Live next door to George Clooney for only €850,000

Be George Clooney's next door neighbour!

An amazing opportunity in a very sought-after location. This current 3 bedroom property (approx. 200 sqm including attic) is the entire top floor of a 3-storey building,  directly next door to Villa Oleandra.

It has a shared garden leading down to the lakeside, with a gateway leading directly into the lake. Just below it is a cute public harbour, where you can rent a boat space from the local town hall.

The property has a host of original features including cotto lombarda flooring (very rare and precious nowadays), as well as original parquet and lovely wooden double doors.

There is a balcony running the entire width of the house at the from overlooking the lake and Mr Clooney's garden!

It offers a great investment opportunity and is ripe for modernisation of the main floor and total renovation of the attic space above.

The main floor is currently made up of a wide lake front living room with balcony and stunning lake views, a separate kitchen, 2 bathrooms and 5 further rooms.

The property has large french window and is both quiet and private.

A garage is included in the price and there is lots of free parking very close by for guests.

Laglio offers several amenities all within walking distance and from the apartment  you can easily reach 3 restaurants, a local shop, café and public beach.

In the neighbouring villages you have access to the ferry stops allowing you to reach a number of towns on the Lake, including Como, Bellagio and Argegno.

For more information and a full photo-gallery go to http://www.lakecomoproperties.com

Peak season is peaking early on Lake Como

Due to an unprecedented number of bookings for the peak weeks of July and August, we have sourced some stunning new accommodation for our clients. All of the accommodation has been verified as meeting our exacting requirements, so you can be sure that you will find everything to your satisfaction.

Please click on the links below and from our main pages to find a selection of properties:

Villas with pools 

Villas without pools

Apartments with pools

Apartments without pools

Last Minute Availability Lake Como

Remaining July and August availability reduced from  €1500 to ONLY €1250 per week

Montagne del Sole, Argegno – 2 bedroom lake view apartments, sleep up to 6

Book your stunning Lake Como 2 bedroom apartment with pool today at this very special offer price for any remaining availability at only €1250 per week.

Note the pool is shared between only 4 apartments, so plenty of space to enjoy yourselves.

DATES AVAILABLE:

any time before 13th July at only €1250 per week

21st to 26th July – 5 night special only €750

23rd to 30th August at only €1250 per week

Villa Rosa - Remaining July and August availability reduced from  €4900 per week to ONLY €3900 per week

DATES AVAILABLE:

any time before 19th July

23rd to 30th August

Villa Lilla - Remaining July and August availability reduced from  €5900 per week to ONLY €4900 per week

DATES AVAILABLE:

any time before 12th July

16th to 23rd August

23rd to 30th August

(web site prices reflect these new reductions)

Argegno, 2 bedroom apartments with pools & lake view from €275,000

Montagne del sole - the sunny mountain where the sun shines from sunrise to sunset!

