As 2025 concludes, it presents a valuable opportunity to analyze trends within the Italian real estate market. A recent analysis by Immobiliare.it, a prominent platform in the sector, highlights the evolving preferences of Italians seeking to buy or rent homes. Rome continues to hold its position as the most sought-after city, with
Milan and Turin closely following.
Rome remains the dominant player, accounting for 7.5% of total property searches for purchase and an impressive 11.2% for rentals. These figures reflect a consistent trend compared to the previous year, when the percentages were 7.5% and 12.5%, respectively. As Italy’s capital, Rome continues to be a central hub for real estate investment.
Comparative analysis of major cities
Milan and Turin are in close competition for the second
and third most desired locations. In 2025, Milan captured approximately 4% of property purchase searches and 6.5% for rentals. This marks a decline from the previous year’s 7.7% for purchases, indicating a slight shift in interest. Meanwhile, Turin attracted 2.5% of potential buyers and 4% of rental inquiries.
Following these major urban centers, cities like Genoa and Naples also play significant roles in the real estate landscape. Genoa ranks fourth with 1.8% of purchase searches
and fifth for rentals, achieving 2%. Naples closely trails behind, sitting at fifth for sales with 1.6% and fourth for rentals at 2.8%.
Popular neighborhoods and rental trends
Examining specific neighborhoods reveals that both Rome and Milan dominate the residential market. For rental properties, Rome’s Historic Center is the clear leader, accounting for 0.94% of searches. It is closely followed by the Parioli-Flaminio area at 0.86% and the Salario-Trieste district at 0.79%. Interestingly, the Bologna-Policlinico area has slipped to fourth place.
When it comes to property sales, both cities are nearly even. The Historic Center of Rome and the Città Studi neighborhood in Milan each claim 0.92% of requests. However, Milan also boasts notable neighborhoods such as San Siro and Affori-Bovisa, which have 0.89% and 0.86% of searches, respectively.
Key features and second home preferences
Proximity to metro stations remains a crucial factor for those interested in purchasing or renting properties. In Rome, the San Giovanni metro station tops the list with 1.5% of purchase preferences and 1.8% for rentals. Loreto in Milan ranks second for purchases, while Termini in Rome is the second most preferred for rentals at 1.4%.
Shifts in preferences for second homes also highlight a significant trend. In 2025, the scenic Lago di Garda emerged as the most popular destination, accounting for 6.4% of searches. Following it are the beautiful Isola d’Elba with 4.8% and the picturesque Altopiano di Asiago at 3.9%. For rentals, the Castelli Romani region leads with nearly 12% of inquiries.
Desired amenities and timing of searches
When considering the features that buyers prioritize, having a terrace is paramount, despite a slight decrease from 39.3% to 38%. Following closely are elevators at 27.4% and balconies at 24%. For renters, there is a strong preference for furnished properties, with 40% indicating this as a key requirement.
Timing also plays a crucial role in the house-hunting process. Most Italians prefer to search for homes during the early part of the week, with Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays accounting for around 45% of searches for purchases. This figure rises to 48% for rentals. In contrast, weekend searches drop significantly to around 11.5% on both Saturday and Sunday.
Rome remains the dominant player, accounting for 7.5% of total property searches for purchase and an impressive 11.2% for rentals. These figures reflect a consistent trend compared to the previous year, when the percentages were 7.5% and 12.5%, respectively. As Italy’s capital, Rome continues to be a central hub for real estate investment.0