Leaving behind the country in which you were born in search of unknown adventures overseas isn’t for everyone. It takes a certain combination of courage, vision and perhaps a dash of foolishness to abandon everything familiar and jump in to a new world feet first.

Seven years ago, Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of fractional ownership company Appassionata, did just that. With numerous family members in tow she left the UK for the depths of rural Italy, settling in the stunning Le Marche region to start a new venture and a new life. Now, seven years later and following the hugely successful launch of the company’s latest luxury holiday home, Casa Tre Archi, Dawn shares her insights into what she did right, what she would do differently and why every family should produce their own wine!

7 things I’ve learned from 7 years in Italy

1. Sign language is your friend

I began learning Italian as soon as I knew we were going to move here, but my language skills were still awful when I arrived. However, my stuttering attempts were well received by the welcoming locals and with that and an extensive range of gestures I managed to befriend local artisans and antique sellers tucked away in tiny villages. These new acquaintances enabled me to design the interiors of the Appassionata properties with a signature blend of antique pieces and bespoke Italian items.

2. Embrace everything

One of the things the family and I definitely got right was our open approach. We came to Italy willing to embrace and absorb everything, from trying unusual local delicacies to soaking up the culture. It’s a spirit that we maintain to this day and is part of the reason that we manage to pour so much of our love of Italy into each property that we renovate.

3. Beware bureaucracy!

If there was one thing that I would do differently if I had to move to Italy again it would be to meditate until I learned the art of patience before I arrived! Paperwork here is a long, slow process. A calm approach is essential and planning for delays is an important part of any process that is likely to involve any paperwork that is out of the ordinary. Which, when you are an expat, is just about all paperwork!

4. Make your own wine

Italy has such amazing cuisine and I feel very lucky to have had the chance to explore Le Marche so thoroughly, tasting my way around the seasonal recipes that have been cooked here for generations. What has also inspired me is Italian wine. Our first two fractional ownership properties were nestled in the countryside with a fabulous estate spread around them. Hand-planting hundreds of vines may have been a tiring task, but it was worth it when we finally got to taste the wine made as a result of our hard work. It was a process that involved the whole family and one that the owners of the two properties enjoy being a part of each year.

5. Be open to friendships from all sides

I have felt very welcomed by the locals here in Le Marche and have made some strong friendships since moving here. I’ve also made some great business partnerships and of course some that blur the boundaries between the two. An open, friendly approach is definitely something that goes down well in rural Italy. One individual that I have been lucky enough to meet is Andrea Ribichini, who I have had the pleasure to go into business with through my other venture, Appassionata Boutique.

Taking the time to get to know business contacts is important. Thankfully, with so many wonderful restaurants and some great golf courses in the area, doing this in Le Marche really does seem to be more pleasure than business.

6. See the funny side

Just like any other business venture, renovating properties in Italy has the scope for things to go wrong. Delays can crop up for all manner of reasons, but I’ve learned to see the funny side and be creative in my approach to resolving problems, which has definitely helped.

7. Expect the unexpected

Even after a decade of living here, Italy is still packed full of surprises for me. From unexpectedly rescuing a horse to discovering ancient, hidden frescoes in the palazzo that we are renovating, Italy never fails to charm, surprise and excite. Appassionata’s latest renovation, Casa Tre Archi, is an urban property that allows owners to experience the pleasure of true Italian town life – a world away from the touristy cities with their overpriced chain stores. I can’t wait to see the owners of Casa Tre Archi’s fractions begin to discover the Le Marche that I have come to know and love over my seven years here.

Shares in Casa Tre Archi are available from £65,000 for five weeks’ exclusive use per year. For more information visit www.appassionata.com or contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225.

• Italian business confidence up to 96.0 in October (ISAE/ISTAT)
• Prices reverse trend to rise 0.1% in October (Consumer Price Index)
• Thriving business Appassionata praises Italy’s business environment

“Italy is a great place to do business.”

A bold claim perhaps, given Italy’s much-documented economic woes over recent years, but for British expat Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs and her family team behind fractional ownership holiday home business Appassionata, one that rings true.

The Appassionata team moved to Italy back in 2004, long before the global economic crisis took hold. In fact, when the economy began to falter, they had already committed to the purchase and redevelopment of a collection of tumbledown farm buildings in rural Le Marche – an area known as a more authentic (and affordable) Tuscany.

