Moving to Ofena

[maryann]

Originally Posted by maisie21

Hi
My husband and I have bought a house in Ofena and are planning to retire there in 2 years time.
We would be very interested in meeting any other expats in the area to discuss the benefits of moving to Italy.
We bought our house through The House Around Italy team.They have all been very helpful especially their 'Girl Friday' but beware of any builders that the agents recommend the standard of work from the builders we used was very poor and cost a lot of money.
We will be back in Ofena 3rd June for a week if anyone wants to meet up. Our house is on Via Delle AIE.

Hi there,
My husband and I plan on moving permanently to Italy. We are going to Calabria for the first time July 1 until the 27th. We have been to Italy a few times and thought Abruzzo would be the place to search for a home, however, I think we will see the beauty of Calabria first and then decide.
We are from America. Where are you from? Is Ofena in the mainland? I also was taken around by The House Around Italy last year and was pleased.
It is so exciting. It was interesting that you mentioned builders. Up to this point I was thinkiing that we would most likely buy a used small home and then another person stated that she is having a 4 bedroom hme built for the same cost as an apartment in one of these complexes. So, then I was thinking that maybe I should get the names of some honest, reliable builders to research cost. Would you know of any?
Will you be in Italy in July?
I am of Italian heritage and speak Italian, although, it is not great Italian. I earned Italian before speaking English and I love my roots and the country. I feel so at home there. It will be difficult leaving my 25 year old daughter, but I think it will be fine.
Would love to hear from you.
MaryAnn

[maisie21]

Hi Mary Ann
We are a British couple.
Ofena is a small village in Abruzzo, nestled in a valley. It is known locally as the 'oven of Abruzzo' as it is south facing and gets quite hot in the summer.The temperature at the moment is in the mid 30's.
We are going to Ofena again 29th July for two weeks to work on the house.It is apparently fiesta time in Ofena at the beginning of August as well.
We have been relying on HAI's 'girl friday' Francesca Palmy to liaise with a good builder for us as the agents that we dealt with originally have really let us down and the renovation work that they 'supposedly' monitored was of a very poor quality.So now we are dealing with Francesca who is a lovely girl.I can always give you her contact details if you wish.
Our house is very old with vaulted ceilings and we also have a 600sq. metre garden that has grape vines,olive trees, walnut, apple, pomegranite and artichokes growing in it.
I understand how you feel about leaving your daughter, i feel the same way about leaving my children but they are encouraging us to move.
We have just started taking classes in Italian, as my language skills at the moment are very limited.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Judy.

[maryann]

Originally Posted by maisie21

Hi Mary Ann
We are a British couple.
Ofena is a small village in Abruzzo, nestled in a valley. It is known locally as the 'oven of Abruzzo' as it is south facing and gets quite hot in the summer.The temperature at the moment is in the mid 30's.
We are going to Ofena again 29th July for two weeks to work on the house.It is apparently fiesta time in Ofena at the beginning of August as well.
We have been relying on HAI's 'girl friday' Francesca Palmy to liaise with a good builder for us as the agents that we dealt with originally have really let us down and the renovation work that they 'supposedly' monitored was of a very poor quality.So now we are dealing with Francesca who is a lovely girl.I can always give you her contact details if you wish.
Our house is very old with vaulted ceilings and we also have a 600sq. metre garden that has grape vines,olive trees, walnut, apple, pomegranite and artichokes growing in it.
I understand how you feel about leaving your daughter, i feel the same way about leaving my children but they are encouraging us to move.
We have just started taking classes in Italian, as my language skills at the moment are very limited.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Judy.

Hi, Judy,
Thank you so much for replying. It was nice reading your email. I have heard this type of situation several times whereby people are let down by builders. I just am not sure which way is best. Judy, is it best, you think, to hiere a builder who has been recommended to you through a realtor? Do you think that increases the chances for a smooth operation? When we were in Abruzzo last year, I remember writing down the name of constructin companies as we drove by for the future.

I think you said you are not far from the ocean? We wee searching in Abruzzo for a low level area near the sea. The realtor brought us to great heights beautiful, but too much for us, for I need this to be a place I can easily drive down when i am older, in my 70's. lol I am 58, my hubby, 61. Got to think of the future, right?

Ofena sounds nice and I plan on looking it up on the map. How about we keep in contact? I would love to know how things are progressing for you, Judy. Pretty exciting, huh? Now, so you hired someone to restore the building? When will it be finished and then, did you say, you will move there for good in 2 years? (I may be thinking of someone else.)

