ABSTRACT
Every survey on the Italian real estate market faces many difficulties, owing to the fact that available sources of information are somewhat unreliable. The lack of information is an important cause of high opportunity costs which are added to the price demanded for each property. When analyzing house prices over a period of time, it is advisable to separate values from the dynamics of inflation. In the non-housing sector the most significant components are service- and shopping centres and industrial buildings. The former and quickly expanding sector is the target of the main developers: financial companies, building firms and insurance companies. In the building sector in Italy three kinds of professionals are officially recognized: architects, engineers and geometri, who are organized in professional institutions. Development and management consortia or corporations are often created and act according to the agreements signed with the local authority.
