Marchirolo: Brokers Andrea Lagreca and Fabio Prodezza discuss their decision to join Gruppo Toscano

After more than twenty years of experience in the local real estate market, Broker Andrea Lagreca talks about the decision, shared with his partner Fabio Prodezza, to open the first Toscano affiliated office in Marchirolo: a new phase designed to provide the team with tools, training and new development prospects in the area.

Having worked in real estate for many years, how did the decision to join Gruppo Toscano and start this new professional phase together come about?

I started working in real estate in 2004, right after graduating from high school. In 2010, I opened my own company and since then I have continued to carry the business forward without ever stopping.

The decision to join Gruppo Toscano comes from our shared desire to take a further step forward in terms of quality.

From the very beginning, we perceived the solidity of the company and had the feeling of becoming part of a real Group. What struck us most was a vision of real estate that aligns with our own: our goal is to sell the properties entrusted to us well and to fully satisfy the clients who turn to us.

The training model was one of the decisive factors in our choice. Over the years, our business has grown and today we work with a large team. We therefore felt the need to offer our agents more structured training, allowing them to develop ever greater skills and provide clients with an even more complete service.

What prospects do you see for the development of the brand in your area?

From our point of view, there is room to develop the brand, with the opening of new affiliated offices.

We are ambitious and we like the idea of building and consolidating Gruppo Toscano’s presence in the area, sharing its values and creating an increasingly solid network.

How has real estate demand changed in Marchirolo and the surrounding areas in recent years?

The introduction of the ecobonus represented an important turning point for the real estate market in our area. As long as it was possible to access the incentives, older properties attracted strong interest, mainly because they offered the possibility of carrying out a complete renovation and improving the property’s energy efficiency.

Today, now that this phase has ended, attention has shifted more toward new builds. Clients are willing to pay more for a new property than for an older one because they are looking for modern solutions, with materials and systems capable of guaranteeing savings, including in terms of energy consumption, over the long term.

In our area, this trend is also supported by the presence of many cross-border workers, who generally have greater spending power and show stronger interest in new or recently renovated properties.

What characteristics distinguish the area’s real estate offering today, and which areas record the highest demand?

Marchirolo is located between Lake Maggiore and the Italian side of Lake Lugano, in an attractive and scenic setting made up mainly of small towns with urban centres of up to ten thousand inhabitants.

This structure is also reflected in the real estate offering: new builds mainly consist of detached houses and single- or two-family villas, often built in the highest energy classes. These are modern, high-quality solutions sought after by local clients or buyers from nearby areas, including many cross-border workers looking for efficient, comfortable homes that are ready to move into.

The greater focus on new properties and on homes with more advanced energy and living features has helped support property values, which have grown over time in different ways depending on the area.

The areas overlooking Lake Maggiore have recorded the most significant increases, thanks to the quality of the setting and more dynamic demand. The Italian side of Lake Lugano is also attracting growing interest.

Foreign buyers have also increased in recent years. Germans, Dutch buyers and Swiss citizens in particular are showing interest in these areas: the former are attracted by the appeal of the Italian lakes, while the latter are also drawn by the possibility of living in Italy while remaining close to their own country.

What are the priorities of this first phase with Gruppo Toscano, and what goals do you have for your agency?

The first goal for 2026 is to fully acquire and master the method and tools made available by Gruppo Toscano. We believe they can concretely support the agency’s development, both for us as owners and for the people who work with us, offering everyone greater professional prospects.

In the immediate future, we therefore want to put the method into practice, strengthen internal skills and enhance the people within the agency.

We already have a good team and I have perceived a great deal of enthusiasm from everyone. Today we look to the future with greater determination: within a national Group, we have the opportunity to build a solid network in the area, enhancing teamwork and, in the future, also evaluating new openings.

You chose to join Toscano at a particularly positive moment for your business: what encouraged you to invest in a new development path?

The decision to join Toscano Franchising came precisely during a particularly positive year for us. It was the moment when we understood that, even when things are going well, there is always room to do more and improve.

I believe the central point is to work well and consistently with people. The investment is not only economic, but also human: building relationships, conveying trust and offering a positive service allow you to work effectively, regardless of the market phase.

For this reason, we want to invest even more in professionalism and in the quality of our relationship with clients, strengthening the agency’s recognition in the area. As I always say, to do our job well, both competence and heart are needed.