Owning a luxury residence in Milan can be a stroke of luck: in these cases, it’s a small treasure to be carefully managed, whether you choose to sell or generate income. According to Nativo, a company specialized in luxury short-term rentals, the latter option is preferred by luxury homeowners in Milan. According to co-founders Sara Lini and Adriano Frigoli, here are the reasons why more and more luxury property owners in Milan prefer renting over selling. According to Nativo’s data (Nativostay.com), over 30% of luxury property owners who approach them are considering both selling and renting, but almost all of them opt for renting after a thorough analysis of the market and economic factors. In short, the key factors that often determine the choice between selling and renting a luxury home in Milan are: inflation growth, difficulty in finding viable alternative investments – both in the real estate and stock markets, and government bonds – rising mortgage rates, and the increasing demand for luxury rentals influenced by events like Brexit or the introduction of a flat tax, as well as more fluid lifestyles that require greater mobility.
The reasons for choosing to rent a luxury home in Milan are diverse:
Protection against inflation: Firstly, the luxury rental sector represents a protected segment within the real estate market. A luxury property is considered a solid asset against inflation and an option that safeguards long-term investment returns.
Difficulty in investing sales proceeds: Currently, there are no convenient and alternative solutions to invest the liquidity generated from selling a luxury property. The instability of the stock market, compounded by geopolitical factors and rising commodity costs, makes residential real estate investment in Milan more profitable compared to other options, such as government bonds. For example, renting a two-bedroom apartment in Milan with an open-ended lease averaging a gross annual yield of 5.5% for the owner, which proves to be more lucrative than government bonds, generating revenue of 3.75%.
Limited supply of luxury properties: Another aspect to consider, for those who temporarily leave Milan but intend to return, is the difficulty in finding a luxury property in the city. Demand consistently exceeds supply, and many properties are owned by families who do not require liquidity, so those who own a beautiful apartment often hold onto it.
Olympic Games effect: Additionally, the Olympic Games effect should not be overlooked. Many believe that prices will continue to rise at least until 2026, which is why they choose to generate income from their assets until the market reaches its peak.
ECB interest rate hikes: Looking at the economic context, the European Central Bank’s tight monetary policy has led to a significant increase in mortgage interest rates. This means that those who purchased a property in the past at lower rates would end up paying much more if they decided to purchase another one, consequently losing the advantage of the previous rate.
Growing rental demand: Other factors influencing the choice to rent instead of selling involve the growing demand for rentals from high-spending foreigners, making this segment particularly lucrative. Many of Nativo’s tenants come to Italy to take advantage of the flat tax, while others arrive after having lived in London for an extended period due to Brexit. In general, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Milan is attracting a great deal of talent, including successful executives and entrepreneurs, which naturally drives strong demand for luxury rental properties.
Greater flexibility: Lastly, changing lifestyles and work patterns make it challenging for property owners to predict where they will live in the future. Flexibility becomes a crucial aspect, and renting offers the opportunity to keep options open for potential future use of the property.