According to data issued by the Territory Agency at the end of September, Liguria shows a slight decrease (-1.8%) in the number of real estate transactions in the first half 2011 with respect to the 2nd half 2010. The figure for Italy is -0.6%. Looking at the performance of the four provinces, Genoa is growing a little (+3.7%), while the other three, Imperia Savona and La Spezia, are decreasing.
Regarding the house prices, Tecnocasa Research Dept. detects a substantial stability, as for the last three years, reporting unchanged prices in Imperia and La Spezia, a drop of 0.1% in Savona and a drop of 0.5% in Genoa.
Despite the market appears to be frozen, each of the four towns can boast new projects which people looking for a second home may regard with a certain interest. First of all, Savona has many interventions which have been recently completed or are going to be completed soon. Several works concern the historical centre. New flats have been built in Via Pia, a shopping street of the old town, in the area of an old cinema and in via Paleocapa, one of the most demanded zones in the centre. Another area involved in a restoration project is the former San Lorenzo Hospital in Giulio II square. On the seafront, the works for the redevelopment of the old dock have been completed. This is an important project designed by the Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, which includes a 19 floors tower standing on the square named after Fabrizio De Andrè, the great Genoan songwriter died in 1999, and an imposing 8 floors building (Crescent), which has given rise to some controversy because of its impact on the sea promenade. The complex includes also one hotel, offices and shops, the price for the flats is around 5,000 Euros/SQM. Another project, called “Città sul Mare” is in progress to build high quality homes in the disused area of the former ENEL electric plant between Corso Vittorio Veneto and Via Cimarosa. The homes, facing the sea, are built in energy class A with a Zero Environmental impact policy. The prices are generally over 5,000 Euros/Sqm.
Genoa deserves a separate discussion. Here we just notice that interesting new homes are under constructions in proximity of the sea, between the Sturla district and Boccadasse. The prices are 8,000 – 10,000 Euros and more for the houses with sea view. Other new houses are under construction in the residential district of Albaro (Via Puggia), the completion is scheduled for 2012. Prices are around 6,000 Euros.
In Imperia, Tecnocasa registers a growing interest in the inland neighbourhoods (Moltedo, Caramagna, Montegrazie and Cantalupo). Caramagna especially is very appreciated by people searching for a detached house. The hamlet is expanding fast and offers townhouses and small condominiums surrounded by greenery at affordable prices (around 2,000 Euros/SQM). A new train station is being built and a new exit of the State Road Aurelia is planned. A similar interest is seen in the ancient hamlets of Poggi, Piani, Torrazza and Dolcedo, which are at a distance of around five km from the sea. They offer restored stone houses at affordable prices. New vacations houses are under construction on the road leading to Piani from the coastal district of Borgo Prino. The most important project remains the extension of the tourist port: the new marina (when works are completed it will be one of the largest in Mediterranean Sea) is attracting also foreign tourists. Some quality buildings are nearing completion in this zone, the prices are over 10,000 Euros/SQM.
In La Spezia, the new district of Lizza has developed in recent years in an inland panoramic position. The zone is appreciated by residents searching detached houses with private garden. The prices are around 2,000 Euros/SQM. Townhouses are under constructions in the district of La Foce (prices over 3,000). The construction of new houses is planned in the area of the Hospital by 2012, where is also under construction a new shopping centre.