Not one to be swayed from her vision of turning the buildings into two luxury holiday homes, nestled in an estate packed with vines and olive trees, Dawn carried on with her usual blend of inspiration and determination. She comments,

“When the global economic crisis began we were part way through renovating Estate Giacomo Leopardi and I knew that there was no turning back. We simply had to make the business work. What surprised me, given the repeated headlines about how much Italy has been struggling, was how quickly buyers wanted to be a part of the Appassionata dream – buyers from here in Italy, as well as from overseas.

“It turns out that with the right idea, a business can survive and even thrive in difficult economic conditions. I am sure that some of our friends thought we were barmy to carry on in the face of such circumstances, but I truly believe that Italy is a great place to do business. It has certainly proven so for Appassionata.”

The first of Appassionata’s luxury retreats, Casa Giacomo, was ready for launch in April 2011. It was divided into ten shares, each of which entitles the owner to five weeks’ use per year. All ten fractions had sold by May 2012. Casa Leopardi, the second house on the estate, was ready for owners to use by June 2012. By November 2013, nine of the ten fractions had been sold. The remaining share was purchased a year later.

Now Appassionata’s third holiday home has been released to the market, with fractions costing from £65,000. Casa Tre Archi is located in the delightful medieval town of Petritoli and boasts three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a generously proportioned roof terrace with breath-taking views to the sea over the rolling countryside. Three fractions have already sold, despite the property only being ready for use in the autumn.

With business confidence on the up (it reached 96.0 in October 2014, ending a four month decline, according to figures from ISAE/ISTAT), it will be interesting to see how quickly the remaining seven fractions of Casa Tre Archi are snapped up. It may be too early to speak of a full recovery so far as the Italian economy is concerned, but positive indicators are in place and the Consumer Price Index has reported a growth of 0.1% in prices in October, which is a good turnaround from the September figure of -0.4%. The year on year figure has also risen to 0.1%.

Further weight is added to the argument of Italy’s being a welcoming business environment by Appassionata’s other venture, Appassionata Boutique. A designer handbag line launched by Dawn and created in partnership with a local artisan who has worked for almost all of Italy’s big fashion houses, Appassionata Boutique has rapidly become a favourite of those who love high-end bags, both in Italy and beyond its borders.

“Italy has certainly been through some tough times,” concludes Dawn, “but with the right approach and the right idea it has been possible for both Appassionata and Appassionata Boutique to grow healthy businesses here. If we can achieve this level of success during the hard times, I can’t wait to see what the good times bring!”

For more information visit www.appassionata.com or contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225.

• Ski sector celebrates increase in travellers for first time since 2007/08 (Crystal)
• Italy attracts 47.7 million annual visitors (WTO)
• Luxury sea and ski Italian holiday home from just £65k (Appassionata)

Travellers looking to escape the grey skies of the UK this winter are currently eyeing up southern Europe and, as ever, Italy is one of the top destinations for those looking for some winter sun.

“Italy is incredibly popular as a winter holiday destination,” comments Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of fractional ownership company Appassionata, who moved to Italy with her family in 2004. “Here in Le Marche there is so much to do during the winter months. The coastline offers some stunning scenery and extends for over 100 miles, making it perfect for walking, hiking and cycling holidays.

“The slopes of the Sibillini Mountains are also extremely popular, with everyone from amateurs to wannabe pros donning their snow boots and grabbing their skis or snowboards. We find that, for many of our owners, the combination of sea and ski provides the ultimate winter holiday experience.”

The owners Dawn refers to are those who have purchased shares in Appassionata’s luxury fractional ownership properties, which include stunning rural houses such as Casa Leopardi, complete with a roaring fire that is perfect for snuggling in front of with a book and a glass of wine from grapes grown on the estate as twilight falls on a winter evening.

Appassionata’s latest fractional ownership property – the three bedrooms, three bathroom Casa Tre Archi – is ideal for those looking to head south for some winter sunshine. The spacious property boasts outdoor space on three levels, allowing owners to maximise their time in the sun. In the medieval hilltop town of Petritoli, the townhouse is perfectly located for local shops and restaurants while also providing easy access to the Sibillini Mountains and the coastal town of Pedaso, which is famous for its fabulous seafood restaurants, large fish market and some of the best mussels in Italy. A one tenth fraction in Casa Tre Archi, which entitles the owner to five weeks’ exclusive use per year, costs from £65,000. Just one share remains available at this special offer price.

