European Dream Homes For Less Than $1
Ever dreamed of living in Europe but assumed it was way too expensive? Maybe it’s that centuries-old home in an Italian village that caught your eye, or a quiet place nestled somewhere amidst the Swiss mountains. Or maybe you’d go anywhere in Europe just to be able to fulfill your childhood fantasy of living within a short drive to the sea. Well, that fantasy might soon become a reality. Tons of places in Europe, especially Italy and Switzerland, are giving away homes for as little as $1. That’s right, $1.
There’s just one catch. Most of these places are old. Just how old? We’re talking a minimum of a hundred years, probably older. And they’re falling down. If you buy one of these ancient homes, you’re also agreeing to renovate it within a certain time frame. But if you’re up for a project, you could end up with the home of your dreams at a steal of a price.
Let’s take a look at some of the best European Dream Homes For Less Than $1. And before you go, make sure to pick up a Newverest Trek Scratch Off Map of the World so you can track and plan your trips!
Hillside Home: Mussomeli, Sicily, Italy
Normal prices for a home in Sicily start in the $200,000s and go up to the millions. But in Mussomeli, they’re selling homes for as little as $1. You can live on a steep hillside that’s only a 40-minute drive from the Mediterranean Sea. But make sure you do your homework first. The home you’ll be buying has been abandoned for years, and before you can even think of moving in, it will require heavy renovations that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars to get it back up to living standards. Are you ready?
Alpine Village: Locana, Piedmont, Italy
In Locana, they’re not just giving away homes, they’re paying you to move there. Want an Italian country home in a real Alpine Village? Locana lies in the mountains of Italy that border Switzerland and France, and their homes are in need of some repair. The big problem with Locana is that people have been leaving it for larger cities, and the population is quickly dwindling. In order to attract young professionals who might boost business and bring their families with them, Locana will pay you $10,000 over 3 years to live there. There’s no real catch, either. You just have to enjoy the mountain air.
Swiss Mountains: Monti Scìaga, Ticino, Switzerland
This Swiss mountain village is selling homes for, you guessed it, $1. Yes, they’re in bad shape, but you’ll get to live amongst snowy mountains and beautiful mountain lakes. Sound too remote for you? Milan is just 70 miles away. Drive into the city any time you like, then return to your mountain retreat. If you’re up for a little adventure, this is a good one to consider. Even though the houses are falling apart, plumbing won’t be an issue. Monte Scìaga is hooked up to the water mains. It’s one less thing for you to worry about, and one more reason to consider buying here.
Family Homes: Borgomezzavalle, Piedmont, Italy
Just a little farther north than Locana is Borgomezzavalle, an even smaller but just as quaint mountain village with a quiet location and homes to give away. Of course, there’s always a catch. Some of these homes are crumbling away, and the population of the town has dropped to about 300 people. But as an added incentive, Borgomezzavalle is giving $1,000 to any newborns and $2,000 to anyone willing to start a business there. So if you’re already planning to start a family or a business, you could do a lot worse than moving to Borgomezzavalle. Is this your dream home?
Live on an Island: Ollolai, Sardinia, Italy
How does living on an island sound? Sardinia, Italy sits right smack in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and it’s desperate for people to live there. How desperate? You can buy a stone house for just $1. There are beaches, mountains, and cliffs that give this island a dreamy quality hard to find in other places. The caveat is that all the homes are rundown and in need of extensive repairs to be livable. The good news? Ollolai says you can fix them up for $25,000. That means for a working, ready-to-live home, you’d only be paying $25,001. We’re not sure how you feel, but we think that’s still a heck of a bargain.
Rural Village: Zungoli, Campania, Italy
How would you like to live a short drive from Naples and the Amalfi Coast? Only 1,000 people call Zungoli home, but that’s not for lack of beauty. In 2015, this village was officially recognized as one of the most beautiful places in all of Italy. No wonder, either. Here you’ll find cobblestone paths, farm homes, and even Medieval bridges. And guess what? This is the one place on our list where the homes are actually in decent shape. They still need some fixing up, but they’re not just in ruins. As long as you promise to bring your home back to life, you can get it for a bargain. Sound good? We think so too!
All right, so what do you think? Are you ready to find your European dream home? If you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and getting a little dirty, you can find the home you’ve been fantasizing about for a steal of a prices. Sure, there might be a catch or two that comes with it, but what does that matter when you’ll be living in the Swiss Alps or a beautiful Italian village just miles from the sea?
If you decide to take the plunge, remember your Newverest travel map. Scratch off the places you’ve already been so you’ll never forget them, and plan new places to visit. How many countries can you drive to from your new European home? Make a bucket list and check them off as you go. And don’t forget to send an email and let us know how your journey went. We just love hearing adventure stories at Newverest. Happy house hunting!