Take care, be well,
MaryAnn

[Barry]

Hi MaryAnn,
Where was your family from in Italy originally? That is how we ended up buying in Carrufo. We went for the first time in 2005 to visit the villages where my grandparents were born and ended up buying a house the next year as it turns out I am related one way or another to just about everyone in Carrufo and Ofena.
Having a house built is certainly a good option. We have been told it is about the same cost as doing a complete renovation of a "ruin". The prices we were told is 800-1500 euro/sq.meter.
Barry

[maryann]

Originally Posted by Barry

Hi MaryAnn,
Where was your family from in Italy originally? That is how we ended up buying in Carrufo. We went for the first time in 2005 to visit the villages where my grandparents were born and ended up buying a house the next year as it turns out I am related one way or another to just about everyone in Carrufo and Ofena.
Having a house built is certainly a good option. We have been told it is about the same cost as doing a complete renovation of a "ruin". The prices we were told is 800-1500 euro/sq.meter.


Barry

Hello, Barry,
My, my, that is wonderful--moving to where your family was. Your situation parallels mine in that your grandparents lived there and now you and your wife are moving there.

My maternal and paternal grandparents were all from Giarre, Sicily. My grandfather was born in Piedmonte Aetna area of Catania, where Giarre is.
We went to Sicily in 2003 and were near Giarre, but unfortunately since it was a tour, we did not have the time to go to Giarre. I saw it in the distance from a lovely lounge where we danced one night, in lovely Taormina. The bartender pointed out the window to the sea and it was maybe a 20 minute ride. The bus situation prevented us going there.
I spoke Italian before I learned any English as a baby and was raised in a close-knit Italian family. My grandparents lived upstairs and my uncle and his Italian bride who spoke no English lived on the top floor. Having been the only child, close to my parents and losing them in Oct. 2005 and Mar. 2006, well, I just miss the Italian culture. I feel more at home there than here,honestly. As I said to Judy, the toughest part is leaving my daughter, who is 25, in medical school.
I hope that we continue to be in touch because we intend to save money and try to travel around a bit when we move there. When are you moving there? Wouldn't it be wonderful to meet?
That is terrific to find your family. I am 58 and I jsut can't picture relatives being alive. I wonder now... I have a common last name-mom's maiden is Pennisi and Dad's is Puglisi.
Write again-I am now calling a moving company to price what is worth bringing (car, furniture...)Would appreciate input.

The best,
MaryAnn

[Barry]

MaryAnn,
Speaking Italian certainly gives you an advantage. Some of the non english speakers in our village are giving me a bad time because I can't speak it!
I don't know if it is worth it trying to ship furniture to Italy. Prices seem to be the same as here so we are just buying what we need there and we can't own a car because we don't have residency status. We've been renting whenever we go over but this fall I think we will try the bus service. My wife complains that with a car I make her travel everyday and she wants to just stay in the village and relax.
I don't know if I can talk her in to a permanent move. We also have a daughter and even more of a problem a new grand daughter. Currently we've been spending 2 months a year but hope to get that up to 6 months in the near future. The Canadians living in the village say it is pretty boring during the winter so for now we will travel back and forth.

Barry

[maryann]

[QUOTE=Barry;36441]


MaryAnn,
Speaking Italian certainly gives you an advantage. Some of the non english speakers in our village are giving me a bad time because I can't speak it!
I don't know if it is worth it trying to ship furniture to Italy. Prices seem to be the same as here so we are just buying what we need there and we can't own a car because we don't have residency status. We've been renting whenever we go over but this fall I think we will try the bus service. My wife complains that with a car I make her travel everyday and she wants to just stay in the village and relax.
I don't know if I can talk her in to a permanent move. We also have a daughter and even more of a problem a new grand daughter. Currently we've been spending 2 months a year but hope to get that up to 6 months in the near future. The Canadians living in the village say it is pretty boring during the winter so for now we will travel back and forth.

Hi, Barry,
I learn a lot just by reading in between the lines. I must have misundersood your wife, for I thought that you and she were moving there permanently and that it was what you were doing the renovating for. I see, the decision, the large, very large decision, is still in the making. Yeah, well, we'll see how Miss MaryAnn does when push comes to shove, but honestly, Barry, I jsut feel the need to. I feel that at my age, I want to have a new beginning, something exciting, a place which I began at and will end with. I just love hearing the Italians speak, answering; I seem to change into another person, I guess, the actual me. Do not get me wrong, I am happy here, but it is just my daughter here giving us the roots. Everyone says she can call, email, im, and even maybe visit. Costs a lot to come back to the US, and my husband already informed me that it may not even be once a year. I feel we will end up doing this. You are lucky to not be that far.
So, listen, I never knew you had to be a resident to own a car. But Iguess when I move there, I would apply for residency, correct? Because, I believe you can only stay there, what is it , 90 days on that permit? Am I correct?
Then you need to apply for the residency, I think.
Say hello to Judy for me.
MaryAnn