Overall, Italy attracted 47.7 million visitors in 2013, according to the World Tourism Organization. While big cities such as Rome and Milan and well-known areas such as Tuscany attracted their fair share of tourists, those seeking out the ‘real Italy’ are increasingly heading to Le Marche and many of them are looking to ski during the winter months.

In fact, for Brits looking to ski overseas, the 2012/13 season marked a turnaround in the market, with a 1% increase year on year in the number of skiers travelling abroad. It is the first time the sector has seen an increase since its 2007/08 peak, according to the Crystal Ski Report, but with countries such as Italy doing all they can to court tourists over the winter months, it seems that the 2013/14 season might be an even better one.

For more information on fractional ownership and the wonders of life in Le Marche, contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com.

• Nationwide property sales up 4.1% (Nomisma)
• Foreign-owned small businesses up 44% (CAN)
• 5.1% increase in organised international travel projected (ISNART)

It’s fair to say that Italy has had something of a bumpy ride over the past few years. Although the path to economic prosperity is proving to be a long and winding one, there are numerous rays of hope for the boot-shaped country, with the most recent figures indicating that Italy’s property market could finally be on the up once more.

Recent data from the Nomisma economic research institute has shown that both residential and commercial property transactions in Italy increased during Q1 2014. Nomisma’s Real Estate Market Report registered an increase in nationwide sales of 4.1% for the quarter compared to the same period in 2013. The news has been welcomed by those in the property sector, as Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of fractional ownership company Appassionata, confirms,

“The past few years have been tough for Italy and it’s great to see property sales figures heading in the right direction again. There are some real bargains on the market right now and there is a buzz of excitement about the sector once more.”

Dawn certainly knows her stuff when it comes to Italian property. Since moving from the UK to Italy in 2004, she and her family have purchased and renovated four fabulous Italian properties, carefully coaxing luxury fractional ownership holiday homes out of the rubble of former buildings. Their company, Appassionata, has just released its latest offering to the market – the three bedroom, three bathroom Casa Tre Archi, which is available from £65,000 for a one tenth share, with owners entitled to five weeks’ usage of the property per year.

Dawn and the Appassionata family team are representative of a rising trend of foreigners who are driving forward Italy’s economy. Figures from the Unioncamere and Infocamere chambers of commerce and the Rome unit of the National Confederation of Artisans and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (CAN) show that small businesses owned by foreigners surged by 44% between April and June this year. As well as European business owners such as Dawn, Moroccan entrepreneurs have a strong presence (accounting for some 63,000 of the 325,000 non-European-owned entities), as do Chinese businesspeople (accounting for 46,000 companies).

Foreign income from tourism is also boosting Italy’s economy, with the US, Australia and China all providing plentiful long-haul visitors according to figures from the Bank of Italy and the Centre National Tourist Unioncamere-ISNART, with an increase of 5.1% in organised international travel forecast. Visitors from the US during 2013 accounted for a total of 30.61 million overnight stays in Italian accommodation – 9.5% of the total number of foreign overnight stays.

Appassionata’s fractional ownership holiday homes contributed to this figure, with Dawn listing American owners amongst those who have purchased fractions,

“Our fractional ownership holiday homes are truly international when it comes to their owners. We have owners from as far afield as the US and South Africa, as well as numerous countries closer to home.”

With foreign entrepreneurial spirit and foreign income flowing into Italy in such quantities, adding to domestic efforts to enhance the country’s economic situation, it is hoped that the road ahead may be a little smoother for Italy over the coming years.

For more information on fractional ownership and the wonders of life in Le Marche, contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com.

• Italian hilltop towns draw tourists from around the world (Appassionata)
• Italy is favourite country for second year in a row (Conde Nast Traveller)
• Hilltop living available from as little as £65,000 (Appassionata)

Italy has been crowned the favourite country for the second year running by Conde Nast Traveller readers. Everything from its beaches to its shopping has impressed visitors, with food and culture receiving particularly high ratings.

World-class cities like Rome and Milan are a delight to visit, but those wishing to look a little deeper into the history of this fascinating country need to head out into the countryside, where ancient hilltop towns provide glimpses of a past steeped in rich tradition.

