Italian home buying trends show dip in investment purchases and rising coastal prices

According to a Tecnocasa study, investment‑driven purchases fell to 17.9% of Italian home sales in 2025, down from 19% in 2024 and returning to pre‑COVID levels. Napoli recorded the highest share of investment transactions at 37.3%, followed by Palermo (33.6%), Bari (31.0%) and Bologna (30.1%). Among major cities, Milan and Verona stayed just under 30%, while Turin, Rome, Florence and Genoa were around 22‑23%. Two‑room apartments remained the most common investment property (32.3%), with three‑room units at 27.2%. Buyers aged 45‑54 made up the largest age group (29.1%); couples and families accounted for 70.8% of investors.

In 2025, prices for homes in seaside and lake areas rose, with sea‑side values up 1.6% and lake‑side up 1.4%. Notable increases were seen around Lake Garda (+2.0%) and the Veneto coast (+3.1%). Foreign buyers accounted for 17.8% of transactions, up from 15.7% in 2024, with Polish purchasers especially active. Vacation‑home purchases comprised 6.7% of sales, primarily three‑room units, and the share of buyers using mortgage credit rose slightly to 14.2%.