Over the past couple of years, a growing number of quaint Italian towns have made headlines for selling ancient, vacant homes for less than the cost of a coffee.
Thanks to a government-backed scheme, for just €1, homeseekers from far and wide are able to snap up charming properties in picturesque Mediterranean villages, providing the perfect opportunity to truly embrace local customs, culture and cuisine.
The €1 scheme was launched in 2017 to help boost local economies and attract new residents to towns and villages with a declining population, with buyers required to renovate the properties within a specified timeframe.
From the rolling hills of Sicily to the rustic villages of Calabria, over 100 homes have found new owners through this initiative – and experts suggest that the scheme is only going to grow in popularity.
But as more Britons and other internationals flock to these underpopulated towns in search of a slower, simpler way of life, the process isn’t as straightforward as one might think.
When purchasing a €1 home, buyers must adhere to a series of commitments; such as planning the restructuring project within a year of purchase, as well as ‘supporting notarial fees for registration’.
Additionally, some properties may come with hidden costs that aren’t immediately obvious – issues like structural damage, outdated plumbing, and the need for extensive renovations can quickly escalate costs far beyond the bargain price tag.
Take Mussomeli, for example, a hilltop municipality in the heart of Sicily currently offering five 17th century properties for €1.
As more Britons and other internationals flock to underpopulated Italian towns in search of a slower, simpler way of life – is the government-backed €1 home scheme all as it seems?
Pictured is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home, situated on the cobbled street of Vicolo Giannino, and up for grabs for just €1 – but there’s a catch
Among them is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home, situated on the cobbled street of Vicolo Giannino.
Bleak photographs showcase the stark reality of the initiative, as the listing states the derelict property is in dire need of plumbing, air conditioning, heating and electrical wiring.
The barren home can be seen stripped of basic interiors, as rooms are left with exposed floorboards, caved-in ceilings, and cupboards hanging by their hinges.
The kitchen is, perhaps, the room in most dire need of attention, with torn wallpaper and peeling paint barely clinging on to its crumbing walls.
According to the listing on Case 1 Euro, the buyer would need to further invest in a fridge, stove, juicer, dishwasher, grill and coffeepot to turn it into a more functional space.
Meanwhile, the bathroom, adorned with discoloured mint-green tiles, features a sink, toilet and bathtub – which can be seen filled with dust and porcelain material.
What appears to be the master bedroom is arguably the property’s most furnished room, as a double-bed frame with a matching set of bedside drawers, wardrobe and dresser remain in their designated spots in surprisingly well-maintained condition.
The final room included in the listing appears to be either a second bedroom or lounge, with darkened, exposed floorboards contrasting against thin, cream-painted doors and white walls.
The kitchen is, perhaps, the room in most dire need of attention, with torn wallpaper and peeling paint barely clinging onto its crumbing walls
A double-bed frame with a matching set of bedside drawers, wardrobe and dresser remain in their designated spots in the master bedroom in surprisingly well-maintained condition
The bathroom, adorned with discoloured, mint-green tiles, features a sink, toilet and bathtub – which can be seen filled with dust and porcelain material
The barren home can be seen stripped of basic interiors, as rooms are left with exposed floorboards, peeling wallpaper and caved-in ceilings
Along with the overwhelming number of appliances needed to turn the home in a livable space, prospective buyers would need to additionally invest in a computer, a television, cable TV, internet and much more, to fully modernise the rooms.
The home is 53 kilometres from the nearby city of Agrigento, 58 kilometres from Caltanissetta, 99 kilometres from Enna, and 199 kilometres from Ragusa.
Summer temperatures in Mussomeli are within the 26 to 32 degree range, while minimum temperatures range from 3 to 6 degrees in winter.
It comes after a couple revealed they purchased a Sicilian townhouse at auction with a one euro starting bid – and transformed it into a stunning $250,000 Renaissance-style palazzo.
The council in the mountain village of Sambuca di Sicilia auctioned 16 abandoned homes in January 2019, with prices starting at a symbolic one euro.
Massoud Ahmadi, 70, and his wife Shelley, 60, ended up buying an abandoned 18th century townhouse in the village for just $10,500 at the sale and immediately set to work doing it up.
The crumbling internal walls were stained brown and the rooms were packed full of old junk, including a retro pram.
They spent $200,000 on the once ‘uninhabitable’ three-story property, with some of the bigger investments being a new staircase, installing new plumbing and repairing the roof.
Massoud Ahmadi, 70, and his wife Shelley, 60, revealed they purchased a Sicilian townhouse at auction with a one euro starting bid – and transformed it into a stunning $250,000 Renaissance-style palazzo
They spent $200,000 on the once ‘uninhabitable’ three-story property. LEFT: The exterior of the house when they bought it. RIGHT: The exterior of the house after
The home was in a sorry state when the couple bought it but thanks to their efforts, it slowly took shape and now it looks unrecognisable
Initially Massoud ‘couldn’t fathom’ renovating the property within a three year deadline imposed by the council – but he pulled it off thanks to the help of local architects and artisans.
‘After’ photos show the two-bedroom, 250 square meter house has retained its original wooden windows, majolica tiled floor and vaulted double-barreled ceilings.
It also features three bathrooms, a living room and an open-plan marble kitchen. Topping things off, there is a roof terrace serving up mountain views.
The couple completed renovations in January last year and now split their time between Sambuca di Sicilia and their home in rural Montgomery County, Maryland near Washington, D.C.