Italy’s iconic hilltop towns were built for defensive purposes. Settlers could sit upon the hilltop and see anyone who approached with enough warning to ready their town’s defences. Early hilltop towns were built with stone and wood, until the Middle Ages brought thick stone walls, watchtowers and sturdy gates into the equation. The Renaissance then added churches packed with works of art to even the most remote of hilltop towns, creating a wonderful voyage of discovery for future generations.

Italy’s ancient hilltop towns remain of interest to this day. Tourists can’t get enough of them, as Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, owner of fractional ownership company Appassionata and hilltop town connoisseur, observes,

“Hilltop towns have an incredible charm that draws tourists to them and captures their hearts and imaginations when they visit. There is something about the thick stone walls, cobbled narrow streets and ancient architecture that brings the past to life, giving visitors a sense of days gone by that no museum can quite match.”

It is in the medieval hilltop town of Petritoli in Le Marche that Appassionata has developed its latest luxury urban factional ownership holiday home, Casa Tre Archi. In fact, the town’s ancient defences actually form part of the house, with the curved watchtower wall creating a delightful feature in the living room and roof terrace. The house is named after the three arches, which provide entry into Petritoli and from which it was most heavily guarded in years gone by.

With the need for armed defence thankfully now ancient history, Petritoli’s arches are open and welcoming to visitors from around the world, as more and more people discover the delights of hilltop living. Casa Tre Archi’s prime position affords owners views of the surrounding Le Marche countryside from the property’s generously proportioned roof terrace, while three bedrooms and three bathrooms provide room for the whole family. Fractions are available from £65,000 for five weeks’ exclusive usage per year.

For more information on fractional ownership and the wonders of life in Le Marche, contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com.

• Property prices 35% lower than neighbouring Tuscany (Magic Marche)
• Urban fractional property causing a stir from £65,000 (Appassionata)
• Direct enquiries up 300% in H1 2014 (Magic Marche)

“The best of Italy all wrapped up in one place.”

This is how local estate agent Jane Smith, of Magic Marche, sums up Italy’s stunning Le Marche region, and it’s easy to see why. With everything from snow-capped mountains to Blue Flag beaches, interspersed with rolling hills dotted with medieval towns and scattered with olive trees, grapevines and fragrant lavender bushes, the area cannot help but charm upon sight. The cuisine blends fine dining with a farm to table countryside ethos that existed long before the concept began to trend. The organic wine is soft on the palate and gentle on the head.

While wild horses roam the region’s two national parks, the descendants of ancient Italian families still promenade through the narrow, picturesque streets of hilltop towns, making their way between charming churches and tiny delis over which foodies the world over would be green with envy.

The town of Petritoli is typical of the unspoilt, essential ‘Italian-ness’ of the region. Out of its 2,500 permanent residents, only six full time families are from the UK – testament to the undiscovered nature of Le Marche. Those who know the area feel privileged to have experienced it.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs owner of fractional ownership company Appassionata and Petritoli resident explains,

“Le Marche is one of those little pockets of the world that you want to both shout about to everyone you know and keep secret at the same time, so that it remains so perfectly unspoilt.”

Dawn and her family moved to the region in 2007, setting up a business that has managed to do just that, thanks to the fractional nature of the luxury holiday homes that Appassionata painstakingly renovates. The arrangement allows families to own their own slice of Le Marche (at a fraction of the usual cost of buying a second home), with each owner using their property for five weeks of the year. Le Marche avoids being overrun with holiday home owners, yet a few lucky families from around the world get to experience the area’s delights (at the same time as making a property investment that they can pass down through their family).

Owners of Appassionata’s luxury properties hail from around the globe, including South African, Swiss, Italian, Scottish, Irish, English, American and French nationals. Magic Marche’s Jane Smith has experienced a similar level of international interest. The company’s direct enquiries were up 300% during H1 2014 and though 70% of enquirers were from the UK, others ranged from as far afield as the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, the US, Switzerland and the UAE. Le Marche is also a popular area for domestic holidaymakers, with many Italians retreating from the heat and overcrowding of summer in Italy’s cities to revel in its glorious countryside and coastline.

