You've likely seen the myriad articles on the 'net about the amazing €1 houses you can find in Italy. Sounds like a dream, right? Ancient villa in a quaint town...all for the low, low price of €1!
It's not a dream. It's a nightmare. Here's why you should stop thinking of buying a €1 house in Italy.
They Need a LOT of Work
As the saying goes...you get what you pay for. 99% of these houses need serious renovation. And while the costs for the renovation will be less than what you'd pay in your home country, you're looking at years of work, in some cases.
You're Not Familiar with Italian Work Culture
You've done reno projects back home, you think, so how different could one in Italy be?
Turns out, a LOT different.
Italians are notorious for promising things (work done on a certain schedule, a certain way) that they can't or don't deliver. Some work by a certain rate per day, but then stretch the work out endlessly.
Oh and then there's the denuncio. I'm still not crystal clear on how this works but basically if a neighbor doesn't like the construction you're doing (maybe he thinks it's blocking his view of the mountains), he can file a complaint with the authorities. And the work is immediately blocked.
We know someone this happened to (and they're Italian). After spending time and money updating a building for their restaurant, the neighbor complained that the roof blocked his view. Now the restaurant is shut down!
If you know people, you're golden. We know masons, carpenters, and renovation specialists we can trust. But even I'm not looking forward to the small renovations we'll be doing on our house in Davoli.
They're Usually in Dead Towns
The reason small towns decide to offer €1 houses is that their population is rapidly dwindling and they're looking for a way to inject life back into the town.
If you're a hermit who doesn't mind driving down a winding mountain road to access stores, restaurants, and things to do, great. But if you like having amenities close by, don't want a car, or just want more humans around, these towns likely won't offer it.
Your Italian May Not Be Up to Snuff
I've had a surprising number of clients who want to move to Italy who don't (or barely) speak Italian. This might be ok in bigger cities where many people speak English, but in towns where you're thinking of buying a €1 house in Italy, you're going to need strong Italian skills. Not only to deal with the workers who renovate your house (and avoid misunderstandings) but also to make friends.
A Better Option
I know that spending a euro to buy a house sounds amazing when you live in a city where a tiny house is over a million. Even if you're not looking at a €1 house and are thinking about buying, think twice.
You might think you can sell the house if you get tired of it, but there are properties in rural areas that have been for sale for decades.
I've said it before, but renting a house in Italy is the way to go when you first arrive. It takes time to get to know an area, and what you think you want on Day 1 may change after a year. I'm making my third move in Calabria, and each town has been very different.
Renting gives you time to get to know a town or neighborhood. You'll better understand what you want and need after some time there. You can also get to know people who may be able to help you find the perfect house (and won't overcharge you because you're foreign. It happens!)
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