The property market in Le Marche is never fully determinable or explicable. Currently, probably more than any other region in Italy, it is subject once again to change. Now this isn't surprising when you consider how it has been created by foreigners over the past eight years or so... and changes are happening again. Just six months ago, all interest in restoration had virtually disappeared. I'd put this down to the scare stories that abounded in newspapers and of course TV programmes. But now (and I honestly could not tell you why) once again it's what folks want to do. They want to be involved in the rebuilding of their homes. They want to work alongside architects in the internal and external design of the houses they have bought. And this I find exciting, principally I suppose because it's more fun for us in that we get involved in the early stages and then watch a project develop and in some small way become part of people's lives as they grapple with their new lives and their adopted culture.



What inspires me to write about restoration is a quite beautiful old Marchigiane farmhouse in the hills below Tolentino. Not only is the property wonderful but it commands almost 360 degree views of the mountains in one direction and the sea in the other. And you know, there are ruins and there are ruins! This one is robust and in fact has been standing for a couple of hundred years or so and it's walls are as sound as when it was first built. Here are some photos of this gorgeous place.















Tasty interiors too, just look at that fireplace, hmmm!

Sometimes a little gem pops up and it suprises you.
This property had been on our books for a year as a project, to be started when somebody up and bought it.
This is a picture of it before work began a few weeks back



The building commands the most exquisite views of the surrounding countryside and even the sea and sits above the lovely medieval town of Force (which can also be seen from the house)
So. Work has began and you can already see how it is going to look.
We originally thought it was a tiny place but I measured it and it is 200 sq metres.
A wonder. It has been degutted inside and will provide more space than the original
building.
And what's more, it'll have a pool too.
Which is nice.















Claudio, it's owner, is also a geometra. So you can bet your boots it's going to be a sturdy little property when finished.




On our site, it's ref 5171

Hadn't seen this house for some six months and at that time it was 80% finished and the weather was dreary with low cloud. Then I heard from the owner a couple of days back, that not only was the house finished and completely restored, but that the garden had been landscaped and a driveway put in too.
So I stopped by in passing and I must say, I was blown away by the sheer excellence of the quality of finish and care the owner has afforded this property. Here are some pics.





The views, I should add, are quite breathtaking.
There is quite a lot of this type of property coming through now. It's been some seven years now since the boom-invasion started and many of these original pioneers, having restored countless properties, are now moving on to bigger or somtimes smaller properties as their life requirements change.
Quite what this means for the market in general, it is hard to say. But we have noted a trend towards restored property, usually with a pool...and that such property is commanding quite high prices, pushing on E3000 per mq. In fact almost Tuscan figures.

Last week we were out on a property search near Cingoli on a day typical of those we have been experiencing this winter, warm and sunny and with the most fantastic jet stream clouds racing across the sky. One of the remarkable things about travelling around Le Marche is the change in the landscape, almost a sudden shift, as you round a bend and suddenly hit a view which takes your breath away. This day was no exception and suddenly we were up in the sky looking over the whole of Marche.. and this little cottage.








The pretty medieval town of Cingoli in fact is described as the balcony of Le Marche, where the land rises slowly to a height which gives views across to the sea at Conero and westwards too, to the Sibillini mountains.
This particular house needs restoring and we have contractors who can do so and have it key in hand ready in six months; a trend, incidentally, which is gaining currency here as contractors realise that clients are no longer willing to accept long waits and bureaucratic confusion.







We then zoomed down to a delightful little town in the hills some ten minutes from the sea at Porto Sant Elpidio (delayed somewhat by Giancarlo's erratic parking...in a ditch). Another house to restore and another perfect location. And what a view!



The town is Torre San Patrizio, and it's close to Fermo and to the autostrada and to the larger Civitanova. And the house another restoration, again possible within six month time frame.












We had a tractor drag his car out..poor chap.

A town house in Altidona (ref 1178 on our site)



And not just an ordinary townhouse. This one is pure delight... restored to the very finest degree of taste and refinement.
Don't know if you know Altidona, but it overlooks the sea just North of Pedaso and is a very lively community (if their New Year's celebrations are an indication). The house is on three floors and has a pretty little garden with superb countyside views
















It's equidistant from both Ancona and Pescara airports (less than an hour to each)
Has railstation and autostrada closeby too