With property prices some 35% lower than in neighbouring Tuscany, according to Magic Marche, and fractional ownership providing holiday home owners with far more luxury than they could individually afford, it is perhaps unsurprising that Appassionata’s latest offering, the three bedroom, three bathroom Casa Tre Archi, has already sold three fractions, despite the renovation work on the property having only just been completed.

With plentiful outside space, including a roof terrace with views of the rolling countryside, and a curved, turret feature wall in the living room that is actually part of Petritoli’s ancient fortifications, the property is certainly packed with delights. Fractions are available from £65,000.

For more information on fractional ownership and the wonders of life in Le Marche, contact the Appassionata team on +39 33154 13225 or visit www.appassionata.com.

Buying and renovating a property overseas is a bold move, particularly in a country where you don’t speak the language and have never lived before. It’s a dream that many don’t dare to pursue, but for those who do, the results can be incredibly rewarding.

Interestingly, a recent survey from Gate-Away.com has found that British buyers are more likely than any other nationality to take the plunge and tackle a renovation project, with 25% saying that they’re willing to refurbish a property.

Brits were also revealed by the survey as the individuals most attracted to moving to Italy. The number of them thinking seriously about doing so jumped by 11% between H1 2013 and H1 2014, following a 31% jump from H1 2012 to H1 2013.

This was precisely what happened in the case of the Appassionata team. British interior designer Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs fell in love with Italy almost a decade ago and, back in 2007, packed up her husband, offspring and a suitcase full of antiques in order to take on the renovation of a cluster of tumbledown farm buildings, redeveloping them as two incredible, luxury fractional ownership holiday homes.

The road hasn’t always been smooth but it’s certainly been a fascinating journey. Now, Dawn shares her expert insights with all those considering renovating a property overseas, helping them to avoid the unexpected pitfalls in order to turn a dilapidated building into an enchanting holiday home that they will be proud to sell on for a profit.

The 5 golden rules of renovating overseas property for profit:

1. Pick the right spot – any holiday home has to be viewed through the potential user’s eyes from day one, so consider your target audience. Is the property just for your own usage or will you be renting it out? Or even developing it as a fractional ownership property? Access to an airport or train station, restaurants, cafés, shops, beaches and stunning local scenery are key appeals to holidaymakers, so make sure you choose a property in a spot which offers as many of these as possible.
2. Ensure clean title deeds – this is hugely important, so be clear from the offset that the property you buy and renovate has clean title deeds. If not, it’s best to keep searching. Don’t let your heart rule your head and purchase a property without clean deeds just because you fall in love with it. Such a move could cost you serious amounts of time and money, so be sure that the paperwork is in order and that your legal representative is happy with the documents that you have.
3. Know the local government – do your research and purchase a property in an area with a local council that is easy to work with and quick to make decisions. This can make a huge difference, especially when you are planning to renovate the property as you may require additional planning approval for any changes you make to the building. Be sure to check what you will need planning permission for as well, as rules overseas will differ from those in the UK.
4. Wait for the wow factor – make sure that the property feels right. It has to have that certain something that means you know it is the one. I drive my husband crazy with my insistence on this sometimes, but he always knows I’m right when we finally find the perfect property and I get that feeling!
5. Do the maths – remember that the property purchase is a business venture. Look at the asking price and the amount of work that will need doing and do the maths. If you can’t make a profit to cover all of the time and energy that you invest, then it may not be the right property for you. Be sure to include the cost of your time and set aside a contingency fund to enable you to weather the unexpected.

Following these 5 golden rules has certainly paid off in Appassionata’s experience. Their first Italian renovation – a crumbling farmhouse that the team transformed into the stunning Casa Giacomo, saw nine of its ten ownership fractions sell within just eight months of the house being launched. The equally beautiful Casa Leopardi sold seven fractions within seven months in 2013.

The latest Appassionata property to be renovated by Dawn is the urban fractional townhouse Casa Tre Archi, in the ancient Le Marche town of Petritoli. Following a thorough yet sympathetic renovation, the three bedroom three bathroom property has sold two of its ten fractions already, with a third sale pending.

Clearly, those looking to live the Italian holiday home dream need to act fast if they are to turn their dreams to reality. The remaining fractions in Casa Tre Archi are available from £65,000, which entitles the owners to five weeks’ exclusive usage of the property per year.

For more information on fractional ownership and the wonders of the luxury Italian urban lifestyle, contact the Appassionata team on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com.