🔹 30 000. That’s how many people visited a local landscape design event Orticolario last weekend. In October. That’s an event that I called underrated - let me take it back.
It’s been a while that Lake Como started initiatives to become all-year destination, and it seems to be paying off. And yet, I cannot help but wonder - with 2 startup programs open, our neighbour Chiasso setting themselves as an AI hub, silk heritage, 60% of luxury house buyers from abroad, local football club that is making history, and business focused expats flowing into Italy overall, do we stand a chance to become a place known for more than having beautiful views?
I’d bet the next decade is going to be an interesting one.
But let’s see what happened this week.
-Simona
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In the meantime, here is a number of the week:
🚗 €11,000. That’s the maximum amount you will be able to claim on October 15th for buying an electric car. However, even the car dealerships do not have more specific info yet. Next week we will dig deeper in this.
🌟 Spotlight
‘25 Real Estate Numbers: 60% of buyers - non-Italians
Villa del Balbianello
What’s Happening: Q2 2025 EU real estate data and Italian Luxury Real Estate Report 2025 by Engel & Wolkers came out.
Facts:
Since 2010, rents in EU have increased by 28.8%, while house prices have increased by 60.5% (this ratio is increasing quite dramatically in the last decade), I recommend to see the graph here
Year to Year: EU House prices increased by 5.4% (vs Italy 3.9%)
Quarter to Quarter: 1.6% (vs Italy 2.7%)
In 2025 60% of luxury home buyers in Lake Como were non Italians
25% of them bought their first home
25% bought for investment
50% bought their 2nd house
Average prices in 2025 luxury homes were 4-10K/sqm
What does it mean for us:
Lake Como’s luxury real estate market moves on global, not national, logic
Italy’s house prices grew below the EU’s average (+5.4%), but Como’s luxury segment runs independently. With 60% of buyers from abroad and half purchasing second homes, prices are driven by global liquidity rather than Italy’s domestic market.
Milan makes the money, Lake Como keeps it. In Milan, 75% of luxury deals are primary homes and 25% investments; on the lake, it’s the reverse - half second homes, mostly foreign. Como now features in nearly every Milan real estate report.
60% of luxury real estate buyers are non-Italians. And yet, many real estate and innovation driven hubs still do not have communication in English. Opportunity or a gap?
I’ll be watching closely how these numbers shift in the coming quarters. For now, Milan is clearly capturing high-end international demand, and Lake Como is becoming its natural extension, outperforming Italy’s average real estate growth.
Are we missing something here? Reply to this email and let me know.
🔹
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🏠 Real Estate
🏡 8 Room apartment with Lake and Boathouse Access in Nesso. ($$): €800K · 160m² ·
Perfect for water sports lovers - you have a direct access to the water, boathouse and a garage.
View
🏡 4 Room apartment in a renovated 1800s stone house in Laglio. ($): €580K · 136m² ·
Energy class A1 (rare in the area), historical building with modern touch and lake view.
View
🏡 7 Bedroom luxury villa in the hills of Como. ($): €2.5M · 310m² ·
On the hillside that separates the city of Como from the town of Brunate, 10min drive to the city centre.
View
🏢 Businesses for Sale
🛍️ Commercial space in a new building in high traffic area, Como. €1.62M · 350 m² · 3 large street-front windows. Ideal for retail or showroom area. Delivery - September 2026.
View🥩 Profitable food market for sale in Como. €1M · 100 m² · Specializing in the resale of selected meats, local cheeses, and fresh bread. Generating 1.5M annual revenue.
View🍨 Artisan ice cream shop business, Lecco (Viale Turati). €25,000 · 28 m² · Complete with machinery and training; semi-central, high-traffic area; price negotiable.
View
💼 Job Opportunities
🚓 Director of Safety & Security: Villa d’Este (Cernobbio): Full-time. In charge of: managing security operations and outsourced security services. This role is a part of Career Open Day on November 11th.
Apply🧑🍳 Executive Chef: The Lake Como Edition (Griante): 6 years experience in the culinary, food and beverage required. OR 2-year degree from an accredited university in Culinary Arts, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major.
Apply💻 CFO: Antal International(Como/Varese): Full-time, on-site. Responsibilities: financial strategy, tax issues, monthly closing, team management.CFO: Antal International(Como/Varese): Full-time, on-site. Responsibilities: financial strategy, tax issues, monthly closing, team management.
Apply
Have a property, business, or job to feature? Submit it here
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📅 On the Lake This Week
Legend: 🎆 Festival · 🏛 Heritage · 💗 Charity · 🎻 Classical · 🎵 Live Music · 🧘 Wellness · 🚣♂️ Sport · 🏃♂️ Run/Walk
Have an event?
Submit it here
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That’s all for this week!
Did you have an interesting insight, fact-check, opinion? Drop me an email - I might feature you in the next issue.
P.S. Your feedback is very helpful to make this newsletter more valuable. So many insights from last week’s emails! Keep them coming.
-Simona
