pianopiano's activity

Questions Asked

I would be very grateful for a link of pre dial budget phone numbers in Italy for phoning UK mobile to mobile. The ones you can call first before you enter the number.( ie without needing a card)  Thanks in advance

Fri, 12/18/2009 - 06:41

Comments posted

Sat, 09/25/2010 - 19:11

Hi Cardi, really not sure about this but think its not correct to use mentre because its already implied........... "Be careful not to combine conjunctions (like mentre) with the gerundio -- this is agrammatical because the gerundio when used in this way implies mentre." http://www.ilgur.com/2009/11/lesson-196-understanding-il-gerundio-in.html

Sat, 09/25/2010 - 14:49

Hi Valentina, Thanks for above. Can you explain the subtle difference between using the gerund in the past as opposed to simply just using the imperfect? For example : stavo pensando or pensavo are not necessarily the same and interchangeable are they?....... do you use the former when you want to describe a continous action that was in the process of happening in the past and the imperfect to describe an action or event that was not specifically in the process of happening at that moment of time? If for instance you added mentre befor the imperfect would that make them the same in meaning to a native speakers ear? stavo pensando quando ho avuto un buon idea MENTRE pensavo ho avuto un buon idea In summation what i am trying to understand is when would would it be appropriate to choose the gerund + stare (past progressive) in the past and NOT the imperfect?

Thu, 09/23/2010 - 14:50

Hi, currency broker is best method for exchanging large chunks. (UBS shameful bunch) Fabrizio, if you dont mind me asking which banks are offering fixed rate mortgages of 1.85%? or are you alluding to a non retail deal that no longer exists? What approx are the best fixed retail rates on offer at the moment?

Thu, 09/02/2010 - 17:40

mmmmm.....interesting, looks like part of same group Banca Popolare di Milano..........cant help wondering where the catch may be? (batteries?) 

Mon, 07/05/2010 - 17:35

Hector my "italian roof" tips: 1. is to price doing this job properly before you sign the preliminary contract. You havent given much detail but if this is an old house requiring comprehensive seismic control, replacement of travi and pianelle etc you may be in for a very nasty shock. 2.You need a reliable geometra.

Mon, 06/07/2010 - 09:16

Absolutely no evidence of the boom here Penny, or even a "bit" of one.......and with the euro tanking would of thought the money was best left in Switzerland! 

Sun, 06/06/2010 - 09:43

  Here in the Marche the restored farmhouse market favoured by N Europeans appears very flat save the occasional sale of those with really beautiful locations.....Many Brits living here are finding the exchange rate difficult - although mercifully improving of late - and more are selling up. With the holiday lettings market now being so competitive and with imminent increases to CGT in the UK means the market is accumulating even more property.  One small scale agent/property finder geared to the English market around here told me recently she hasnt had an enquiry in 5 months!  Personally I dont think there are any more numbers of Dutch, Germans etc looking than before, rather they have just become much more conspicuous and valued by agents now British buyers have slowed to a trickle.  Naturally, compounding this is the wider economic uncertainty in the eurozone undermining buyer confidence. I think stagflation and market drift is going to be with us for 2 or 3 yrs minimum in Italy, because, even if inflation starts eroding nominal asset prices, with austerity measures and bail outs being announced on a daily basis across the the Eurozone the idea that wages will be increasing any time soon looks fanciful. Ensuring a buyers market for the forceable future. Saying this you are out of my patch.....I would definitely agree with Sebastiano above and guess If you are marketing under e150,000 that you are probably in the least affected part of the market, ie the lower end, but transaction numbers have got to be down. Good luck!

Fri, 06/04/2010 - 18:46

Yes no CGT in Italy after 5 yrs........ however that doesnt mean anything to UK revenue......because the 5 yr law does note exist.  If you have a profit after allowances and the property is NOT your principle residence......you will still despite the Italian law have to declare this to UK IR. This is a very common and often costly mistake people make. This issue was exacerbated a few years ago when lower cadastral values were deliberately declared on purchase to lessen tax burden but only served eventually to increase the CGT liability on sale.

Fri, 06/04/2010 - 18:35

moderators no idea why post was published in triplicate only posted once     oiuiuuoiiuio

Fri, 06/04/2010 - 18:33

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