Advertise real estate - Sell, buy, rent, and lease your properties in Europe

The widely known Lakes Maggiore, Garda and Como pull the hordes of visitors. But more and more foreigners investing in Italian Lakes real estate are disregarding the hordes of tourists and instead choosing the tranquil banks of nearby Lake Iseo, almost unheard of among most tourists but one that is no less appealing than this part of Italy's more famous stretches of water.

Iseo has just as attractive real estate opportunites, in particular if the property has exquisite views facing the shore. But they are much more affordable, with prices scarcely half of those in Lake Garda, some 20 miles away. As an example, 175,000-190,000 Pounds Sterling ought to be enough for somewhere with three bedrooms near Lake Iseo, while a mere 85,000 Pounds Sterling should buy a lake-view two-bedroom flat overlooking the lake, with a garden or terrace thrown in.

Additionally, four international airports lie less than 90 minutes away – Milan's Malpensa and Linate, Bergamo's Orio Al Serio (sometimes called Milan Bergamo) and a fourth in Brescia. One indicator to the growing attraction of this hidden treasure is evident in the gradually rising number of cars displaying foreign registration numbers on Iseo's charming streets in peak season.

Ms Stef Russo, head of Italian real estate search specialists The Real estate Organiser said: "We're telling our clients who are considering purchasing in bigger lakes such as Como and Maggiore to certainly take a look at Iseo. It's an area that is comparatively unknown, unaffected by overwhelming numbers of visitors and within easy reach of a clutch of airports as well as the Swiss border. We believe the market here can only show positive movement over the coming years."

To buttress the point, property prices across the country's Lakes region slipped by more than 4% – plunging by nearly 9% in some parts of Lake Maggiore, a study last year by real estate group Tecnocasa revealed. Lake Iseo weathered the storm best, showing a less-than 2% contraction.

Iseo, sometimes known as Lake Sebino, is between Lake Como to the west and Garda to the east and a few kilometres north of the cities of Bergamo and Brescia. Milan is some 50 miles south-west of the lake, or 90 minutes by road and 60 by rail.

It is Italy’s seventh biggest lake, some 15 miles long and three miles wide , runs north to south and is sheltered by mountains. It is a relaxing haven for people wanting to take part in a variety of water-based pastimes such as diving, windsurfing and angling.

The lake also contains Mount Isola, home to 2,000 people and Southern Europe's largest inhabited lake island. The two-mile isle is linked to the shore by ferry services from a number of towns. With virtually no motor vehicles, the island is very tranquil and is perfect to be explored on foot or bicycle. Mt Isola is also known net-making industry, which began with fishing nets but has since expanded to include sporting nets for volleyball and tennis.

Returning to the lake's shores, the eastern banks house the prettiest towns and villages, such as Sulzano, Sale Marasino and Iseo, with a steeper, rockier landscape on the opposite shores. Iseo has the greatest number of visitor attractions, including an unfinished 900-year old church.

The surrounding countryside is full of monasteries, abbeys and castles that can be found on foot, bike or horseback. And in winter, the ski slopes of Montecampione are particularly popular. Be aware that this area being close to the foot of the Alpine mountains means that a fair few of the walking and cycling paths are a bit of a climb.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com