British expat brings one-euro houses to life in Sicily!

British expat brings one-euro houses to life in Sicily!

Since 2017, Italy has launched a bold program that allows buyers to purchase properties at a symbolic price of one euro. This initiative aims to revitalize structurally weak regions, especially in the south of the country. As a rule, these are houses in need of renovation that must be renovated within two to three years in order to breathe new life into the rural area. The focus is particularly on the British emigrant George Laing, who purchased such a one-euro house in Mussomeli, Sicily in December 2022, thereby taking a significant step towards community building and tourism. Loud Mercury The property he purchased was in relatively good condition, which made it possible to renovate it inexpensively.

Laing invested less than €11,700 in renovating his home and an additional €5,000 for administration costs and energy certificates. He is now offering his renovated one-euro house as holiday accommodation and has already aroused the interest of around 600 potential guests. Numerous one-euro properties can be found through the 1eurohouses.com platform, and Laing plans to purchase more homes in Mussomeli to create a community of one-euro homes.

Growing popularity of one-euro houses

Interest in one-euro houses will remain high in 2025. The initiative aims to secure abandoned properties and repopulate small villages in Italy. Interested buyers must contact the local authorities directly and commit to renovating the purchased properties. Loud Idealista A map was created showing active 1 euro house programs in various Italian villages.

Among the villages known for the One Euro program there are some attractive locations:

• Nulvi (Sardinien): Nahe zu beliebten Küstengebieten, Fahrzeit zu Stränden ca. 30-45 Minuten.
• Ollolai (Sardinien): Bekannt für seine einzigartige Werbeaktion nach Trumps Wahlsieg, die Auswanderer ansprach.
• Fabbriche di Vergemoli (Toskana): Ein idealer Ausgangspunkt für historische und natürliche Sehenswürdigkeiten.
• Zungoli (Kampanien): Hat eine vierte 1-Euro-Haus-Initiative, wobei Renovierungsprojekte innerhalb eines Jahres abgeschlossen sein müssen.
• Biccari (Apulien): Richtet sich an Rentner und Menschen auf der Suche nach einem zweiten Zuhause.

The program has already achieved notable successes. Meredith Tabbone of Chicago bought a one-euro home in Sambuca di Sicilia and revitalized an alley, which she documented on social media. Numerous €1 homes remain available in Italy in 2025, with new villages potentially joining the program to encourage the repopulation and revitalization of remote regions. Each village has specific requirements and conditions for purchasing, so interested buyers should be well informed before taking the next step.