Accompanied by Great Estate consultant Ulrika Elfström, Suzanne and Greg’s love for Italy turned into a special home: Casale L’Armonia.
For Suzanne and Greg Smith, Italy had long been a beloved destination, a place to explore with curiosity and wonder. Over time, however, that connection developed into something deeper: the desire to have a place of their own here. Today Suzanne and Greg live in the United States, dividing their time between Washington D.C. and Florida. After long professional careers, retirement has given them a precious opportunity: time to devote to their passions, to travel and to the projects that had long remained in the background.
Among these, one in particular: finding a home in Italy, a place to return to year after year, building new memories together with their family.
THE SEARCH FOR AN AUTHENTIC PLACE
Even before starting their search, Suzanne and Greg had already imagined the features of their future retreat: a natural landscape of hills and mountains, cultivated fields, lush vegetation and plenty of privacy. Nearby, a small town where they could experience the most authentic side of Italy and, perhaps, a lake that could add further charm to the scenery. But what they desired most was a genuine place, far from the most crowded destinations, where time flows at a different pace.
So they began exploring several regions of Italy, until their journey brought them to Perugia. And it was there that something changed.
Umbria welcomed them with its discreet beauty: gentle hills, ancient villages and views that look like paintings. An authentic land, elegant in its simplicity, where life still follows a natural rhythm. In that moment Suzanne and Greg understood they had arrived in the right place.
THE MEETING WITH CASALE L’ARMONIA
Among the properties they visited, one in particular immediately spoke to their hearts: casale L’Armonia.
Nestled in the peaceful Umbrian hills, near the historic village of Preggio (PG), L’Armonia is a property that lives in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature, composed of woodland, olive trees and a small stream that accompanies the silence of the place. The residence, recently renovated and in excellent condition, conveyed a special feeling from the very first moment.
But what truly captivated Suzanne and Greg was the panorama: the view opening towards the mountains, the quiet that surrounds the property and the sense of serenity that comes from simply standing still and observing the landscape.
It was easy to imagine the future within those walls, and Suzanne and Greg immediately recognised the potential of the place. With a few improvements and small interventions, casale L’Armonia would become much more than a house: a destination to live in, to love and to pass on.
A SHARED JOURNEY
During this journey, Suzanne and Greg found a valuable guide in Ulrika Elfström, Great Estate’s international consultant. From the very first meeting a relationship of trust and understanding was established, so much so that Suzanne and Greg consciously chose to rely on her to accompany them through the purchasing process. Even today Suzanne and Greg recall with gratitude the way Ulrika followed every detail.
“Her knowledge of the local property market, combined with clear and attentive communication, made every stage of the process smooth and well organised. Ulrika supported us with professionalism and sensitivity, often anticipating our needs and finding solutions with great promptness.”
Ulrika thus became a reliable point of reference, a constant presence capable of transforming a complex process into a smooth and reassuring experience.
A HOME LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE
Today L’Armonia represents much more than a property. In the coming years Suzanne and Greg will begin to enjoy it as a holiday home for the family, a place where they can gather and share special moments. Over time they hope to spend more and more months in Umbria, immersing themselves in the local lifestyle , among village markets, culinary traditions and days that pass slowly among the hills. The doors of their home will always be open to friends and relatives, invited to discover that small corner of Italy that managed to capture their hearts. Because, in the end, this is the true meaning of their project.
AN EXPERIENCE TO RECOMMEND
Looking back on their purchasing journey, Suzanne and Greg speak about their experience with Great Estate with enthusiasm and gratitude. With conviction, they encourage anyone dreaming of a home in Italy to rely on the group and, in particular, on Ulrika’s professionalism.
For them, purchasing L’Armonia was more than a simple real estate investment. It was the beginning of a new story, made of sunsets over the Umbrian hills, laughter around a table and that sense of peace that only certain places are able to offer.
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