October 30th, 2008

‘It all started out as a bit of an adventure’, Mario begins as he settles himself comfortably in his new office at the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Attard. ‘Although I had worked in the property market before, this was only on the financial perspective. I never imagined I would end up setting up my own estate agency, selling property in Sicily of all places!’ he remarks jovially.

Mario is a down-to-earth family man, with an excellent track record in financial services. A Certified Public Accountant since 1988, he is Director of Finance of a local insurance company and also Honorary Treasurer and Council Member at the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, setting up shop in the real estate industry was quite a change for the soft spoken 44-year old.

Mario continues to explain how it all came about. ‘I fell in love with Sicily – particularly the Pozzallo area – while I was there competing in a Table Football tournament six years ago’, he says. Although his first introduction to the treasures of Sicily came through his contacts within the Table Football network, Mario quickly discovered that the island had a lot to offer and seemed to be an undiscovered gem when it came to property.

‘My first initial involvement with the property market was when I had agreed to sell a few properties in Gozo with a friend of mine here in Malta. The feedback was excellent and we had sold five places in a matter of weeks… I was hooked! It was then that I decided to explore the Sicilian property market. I concluded that it was a place worth investing in and I ended up buying my own property in Ragusa two years ago’, Mario explains.

The fact that Mario has been through the entire process of buying property in Sicily is a distinct advantage. This, coupled with the fact that he has made excellent contacts with the locals, gives Go Sicily Properties added value. In actual fact, Mario works in partnership with a top Sicilian architect, Giovanni Palma, and so, is in the perfect position to offer the best service possible.

It is extremely difficult to find the type of service Mario takes pride in. ‘I don’t simply want to act as a broker’, he states. ‘I enjoy the human element of the business, so I always make it a point to get to know my client and their likes and dislikes. This help s me locate a property that would suit them’.

‘I always take time to introduce my clients to the Sicilian culture and not just the bricks and mortar that is for sale… I usually spend two or three days introducing clients to the area, the culture and of course, the properties. This is really what it is all about – I sell a lifestyle and not just a house’, he continues to explain.

But what about return on investment? Surely, non-residents thinking of investing in Sicily would want to rest assured that they are making a wise investment decision? Mario’s typical client is not the busy Sicilian businessperson looking to set up base in Sicily. Quite the contrary it would seem..

‘The properties I have on my books are usually set in very tranquil areas, surrounded by vast amounts of land, full of olive, carob and almond trees, that truly give the owners the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Sicilian countryside, while at the same time being close enough to all amenities’, he says. ‘We offer properties situated in absolutely fantastic areas’, he continues,’…so if you are looking for forests, mountains, meadows or even lakes or the seaside – we will have something on offer’, he elaborates.

As Mario flick through pictures of the properties in the area that are currently on the books – including converted and unconverted farmhouses – the conversation turns to the investment value of such places.

Mario explains that the area of Pozzallo also has great potential for very good returns on investment as well, especially in the current scenario of stock market tremors worldwide. The fact that the area has been earmarked for certain infrastructural developments, including an airport, a golf course and an upmarket yacht marina, also enhances its attraction as a sound investment. ‘Sicily is very accessible to us Maltese, and is especially convenient when we want to get away from it all and enjoy some peace and quiet’, Mario says.

‘With these new developments in the pipeline, the region will become increasingly attractive and accessible and property in the area is bound to earn a very good return in years to come’, he continues to explain as he indicates the location for the development projects on a detailed map of the area.

Over the past two years, Mario has sold property to a wide variety of clients. While his client base is predominantly Maltese, he has also sold property to people hailing from many different countries, including Finland, Australia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and even the United States.

‘I feel that one of our main strengths is the fact that we also offer a guided tour to potential investors – I know the area well and my partner is a local of Ragusa – so we can certainly give a comprehensive package when doing business. Whether you need financial guidance, assistance with applications for permits, legal services or even just to make contact with a local farmer to tend your land, we can sort it out!’ Mario exclaims enthusiastically.

It seems that while Sicily may indeed be a relatively undiscovered gem for many of those seeking to invest in the property market, we can all rest assured that the word will get around. And with the combination of beautiful architecture, acres of land, unspoiled countryside, hassle free viewing and the one-stop service it offers, Go Sicily properties can look forward to a bright and busy future.