[Barry]

MaryAnn,
I think you are confusing me with Judy who lives in England. I and my wife live in Calgary, Canada so we are even further from Italy than you are. Our house is in Carrufo which used to be part of Ofena up until the 1950's when it was transferred to Villa Santa Lucia. It's a 20 minute walk down the mountain for me to go to the bar in Ofena. Actually we are lucky in that there are a lot of cheap flights to England and then with Easyjet it is an inexpensive 2 hours further to Rome. Calgary-Rome return is usually less than $1000 each.
Have you checked to see if you are eligible for Italian citizenship? If you had your dual citizenship you are home free! As long as your parents hadn't become American citizens before you were born then I think you are already an Italian citizen. Otherwise you have to apply for residency.
We've been going for 3 years now and there are a number of Canadians and Americans living in our village and they all say winter drags for them. Maybe you should try renting for a few months to get the "feel" of living there before fully commiting. There are other problems for us old folks, such as health insurance. We usually buy it for 30 or 60 days and it's not to bad but I haven't checked into the cost for full time coverage.
We certainly enjoy the lifestyle in Italy and wether we move to Italy full time or just spend a number of months there each year we have no intention of giving up our house there.
Barry

[maryann]

Originally Posted by Barry

MaryAnn,
I think you are confusing me with Judy who lives in England. I and my wife live in Calgary, Canada so we are even further from Italy than you are. Our house is in Carrufo which used to be part of Ofena up until the 1950's when it was transferred to Villa Santa Lucia. It's a 20 minute walk down the mountain for me to go to the bar in Ofena. Actually we are lucky in that there are a lot of cheap flights to England and then with Easyjet it is an inexpensive 2 hours further to Rome. Calgary-Rome return is usually less than $1000 each.
Have you checked to see if you are eligible for Italian citizenship? If you had your dual citizenship you are home free! As long as your parents hadn't become American citizens before you were born then I think you are already an Italian citizen. Otherwise you have to apply for residency.
We've been going for 3 years now and there are a number of Canadians and Americans living in our village and they all say winter drags for them. Maybe you should try renting for a few months to get the "feel" of living there before fully commiting. There are other problems for us old folks, such as health insurance. We usually buy it for 30 or 60 days and it's not to bad but I haven't checked into the cost for full time coverage.
We certainly enjoy the lifestyle in Italy and wether we move to Italy full time or just spend a number of months there each year we have no intention of giving up our house there.
Barry

Hi, Barry,
I apologize; yes, I was pairing you up with Judy! Sorry; your message on the forum came right after I had written her and the situation seemed similar, so all along I had assumed that you were her husband. lol
Yes, you mentioned the people say winter drags for them. Why is that? We are not skiiers here in America, but if my husband weren't such a do it yourselfer, we would spend more time getting together with friends in the colder weather. Is it because the Canadians are not finding the towns have things to do?
See, we want to be in the warmer weather and I guess Abruzzo, well, does it get that much snow? That is why I am hoping warm Calabria works out. It is the warmest part, except for Sicily. I guess that is a good question for me to ask people down there in specific towns; how is life in the cold weather when there are less tourists. some seaside towns I heard are like ghost towns,so that is why I am seeking a nice village close to the sea,but a village where Italians live.
My parents were not born in Italy; my grandparents were. My mom was born in 1916 here, but my grandfather did not become a US citizen until 1938. I believe that means I can apply and be eligible for citizenship. So, are you saying, Barry, that I need not become a resident? I don't think it gives me citizenship immediately and that I have to apply for residency.

I am glad that you will never give up your Italian haven.
Keep in touch; it is great chatting.
MaryAnn

[Barry]

Maryann,
Sounds like you are eligible for dual citizenship! It takes a bit of work and time so you should get started on it as soon as possible. Carrufo had 2 feet of snow around christmas. It melted right away but it was still cool. Even on the beaches outside of the tourist season it can be very quiet. We went in May once and stayed in Silvi Marina on the beach and we were the only ones in the hotel!
Our villages are fading away. There are no young people and most of the residents are in their 70's and 80's. Only in July and August the population doubles with young families. If you find a good size town, ie 5000 to 10000 people it would probably be livelier in the winter. Watch to see if the population is to old or if there are a number of younger people around. You might check out villages or towns around a larger center such as Pescara. The advantages of Pescara is it's right on the sea plus it has the airport with direct flights to New York and Toronto during the summer as well as Ryan Air to London and Frankfurt all year round.
Barry