Most people who ask me about a home in Europe already have a place in mind. A week somewhere they never stopped thinking about. That is the right instinct. It is also where the real questions begin.
I always start with how you want to spend the days.
Portugal is for long, easy seasons. Comporta and the Alentejo for rice fields, pine and quiet. The Algarve for golf, beaches and an easy flight. Lisbon and Porto for city life with the ocean close by. You will need a Portuguese tax number, a NIF, before you can buy.
France is for rhythm and ritual. Markets, long lunches, a village where people still know your name. Provence and the Côte d'Azur for light and colour, the Dordogne and the southwest for stone houses and slower prices. Every purchase goes through a notaire, and their fees and taxes add meaningfully to the price, so plan for them from the start.
Italy is for beauty with history in the walls. Puglia for whitewashed masserie and the sea, Tuscany and Umbria for hill towns and vineyards, the lakes for that particular kind of calm. You will need an Italian tax code, the codice fiscale, to buy, and older homes often need a careful eye on restoration.
Wherever you land, the same principles hold. Visit in the season you will use it. Build a trusted local team before you make an offer. Understand how you will own it and what you will report in Canada. And be honest about whether it is a home for you, a home for the family, a rental, or all three.
The right place is the one that still feels like that first week, ten years in.
Questions
Can Canadians buy property in Portugal, France or Italy?
Yes. Foreigners can generally buy in all three. You will need local tax numbers in Portugal and Italy, and every French purchase is handled by a notaire.
How do I choose between Portugal, France and Italy for a second home?
Start with how you want to spend your days, how far you are willing to travel, and how often you will use it, then visit in the season you would actually be there.
A home in the place you fell in love with: Homes Abroad
Read the guide: How to buy a second home abroad as a Canadian
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