Welcome to Carrara
Do you dream of owning a home in Italy? I did.
Italy and the Italian people have held a fascination for me since the mid-80's, when I made my first foray into Portofino from Monte Carlo. It was off-season...no yachts, no crowds. I remember olive oil so good we were drinking it straight. Hiking up the hill above the town to find families picnicking in the olive groves in celebration of the arrival of spring. The impact of this simple, nurturing lifestyle took hold in me.
Later, after my first visit to the Tuscan countryside, my feelings intensified. I was obsessed with immersing myself and my family in this rich and embracing culture. I began taking Italian lessons, visiting every chance I got, moving out of hotels and into rental villas. And the dreams began.
Everywhere I looked, there were authentic farmhouses just waiting for people like me! These places were incredible. They captured everything that I loved about Italy. History and architecture, of course. But also memories of summers spent on my grandparent's farm. Morning birdsong. The taste of garden-fresh tomatoes. And more recent memories...sipping nice Chianti amidst terraces teaming with moonlight and dancing fireflies. Desserts of local pecorino cheese with drizzled honey from the neighbor's hive. Sunday markets where I mistakenly asked for "four old fish" when I meant "four ripe peaches". Laughter. Good stuff.
With a former colleague and fellow Italophile, we considered the opportunity. I met with numerous foreigners who had followed their dreams, and many more who wanted to. And what it boiled down to? Although the dream is captivating, many people are not up to the challenge single-handedly. Was there a way we could help them find their dream home in Italy?
Buying a house in Italy can be a pretty intense adventure and requires, for most, a huge leap of faith. It sounds fun, but most who share this dream have read the books, know that it is not "easy", and wish they could get some objective help. It seemed that guiding and educating clients during the house-hunting and purchasing phase would be a good place to start.
And what about shared ownership properties? Unless actually relocating to Italy, most owners tend to visit an overseas property, at best, 2-4 times per year. For these people, there is a less time-consuming, lower risk way to fulfill the dream of owning an Italian vacation home. For me, even with the relatively low cost of housing in today's real estate market, fractional ownership offers a fantastic opportunity and an inherently practical solution (see "An Overview of Fractional Real Estate").
So, we formed Carrara, named after the famous marble quarry in Tuscany whose stone was used by Michelangelo. We feel that it connotes authenticity, quality, luxury and exclusivity...exactly the vision we have for your Italian home.
We can help you fulfill your dream. Without the hassle. Without doubt.
Our objective "Discovery Tours" will give you in-depth look at homes in an area that you define, focused on your needs and desires, without obligation, and with experts on hand to guide you through any part of the process.
And if you are interested in the fractional option, we offer a select group of shared ownership homes for you to consider. Wonderful, historic homes, restored to perfection and instilled with the comfort and luxury that you would expect in your own home, or in a 5-star hotel.
So check out what we've found (visit Properties) and how we can help you in your quest (visit Discovery Tours).
We sincerely hope that you appreciate our vision and will take advantage of the opportunity to touch and feel the magic of "our" Italy.
Sincerely,
Deborah Lyon
President and Developer