Understanding the Italian Real Estate Market: Where and How to Get Truly Trained
Frank Salvini
When I realized that real estate wasn’t just a passion but a true entrepreneurial opportunity, I also understood that simply “looking around” wasn’t enough. It required method, time, and study. And most importantly, it was crucial to know where to look for the right information. In an era where everything seems just a click away, being able to distinguish between useful knowledge and background noise has become a real skill.
The first step, even before opening a portal or reading a report, is to gain clarity within yourself: do I just want to dream about houses, or am I really willing to step into the game? Investing in real estate demands responsibility, daily study, and critical thinking.
One of the most common mistakes (which I made too) is listening to anyone who seems to know something: the “expert” friend, the generic real estate agent, the all-purpose consultant. The result? A lot of confusion. Over time, I realized that a serious, structured approach is needed. Studying the market is not about reading headlines on social media but analyzing data, making comparisons, and visiting properties in person.
A turning point for me was using real estate portals—but using them the right way. Not to casually browse listings, but to spot patterns, compare prices, track how long properties stay online, and verify consistency between price and features. I started to build my own map of the territory, with logic and method.
Alongside this, there are official sources, too often overlooked: Nomisma, Scenari Immobiliari, OMI from the Revenue Agency, Istat, Bank of Italy. They don’t put on a show or promise miracles, but they offer serious and concrete analysis. Then there are reports from big banks and insurance companies: UBS, Allianz, JP Morgan. They’re not trying to sell you a course—they decide where to invest millions. Their research, for those who know how to read it, is a goldmine.
Training is another crucial point, but it must be chosen carefully. I’ve attended courses with hundreds of people, where you even had to pay extra to sit in the front row. Endless days full of promises and sales pitches disguised as inspiration. Many sell dreams; few truly teach you something. That’s why I recommend trusting only those who do, not those who preach.
There are also investor communities, forums, specialized groups: real field laboratories of experience, if you know how to listen critically. It’s essential to surround yourself with those who have more experience, who truly live the market every day: technicians, agents, contractors, developers.
Finally, today we have a powerful ally: artificial intelligence. It can cross-reference data, suggest emerging areas, analyze trends. But it cannot replace your intuition. Software is only useful if the person using it has a well-trained mind.
Understanding the Italian real estate market requires patience, discipline, and a strong desire to learn. You don’t need to know everything—you need to know where to look. And above all, why you’re looking there.
(Excerpt from Frank Salvini’s book – Da Zero a Intelligenza Immobiliare).
