They found their dream property!

Thomas and Kjetil Hammer Tveit bought property in Piemonte in Italy:

We just fell in love with the area

The couple Thomas and Kjetil Hammer Tveit from Oslo had long dreamed of experiencing Italian culture, food and wine close by. Now the dream has been realized.

By Rita Tvede Bartolomei

– We simply fell in love with the area, the people, the food and the wine. It is a very special feeling sitting on the terrace outside our house looking out over the rolling vineyards, and having the opportunity to take advantage of good local produce for cooking, and enjoy a glass of red wine actually produced by the grapes grown right here in the valley here, says Thomas Hammer Tveit.

In January 2019, Thomas and Kjetil bought a holiday home 400 meters above sea level in Piemonte, among Italy’s most famous food and wine districts.

The Italian real estate agent Case in Piemonte has for 15 years specialized in the proposing properties to Scandinavian customers. The company is run by Eli Anne Langen from Røros, Norway.

Norwegian broker gave security – the Italians gave hospitality

Kjetil and Thomas have spent several holidays in Piemonte in recent years, where they also have visited friends from Norway who has a home bought through Eli Anne and Case in Piemonte a few years back.

– You feel quickly at home in Italy, even if you can’t speak the language. The Italians are open and friendly, and very enthusiastic. It is touching to experience the genuine warmth they give us. Hospitality is an added motivator. We are therefore looking forward to getting closer in touch with the local environment and population, says Kjetil.

Thomas says it was reassuring to be able to use a broker who both understood their needs, knew the area and spoke Norwegian.

– Eli Anne made the whole buying process easier, and she helped us realize the dream we communicated to her, says Thomas.

Now they completely renovate the house: With Italian project manager

Kjetil and Thomas are in full swing with the total renovation of their traditional village house: A so-called cascina. The house of 180 square meters is from the beginning of the 20th century, with 2.000 sqm of lands, one part of which is Barbera vineyard. Of course, it also has its own wine cellar. The Cascina is at the top of a ridge, outside the village of Calosso and at the end of August, the home will be ready for them to live in.

– Eli Anne has provided us with a local project manager who manages the renovation work and gives us good professional tips and advice. He is proficient in English and has a full overview. This has made the renovation much easier, and it also feels safer, says Thomas.

The couple from Oslo says that they have been able to get much more for the money in Italy – than they would for a similar prospect in Norway.

– The house must be expanded with an extra bathroom and an extra bedroom, and next year we will be building a new swimming pool where the old garage stands. We look forward to using the house, both alone and with friends and family, says Kjetil.

Quick intro to Piemonte: Much more than truffles and red wine

Piemonte means “at the foot of the mountain” and is after Sicily, Italy’s second largest region. The capital is Torino. Northern Italian Piemonte extends over nearly 25,000 square kilometers and borders to Switzerland and France.

It has 56 conservation areas, and nearly 2,000 square kilometers of the area is protected by UNESCO. The region is rich in agriculture and industry and is among the most prosperous in Italy. Looking for gastronomic experiences and cultural experiences, Piemonte is the place to go.

The area is renowned for its quality wines and its aromatic white truffle. But the food culture is not the only one that impresses: Piemonte has several, well-known historical buildings. The city of Torino has, among other things, the old royal palace; Palazzo Reale, but also Palazzo Madama, who was the first senate of the Italian kingdom not to forget the soaring spire of the Mole Antonelliana.