Apulia continues to captivate international investors, cementing its status as one of the Mediterranean's most sought-after luxury real estate markets. Between 2019 and 2025, foreign property inquiries for the region surged by 54%. Over the past year alone, transactions ticked up by 2%, led by Ostuni - crowned the top destination for wealthy international buyers with a 39% spike in deals - closely followed by Monopoli, which saw a 10% increase.

It is precisely in Monopoli that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has planted its flag. The luxury real estate arm of Warren Buffett’s holding company operates in Italy through Palazzo Estate, founded in 2010 by Marina Rizzotto. With a portfolio of 500 properties averaging 2.1 million euros and an existing footprint in elite destinations like Como, Milan, Stresa, and Turin, the agency projects a 10% boost in revenue from its new Apulian outpost.

Anchored by an initial 100,000-euro investment, the expansion capitalizes on a clear market shift: affluent international buyers are willing to pay up to three times more for turnkey properties - such as traditional masserie, trulli, and historic villas - to avoid lengthy Italian bureaucratic renovation delays. Beyond the region's legendary landscapes, culture, and cuisine, tax incentives are also drawing buyers in. While the flat tax may not offer Americans a significant advantage over U.S. tax codes, a special 7% substitute tax on foreign-earned income for retirees or relocators moving to Southern Italian towns with populations under 30,000 - including those in Apulia - is proving to be an irresistible draw.