Three international VON POLL REAL ESTATE partners explain why buying a property on Lake Garda, in Mallorca, or in Greece often marks the beginning of a new chapter in life today.
Whether it’s the lakeside promenade on Lake Garda, Mallorca’s mild year-round climate, or Greece’s Mediterranean lifestyle—people who buy property abroad today are usually looking for much more than just sunshine or an attractive investment. More and more often, personal life plans take center stage: spending more time with family, working from a different location, establishing a new home base for the future, or the desire to diversify one’s life and assets over the long term.
“International buyers today make their decisions in a much more conscious and planned manner than they did a few years ago,” says Daniel Ritter, managing partner at VON POLL IMMOBILIEN. “They don’t just compare individual properties; they often compare different countries or regions with one another. For many, it’s no longer just about a vacation home, but about an additional home base, a retreat, or a long-term Plan B. The property thus becomes part of an overarching life and wealth strategy. This makes it all the more important to have partners who know the local market well and can competently guide people through this process from start to finish.” Three international VON POLL REAL ESTATE locations illustrate just how varied these desires can be.
Lake Garda: Falling in Love with a Place
At Lake Garda, the search often begins long before anyone even mentions real estate. Many people first fall in love with the region—with its blend of Mediterranean lifestyle, temperate climate, easy accessibility by car from Germany, and high practicality for everyday life. Verona is only about half an hour away, Milan about two hours, and South Tyrol is also within easy reach. Between the sailing areas in the north, the family-friendly towns on the east coast, and the elegant Riviera around Salò, each stretch of the shore has its own unique character and its own admirers.
“Our clients usually fall in love with the location first—the property is then the icing on the cake,” says Christian Weissensteiner, Master License Partner at VON POLL REAL ESTATE in Salò, Bolzano, and Milan. “Once you’ve fallen in love with Bardolino or Salò, you want to live right there. Location is key; everything else comes second.”
That’s precisely why the consultation doesn’t start with square meters or floor plans. What’s much more important at first is the question of how people want to live in the future. Whether it’s kitesurfing in Torbole, an evening at one of the small harbor restaurants, the Italian dolce vita along Salò’s lakeside promenade with its many restaurants and shops, or a private, idyllic life by the lake—only then can we determine which property fits the buyer’s lifestyle.
“Anyone fulfilling a lifelong dream should make the purchase with a clear head,” says Weissensteiner. That’s why, for him, it’s essential to combine enthusiasm with facts—from the building’s structure and legal framework to the ongoing costs. Especially in a dream destination, professional guidance is crucial to ensure that a dream turns into a sound long-term decision.
Mallorca: When Vacation Eventually Becomes Everyday Life
In Mallorca, too, the motivation of many buyers has noticeably changed. The island, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, has long been much more than a classic vacation destination. More and more people are able to work remotely or are consciously choosing to make a new place their home. Florian Waetzoldt and Christian Czarnetzki, licensed partners at VON POLL REAL ESTATE Mallorca—Santa Maria and Pollensa—recall a couple of entrepreneurs from Germany who were originally just looking for a vacation home. A house in need of renovation in a beautiful village gradually became a lovingly restored second home—and ultimately the family’s new primary residence.
“In the past, sunshine and good flight connections were often the main priorities. Today, many people are primarily looking for quality of life,” explains Waetzoldt. Entrepreneurs, founders, consultants, and creative professionals appreciate the international atmosphere just as much as the excellent infrastructure—from international schools and German-speaking doctors to a stable digital infrastructure for working from home. It is precisely this combination that transforms Mallorca from a vacation destination into a place where many people choose to make their home.
This trend is reflected in buyers’ expectations. Anyone choosing Mallorca today researches legal and tax conditions thoroughly and wants to be sure that the property will be a sound long-term investment as well as a home. “Spontaneous purchases are virtually nonexistent anymore,” says Waetzoldt. “Prospective buyers today seek transparency and professional guidance. They find that at VON POLL REAL ESTATE Mallorca.”
Greece: When an Investment Becomes a New Beginning
Greece combines attractive investment opportunities with exceptional cultural diversity—from the vibrant metropolis of Athens and the Attica region to the Greek islands. It is precisely this combination of economic and tax advantages with the Mediterranean way of life that is attracting more and more international buyers. Accordingly, the purchasing process often begins with economic considerations—and frequently ends on a surprisingly emotional note.
“Many clients are often initially interested in returns, appreciation, or investment opportunities,” reports Natalie Leontaraki, a licensed partner at VON POLL REAL ESTATE in Athens, the Cyclades, and Crete. “But the more they get to know the country and its people, the more their perspective changes. The focus is no longer on square meters or amenities, but on sunsets, hospitality, privacy, and the feeling of freedom—values that have become just as important to many today as economic metrics.”
Leontaraki has particularly vivid memories of an American family that initially wanted to purchase a villa on Mykonos as an investment. During the buying process, however, a completely different vision emerged: a place for the summer months where children and grandchildren could come together and create shared memories across generations. “In the end, it was no longer about returns,” says Leontaraki. “It was about creating a legacy for the family.”
This is precisely where Leontaraki sees her most important task: guiding international buyers safely through the legal intricacies of the Greek real estate market. Different legal frameworks, tax systems, and procedures often cause uncertainty at first. Together with a network of lawyers, tax advisors, engineers, and notaries, her team makes the entire purchasing process transparent and easy to understand.
More Than Just a Real Estate Purchase
“We’re seeing that buyers today make much more nuanced and informed decisions than they did a few years ago,” summarizes Daniel Ritter. “Especially in the premium segment, prospective buyers have long since moved beyond thinking in terms of a single vacation property; instead, they’re gradually establishing multiple centers of life—whether for reasons of quality of life, family considerations, or long-term wealth planning. At the same time, the quality of the respective location continues to gain importance. This makes it all the more important to have partners who know the local market, understand cultural nuances, and reliably guide people through these far-reaching decisions.”
Examples from Lake Garda, the island of Mallorca, and Greece show that international real estate purchases today often begin long before the decision to buy a specific property is made. Those who decide to purchase a second home abroad are often investing in a new chapter in their lives at the same time.
