Bargain Real Estate Near The Amalfi Coast

Italy’s Amalfi shoreline is numbered among the most renowned in Europe. That’s with good reason. The 70 miles have unmatchable vistas winding through a number of unspoilt locations: Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento, Positano…

 No wonder that since it became a stop-off for Victorian gentlemen on the Grand Tour, it has lured the world's rich and famous. It has price tags to match as well. A villa with view over the sea in these parts can go for US$4m.

 Yet head not too far away from here an you can find the same natural beauty and more – at much more affordable cost. Welcome to a little-known gem that has lain undiscovered for far too long. Welcome to the Cilento coast. It is a little more than 90 minutes to the south and stretches for about 100 miles. It also borders the Cilento national park, Italy’s second largest and – along with Vallo Di Diano National Park – is such an area of stunning natural beauty that it is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

 Aside from perhaps Paestum, its genteel resorts – Castellabate, Cape Palinuro, Casal Velino, Pioppi – may not feature on many foreign tourist itineraries but they offer the same blend of pretty coastal locations, glorious sun and unparalled views over the sea but without the million-dollar prices of the Amalfi coast – which is still close enough to be seen on a day or weekend outing.

Paestum – a city whose roots go back to some 2,700 years ago and features imposing and well-preserved Greek ruins – is another Unesco World Heritage Site. Yet a 50sq m apartment here could be bought for just $100,000. As a rule, on the Cilento coast you should budget for approximately $125,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and $195,000 for two bedrooms – around a fifth of what you would pay on the Amalfi coast. What’s more, some shopping around – and a bit of persistence – can yield even greater deals. One example: in Ascea, one-bed sea-view property was recently made available at $100,000 and a second a mere 70 yards from the coast at $85,000.

 A couple of the hotspots are located at almost opposite ends of the Cilento Coast, namely Agropoli and, some 70 miles southwarsd, Scario. House values will be slightly raised here, but again, shopping around can unearth a bargain. In Agropoli, a complex of newly built homes some 10 minutes’ walk from the sea recently came on the market from around $150,000 for one bedroom. If you absolutely require a sea view, budget around $160,000 for a one-bedroom and a further $10,000-$15,000 for a two-bedroom option.

As ever, prices drop significantly if you are prepared to take on a home that may be liveable but could do with some fixing up. But for house hunters lured by the countryside but want to maintain a sea view, the hills over Casal Velino are a rather inexpensive option, with a new-build one-bedroom purchase able to be bought from as little as $90,000.

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About the author

The author writes about property for sale in Italy at Homes and Villas Abroad. She is also knowledgeable on luxury Tuscany property and Italian mortgage deals.

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