport, your tax identification number and funds for the deposit.

Source: Italian Lawyer Real Estate