House purchases

In general terms, our law permits the purchase of real estate by foreigners in the following different ways:

1) non-resident foreigner: only if covered by an international treaty or there is a reciprocal arrangement whereby his country of origin allows an Italian to purchase a house;

2) "resident" foreigner, his family members and stateless persons resident in Italy for less than three years: with a temporary residence permit for specific reasons or a long-term residence permit;

3) citizen of the EU or EFTA or a stateless person resident for more than three years: no limit.

It is  evident, then, that it is necessary - in order to know which documents are actually needed in order to acquire rights in Italy - to identify to which of these categories the foreigner belongs.