Buying Tuscany villas may sound like a romantic, even easy idea, but it canot be more complicated. Buying local property is hard enough imagine how hard its going to be to buy property in Tuscany, where the real estate laws and taxes are completely different. So before you sign any contracts, be sure that you are prepared for the long haul. Here are some pointers to live by when buying that villa.

Location, location, location. A very remote villa may seem fascinating, but think carefully. Do you really want to be more than two hours away from the airport? Chances are, no. You will have a very hard time accessing your villa during storms and winter weather. You will also find it hard to find a house sitter, because of the distance from the major cities and transportation. Be more practical and choose something nearer to major cities or towns.

Be prepared for extra costs. If you are a nonresident of Italy, unfortunately, this works against you. Everything is more expensive the property tax, the basic bills (water, electricity and telephone). Expect to pay at least 50 percent more than the local residents do.

Study the paperwork. Most documents will be Italian, so have a bilingual lawyer present befor you sign anything important. You can go ahead and sign the irrevocable proposal of purchase, though, because it is not considered a binding document. You need it to make a formal offer, but signing it does not mean that you have reserved the villa. Remember to apply for a tax code, which you can also do alone. Do not sign the compremesso without a lawyer present, though, because this is a legally-binding contract, and you will lose your deposit if you ever decide to revoke the agreement.