Houses for sale in Milan

Milan – houses with gardens in a city of palazzi

Milan is a city of apartments: around the Duomo, Brera and Porta Nuova, palazzi and apartment buildings shape the cityscape. This makes the few houses, townhouses and villini with their own garden all the more sought after – for example in the quiet district between Via Serbelloni and Via Mozart, in the Maggiolina or around the Ippodromo di San Siro. As a real estate agent in Milan, we know these rare properties as well as the villa locations in the surrounding area, from Monza to the Brianza.

Five metro lines, the suburban rail network (Suburbano) and the high-speed station Milano Centrale connect the city and its surroundings. Living in a green area still means getting to the centre quickly – an important argument for families looking for a house in Milan or its hinterland.

The housing market in Milan – what you need to know

Milan’s housing market ranges from historic townhouses in the centre and villini from the 1920s and 1930s to modern villas with parkland in Monza and the Brianza. If you are buying a house here, you should keep an eye on very different aspects depending on location and year of construction.

• Limited supply: Detached houses are rare within the city and are often marketed discreetly. A search profile and direct contact with local agents are particularly important.
• Listed buildings: Many townhouses and Liberty-style buildings are protected by the Soprintendenza. This brings charm and lasting value, but also restrictions on façades, windows and alterations – clarify the status early on.
• Planning & cadastral compliance: Before signing the preliminary contract (compromesso), check that the house matches the cadastral plan and building permits – especially for older houses with extensions.
• Energy & renovation: Check the energy performance certificate (APE) and the condition of the roof, heating and windows. For older villas, renovation costs should be factored in realistically.
• Plot & building rights: The municipal land-use plan (PGT – Piano di Governo del Territorio) determines whether and how a property can be extended or rebuilt. Also check rights of way and boundaries.

The most popular areas to buy a house in Milan

The VON POLL REAL ESTATE Milan team introduces the most sought-after locations for buying a house – with a look at character, typical properties and target groups.

Quadrilatero del Silenzio & Porta Venezia

Between Corso Venezia, Via Serbelloni, Via Mozart and Via Cappuccini lies Milan’s “quiet quarter”: townhouses and palazzi with gardens, including Villa Necchi Campiglio. The Giardini Indro Montanelli and Corso Buenos Aires are just a few minutes’ walk away.

• Character: A quiet, green villa district in the city centre with Liberty and Art Deco architecture.
• Typical houses: Historic townhouses, small palazzi with gardens and grand city residences.
• Price level: The city’s top segment – supply is very limited.
• Amenities: Metro M1 at Palestro and Porta Venezia; shops, schools and doctors within walking distance.
• Leisure: Giardini Indro Montanelli, the Museo di Storia Naturale and the Quadrilatero della Moda nearby.
• Target group: International buyers, entrepreneurs and families with high expectations of location and architecture.
• Highlight: Villas with private gardens around Via Mozart and Via Serbelloni.

Maggiolina & Villaggio dei Giornalisti

In the north of Milan lie two of the city’s best-known villa districts: the Maggiolina with its quiet tree-lined streets and the distinctive igloo houses on Via Lepanto, and the Villaggio dei Giornalisti, built as a garden city in the 1910s and 1920s.

• Character: An established garden-city atmosphere with detached houses, villini and plenty of greenery.
• Typical houses: Villini from the 1920s and 1930s, terraced and semi-detached houses, and some modern new-build villas.
• Price level: Upper segment, with stable demand for houses with gardens.
• Amenities: Good connections via metro and Milano Centrale station; schools and local shops in the district.
• Leisure: Parco della Martesana and cycle paths along the Naviglio Martesana.
• Target group: Families and buyers looking for a house with a garden within the city.
• Highlight: The quiet tree-lined streets of the Maggiolina around Via Lepanto and its igloo houses.

San Siro & Zona Monte Rosa

West of CityLife, around the Ippodromo di San Siro and Via Monte Rosa, you will find elegant villini and small apartment buildings with gardens. The proximity to Parco di Trenno and Bosco in Città makes the area particularly attractive for families.

• Character: A quiet, green residential area with villas and smaller residential complexes.
• Typical houses: Villini with gardens, townhouses and modern villas.
• Price level: Upper to high, especially close to CityLife.
• Amenities: Metro M5 at Segesta and San Siro Ippodromo, M1 at Lotto; international schools nearby.
• Leisure: The Ippodromo, Parco di Trenno, Bosco in Città and the sports facilities around the stadium.
• Target group: Families, sports enthusiasts and international buyers.
• Highlight: Villas in the quiet side streets around the Ippodromo.

Monza & Brianza

North of Milan, Monza and the Brianza form one of the most sought-after villa regions in Lombardy. Around the Parco di Monza with the Villa Reale and the Autodromo, and in the towns of the Brianza, buyers will find spacious villas with parkland.

• Character: A green, affluent region with historic villas and plenty of space.
• Typical houses: Villas with parkland, country houses, detached and semi-detached houses.
• Price level: Considerably more space than in the city, with a wide price range – from family homes to luxury villas.
• Amenities: Suburbano rail lines and the SS36 expressway to Milan; schools and shops locally.
• Leisure: Parco di Monza, one of the largest walled parks in Europe, golf courses and the proximity to Lake Como.
• Target group: Families, commuters and buyers looking for a villa with land.
• Highlight: Villas right next to the Parco di Monza.

Buying a house in Milan with VON POLL REAL ESTATE

Whether as an investment or for your own use – buying a house and becoming a homeowner is still the dream of many people. Your own property gives you freedom of choice and design, protection against rising rents and is a good investment for retirement. If you are thinking about buying a house, you should define your wishes and ideas precisely – after all, for many people it is the biggest investment of their lives.

Whether a townhouse in the Quadrilatero del Silenzio, a villino in the Maggiolina or a villa with parkland in the Brianza – the independent VON POLL REAL ESTATE agents in Milan support you step by step in your search for the right house, from the first viewing to the notarial deed of sale (rogito). The close network of our offices across Europe and short lines of communication give you access to a wide selection of exclusive properties.

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