Lake Como Properties - www.lakecomoproperties.com - tel: 0039 348 4108544

In the small village of Muronico, just minutes above the popular town of Argegno on the well-known western shore of Lake Como. It is 15 minutes from Como town and 60 minutes from Milan Malpensa.  The development consists of only 4 apartments: • 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom • open plan living space with large windows • spacious 65 sq metres + outside space • garden & portico or terrace • beautiful lake and mountain views * includes kitchen and all furniture • 12 x 6 metre pool, shared between only 4 apartments • free parking or garages available to purchase They are being sold, fully furnished and equipped for rental. Everything is included - fully fitted kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, wifi, satellite TV - even  the bedding and the cutlery! Solar panels provide hot water and keep running costs low. For RENTAL INFORMATION and MORE IMAGES, follow the link to our rental web site for this property Montagne del Sole apartments. The apartments have been rented very  successfully for the last 4 summers and provide around €25,000 per annum each in rental income. Details of the apartments €275,000 - Top floor by pool with large wrap-around balcony to front, rear patio/garden, lake and mountain views plus 32 sq metres of garden and 44 sq metres of terrace. €283,000 - Top floor by woods with wrap-around balcony to front, small side garden and  rear patio, lake and woodland views plus 48 sq metres of garden and 43 sq metres of terrace  €292,000 - Ground floor by pool with spacious garden to front and side, lake and  mountain views plus 208 sq metres of garden and 15 sq metres of terrace €296,000 - Ground floor by woods with spacious gardens to front and side, lake and woodland views plus 208 sq metres of garden and 15 sq metres of terrace Garages are available at an extra €25,000 – there is also ample free parking.    Swimming pool The properties share a large 12 x 6 metre pool with ample sunbathing space. It is furnished with sun beds and umbrellas. The pool is set to the side of the building making the most of both the lake and mountain views. Maintenance costs are shared between four apartments and at just €900 per apartment and covers all communal gardens and pool maintenance and general lighting costs.  Floor Plans Our services We are independent Property Finders and have lived here for 17 years. We have contacts with all the local agents as well as direct contacts with owners and builders, so that we can ensure that you have the most complete list of properties from one single source, thereby saving you a lot of time and effort researching on line. We can do all the groundwork for you here. We offer a comprehensive service which includes setting up your tax code, arranging your bank account, putting you in touch with a local lawyer and even helping you furnish your home. The aim is to make the process as straightforward and simple as possible for you. We can also put you in touch with previous purchasers who would be more than happy to provide references should you require them.  Lake Como Properties - www.lakecomoproperties.com - tel: 0039 348 4108544

The Legend of Befana - Italian folklore

In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman (or friendly old witch) who delivers gifts to children on Epiphany Eve (January 5).

The name Befana is thought to derive from the Feast of Epiphany -  "La Festa dell'Epifania".

According to folklore Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to deliver gifts - candy, if they have been good, or coal if they have been bad.

Befana is usually portrayed as an old lady or witch riding a broomstick. She is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses down the chimney.

In Christian legend, Befana was approached by the Three Wise Men a few days before the birth of the Infant Jesus. They asked for directions, as they were following his star in the sky, but she did not know where to send them. Instead she offered them a bed for the night. The next day, as gratitude for her hospitality, they invited her to join them on their journey, but she declined as she had too much housework to do. She later regretted this and set out on her own to find them and the baby Jesus, but was unable to. So to this day, the legend says, she is still searching and travels the night sky on her broomstick, visiting children on the way, delivering gifts, in the hope of finding the baby Jesus

Christmas and New Year on Lake Como

Winter may not be the most obvious time to visit Lake Como. But if you already own a holiday home here, it makes perfect sense to make the most of it out of season as well.

Most villages have special events over the festive season and all are decorated beautifully from early December onwards.

Menaggio has a special Christmas market on the last Saturday before Xmas. 

Como town has a daily Christmas market in Piazza Cavour and a weekly one in Piazza San Fedele. The Duomo is always lit up with a stunning display and there are special church services during the festive season.

The popular lakeside village of Argegno on New Year's day has a live advent scene, where various biblical and nativity scenes are acted out throughout the village. 

A procession starts at the church at 2.30 and is led by a brass band through the streets. This year (January 1st  2014), they acted out scenes starting with the annunciation and Archangel Gabriel, continuing with various scenes from the life of Christ acted out by freezing locals and ending with the last supper and the crucifixion. 

The event ends back outside the church where free mulled wine and panettone is served to everybody.

It's well worth visit, whether you are religious or not - the amount of effort and planning put into this annual event by the local villagers and the church is simply amazing. 

Winter is also a good time to come looking for property on Lake Como - the winter sun is just as beautiful as the summer sun. You can still sit in the sun and drink your cappucino, with a jacket and scarf. Temperatures can dip as low as zero at night and you sometimes get snow. It never lasts very long, as it disappears as soon as the sun comes out again. 

If you are coming looking for a holiday home on Lake Como, expect estate agents to be closed between around 24th December and 6th January as Befana is the eve of January 5th. Or instead call a local Property Finder, to fix your appointments for you in advance so that you can get the most out of your vacation time and not have to rely on the opening hours of estate agents .

(Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way To Santa Claus at Christmas, so if you are an Italian, you get 2 lots of presents!)

See more on the legend of Befana.