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For homeowners and investors in Coral Gables, South Miami and the greater Miami area, real estate has long been more than simply a place to live. It can be part of a broader strategy involving lifestyle, wealth preservation, diversification and international opportunities.
Today, that perspective is increasingly extending beyond South Florida.
For Miami-based buyers with an international outlook, Italy is emerging as an interesting complementary real estate market — whether the objective is purchasing a second home, establishing a European residence, exploring an investment opportunity or simply enjoying the Italian lifestyle for part of the year.
Recent data on foreign property searches in Italy shows just how broad that opportunity can be.
From Miami to Italy: Two Markets, Different Opportunities
Coral Gables and South Miami offer something difficult to replicate: established residential communities, proximity to Miami’s business and cultural centers, strong lifestyle appeal and access to one of the world’s most international cities.
For many of my clients, South Florida remains the foundation of their real estate strategy.
But owning property in Miami does not necessarily mean that the next acquisition needs to be in the same market.
For buyers who already have a primary residence or investment exposure in South Florida, Italy can represent an opportunity to explore a very different real estate landscape.
From historic apartments and countryside estates to Mediterranean homes and luxury villas,
the Italian market offers an extraordinary range of properties and price points. The result can be an interesting combination:
Miami for business, connectivity and year-round living. Italy for lifestyle, diversification and European real estate exposure.
How Much Are Foreign Buyers Spending in Italy?
Data collected by Gate-away.com between June 1 and August 31, 2026 shows significant international interest across multiple segments of the Italian property market.
The average value of properties sought by foreign buyers reached approximately €427,921, up from €396,807 during the first half of the year.
When buyers focused on properties located within one kilometre of the sea, the average searched value increased substantially to approximately €636,962.
For Miami buyers accustomed to premium residential markets, those numbers are particularly interesting because they illustrate the variety of opportunities available within Italy.
Italy Is Not Only a Luxury Market
Some of the most compelling opportunities may actually be found outside Italy’s internationally famous luxury destinations.
Approximately 45% of international enquiries concern properties priced at €100,000 or less,
while another 23.86% fall between €100,000 and €250,000.
Combined, almost 70% of international demand is focused on properties below €250,000.
That does not necessarily mean these properties are investments in the financial sense or that they will generate a particular return. Every property requires individual due diligence.
What it does demonstrate is the remarkable range of entry points available to international buyers.
Someone living in Coral Gables or South Miami could potentially explore an Italian property without necessarily making an acquisition comparable in size to a South Florida luxury purchase.
And Then There Is Luxury Italy
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Italy offers some of Europe’s most prestigious residential markets.
Properties above €1 million represent approximately 6.84% of international enquiries nationwide, increasing to 11.44% in coastal municipalities.
The differences between individual Italian destinations are enormous.
Lake Como can exceed €1 million in average searched property value, while the Amalfi Coast reaches approximately €4.3 million.
Other areas offer substantially different entry points, including Salento, Valle d’Itria, Lunigiana, Monferrato and parts of southern Italy.
For a Miami-based buyer, this diversity creates an important advantage: Italy should not be approached as one property market.
Just as Coral Gables, South Miami, Coconut Grove, Brickell and Miami Beach offer very different real estate experiences, Italy must be evaluated market by market and sometimes town by town.
American Buyers Are Already an Important Part of the Market
The data becomes even more relevant when we look specifically at American buyers.
During the period analyzed, American buyers searched for Italian properties with an average value of approximately €464,374.
For coastal properties, that figure climbed to approximately €731,418.
This suggests meaningful American interest not only in affordable Italian homes but also in higher-value lifestyle properties.
For South Florida residents, the connection can be particularly natural.
Miami is an exceptionally international market. Many homeowners already live, work, invest and maintain family or business relationships across multiple countries.
Adding Italy to that real estate perspective can therefore be less about “leaving Miami” and more about expanding beyond Miami.
Could an Italian Property Complement Your South Florida Portfolio?
This is where the conversation becomes interesting for property owners in Coral Gables and South Miami.
Consider a homeowner who already owns a valuable primary residence in South Florida.
Their next real estate decision could involve purchasing another local property — but it could also involve exploring a completely different market.
An Italian property might serve as a second residence, a seasonal home, a long-term family asset or, depending on the property and local regulations, an income-producing opportunity.
However, an international purchase requires a different level of preparation.
Property ownership structures, taxes, transaction costs, financing, renovation considerations, rental regulations and legal procedures can differ substantially from what a Florida buyer is accustomed to.
That is why international real estate should begin with a strategy rather than with a property listing.
Miami Is Home. Italy Can Be the Opportunity Abroad.
My core market remains Coral Gables, South Miami and the greater Miami area, where I assist buyers, sellers and property owners with their local real estate objectives.
My Italian background and international perspective also allow me to help clients who want to begin exploring opportunities in Italy.
The two services are complementary.
You may be selling a property in Coral Gables and considering allocating part of your capital internationally.
You may already own your ideal Miami residence and be thinking about a second home in Italy.
Or perhaps you are an Italian or European owner considering Miami while maintaining real estate interests on both sides of the Atlantic.
In each situation, the objective is the same: understand the market first, then evaluate the property.
Your Real Estate Strategy Can Extend Beyond Miami
Coral Gables and South Miami will continue to offer compelling opportunities for buyers who value location, lifestyle and access to the broader Miami market.
At the same time, sophisticated real estate planning does not have to stop at Florida’s coastline.
For clients interested in expanding their property search internationally, Italy offers a remarkably diverse market — from accessible homes in lesser-known communities to exceptional luxury properties in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.
The opportunity is not necessarily about choosing between Miami and Italy.
It can be about understanding how Miami and Italy may fit into the same real estate strategy.
If you are considering buying, selling or investing in Coral Gables, South Miami or the Miami area, or would like to explore how an Italian property could complement your real estate plans, I would be pleased to start the conversation.
Explore my Italian Properties Advisory:
https://salvatoredomina.com/italian-properties-advisory
SALVATORE DOMINA
REALTOR® – Associate Coldwell Banker Realty
4000 Ponce De Leon Blvd.
Suite 700
Coral Gables, FL 33146
