We've recently bought a house with MCH, and the whole process has gone really well.

From our initial viewing, to the legal paperwork and final legal meeting with the notaio, Lorenza has taken us through the various stages of buying a house with patience and good humour. We were "first-time buyers", and although having lived in Italy for a few years, we knew next to nothing about buying a house here. I'm really glad we used MCH, as going through the complex legalities and bureaucracy alone would have been impossible.

It's also been a pleasure to work with Sergio on our building works. As well as a great passion for architecture - both new and traditional - he's very practical and gives excellent advice.

I'd have no hesitation recommending MCH if you're interested in buying a house in Le Marche.

Clare - UK

We also bought with MCH, and the experience was very good. The only delays were introduced by the British based internation property lawyers and mortgage brokers! I wrote a short article on our experience for an Italian property magazine; unfortunately they didn't ever get back to me. I've attached it for all to read - it might give you some guidance on your own property purchase. We too are restoring our farmhouse (near Cupramontana) with Sergio - our only drawback is we had no money left at the end of the purchase and are saving furiously to allow us to start the work in earnest! Good luck with your own dreams! Kevin

Our quest for an Italian property started in January 2004. We did all our research through magazine adverts and internet searches, finally settling on 3 property agents located in Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche. We viewed houses during the first week of March and put down a deposit on Casa Bitti, signing the Preliminare and agreeing 6 months for completion.
All the advice pointed to engaging a lawyer specialising in international property law and an international mortgage broker; from limited options we picked what we thought were the best packages.
Our first hurdle was obtaining the Fiscal Codes. Our lawyer tried and failed, delaying the mortgage which was necessary to complete the deal on 30th November. At the end of November our lawyer admitted defeat and contacted our property agent who, with apparent ease, obtained the fiscal codes! By now, we’d missed the completion date, setting another for 7th February 2005. Unfortunately, although we had laid down quite clearly the terms upon which we wished to enter into a mortgage contract, the offer that eventually came back at the end of December was unacceptable.
We had to delay completion yet again whilst we sourced another mortgage. The vendor asked for an additional payment; he was quite within his rights to keep the 20% deposit and remarket the house. Our property agent was excellent and put us in touch with Banca Toscana and the mortgage was agreed in 6 weeks at excellent interest rates. We purchased Casa Bitti on 7th March, owning a piece of Italy almost a year to the day since we saw it first!
Our main difficulties were with a lawyer that failed to obtain the fiscal codes, delaying the mortgage process, and a mortgage broker that failed to meet our stated requirements. This ensured that we missed the agreed completion date, the revised completion date, and cost us additional money.
The plus side was a property that had no ‘baggage’ and a property agent that was forever helpful and positive. Lorenza had offered to do the legal work for us within her standard agents fees and put us in touch with the bank. The only reason we didn’t take her up on her offer was suspicion fed by all the property nightmares you read about and see on TV. With hindsight we’d have left everything to her, completed on time and saved ourselves a considerable sum. I wholeheartedly recommend Marche Country Homes, and we have engaged Studio Marinell (an architectural firm) operating from the same premises, to carry out the restoration project on our home. They work to our timelines and budget, incorporate our ideas with essential work, recycle materials where possible and use trusted contractors experienced in restoration and traditional construction.
It took a year to do, but we are very happy (now) with what we have achieved. Friends tell us that they think we are brave; we tell them they can live their dream – we intend to!

Kevin Rayner - UK