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1 Year Apartment Needed

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Imodica
  2/10/2018 15:26 EST

We are looking for an apartment in a mid-size town to rent for 1 year. We are looking for an owner or real estate agent (speaks English). Here are our requirements:
- Located in Centro
- Furnished
- 1-2 Bedrooms / 1 Bath
- Livingroom
- Kitchen with stove and oven
- Washing machine
- Elevator if on high floor
- Internet
- Near transportation and shopping as we are not renting a car
- Balcony or outdoor yard would be a plus!
- Between 70 to 110 sq. meters

Our budget is between 550 - 750 Euros with all included.

Suggestions on locations would be welcome too!!! Thank you!

HenryGiovanni
  2/11/2018 16:39 EST

Hi Imodica,
I can't say what the rental prices are nationwide, but you can certainly find what you wish for here in Padova.

I suggest this site: https://www.idealista.it/

I think it will "link" when I close this reply. If not, then cut-and-paste.

I also find that many local Immobiliare (RE agents) don't advertise online, or are perhaps slow to get the adverts online. They constitute a good source of info for rentals, but you really have to visit them while here in person. There are LOTS of local agents.

All that said, and with some deference to other posters who will promote other areas, I can, and will, recommend Padova. My wife is from here, and I've been visiting since 2001, maybe ten times (?). Family lives here.

Padova has lots of local history: second University established in Europe (after Bologna); first woman university graduate in the world; Galileo was here (torre La Specola); Giotto painted here (Cappella degli Scrovegni); Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua ("Del Santo"); a Duomo (Catedrale- seat of the bishop); Prato Delle Valle (second largest square/piazza in Europe, after Red Square, I'm told); and tons of other things.

Plus, I can get on the train at the local stazione and be standing outside Santa Lucia on the Grande Canale in Venezia in 30 minutes or less.

The Pre-alpi (Asiago Altopiani) and Dolomiti are close for skiing (and all that winter stuff I don't do if I have a choice in the matter).

Verona is close (a Colosseo in better condition than the one in Roma, plus Romeo e Giulietta and all that); Vicenza closer (US military base). Trieste is 2 hrs drive from here. Same for most of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, which, for some reason I cannot fathom, Rick Steves avoids in every single book he writes. It's a wonderful and much-neglected area of Italia, with tons of good food and good local wine (Refosco, Prosecco, etc).

The coast of Dalmazia is within an easy day's drive. Bolzano is 3 hrs away, and the Passo Brennero (Brenner Pass, in Inglese) into Austria is not more than another hour's drive. Milano: 3 hrs. Firenze: 3 hrs (a road closure on the day I drove made it 5 hrs, but I parked the car on the A-road and wandered around on foot taking pics for 1-1/2+ hrs). Also close: Bologna, Trento, Pordenone, Ravenna, and the Mare Adriatico beaches.

That's my "short" sales pitch. Tune in for a longer speech/lecture, if you dare.

Cheers, John.

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VickieS1952
  2/13/2018 02:19 EST

Hello Imodica,

Sounds like you are doing something similar to what my husband and Iare attempting to do at almost the same time.

I won’t bore you with the details unless you want to hear more but we are looking in the Lake Garda area in a town called Desenzano. ( I agree with the other posting, although they were much better versed in the details of why this region is so attractive). We went to Venice by train this last Sunday in About 90 minutes, and Verona is about 30 minutes away.

Desenzano is roughly 30,000 and we have found rebuts in the range you are looking. We have also found 2 ( and there is probably many more) English speaking real estate / rental agencies, and they have been quite helpful. We actually put a proposal on an apartment yesterday.

The people have been very friendly, and while the Lake gets many European tourists in the summer, there are not as many Americans at all.

If you want more info please let me know.and good luck!

Vickie

AirborneSpoon
  2/13/2018 06:38 EST

John,

Pad oval is a gorgeous city with much to do. You seemed to left off two more reasons to live in padova, Ikea is located there plus you are only a 20 minute drive to Vicenza!

Imodica
  2/13/2018 11:34 EST

Thank you, Vicki, for your response. We have not yet gotten to Lake Garda area (still on our list) but I feel that would be too far north for us. We are in a situation right now that is a bit difficult. Our amended papers will be received from NY this week. We still have to get them right over to LA Italian Consulate. We need them to process these amended papers they requested be done for our citizenship asap. Knowing that won't be the case, we need to pull our paperwork and bring them to Italy to apply there now that laws have changed. We need a town that will have its own citizenship lawyer - thats why we ae loking for a mid-size town.

I think at this point we would like to be on the west coast twards the south. We have not been south of Sorrento. With no car, close proximity to train transportation is a must.

I am interested in your story and how you are spending a year - with citizenship?? Do you have a blog? Where are you from? Good luck in your journey. Would love to keep in contact. Our email is: [email protected] and our blog is: ouritalianjourney.com

Imodica
  2/13/2018 11:39 EST

Thank you John for your response. I appreciate your opinion very much. I think that city is too far north for us. We are still investigating where we want to retire and I now believe we need to be more south. We lived in Parma for 90-days and did a great deal of travel along that train route.

We are still looking at every option though and appreciate your input.

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William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
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VickieS1952
  2/16/2018 07:57 EST

Hello again, Imodica

Thank you for your response. Lake Garda is very north, but that is one of the reasons we have chosen it. We think it will provide the year-round outdoor activities ( skiing, biking, hiking, swimming) that we enjoy so much. But we all have different needs so that makes it interesting :) .

We are from Colorado and are retired. We are currently in Desenzano "house hunting" an believe we are very close to signing a rental agreement on an apartment here. Then we have to go back to the US to apply for our elective residence visa in Chicago. We are applying for the maximum they will allow re: that visa... one year.

No, we do not have citizenship and are right now just applying for the visa and then "going from there" after we have been here for a bit.

We do not have a blog, but was thinking of setting one up....what site did you use to set yours up?

Will keep in touch and will check out your blog, etc. Good luck with your papers and let us know of your progress.
Vickie

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