<strong>"€1 citizens": </strong>Buying a home in Italy for less than a dollar seems like an attractive prospect, but what happens after buyers seal the deal?
"€1 citizens": Buying a home in Italy for less than a dollar seems like an attractive prospect, but what happens after buyers seal the deal?
Courtesy Patrick Janssen
<strong>Idyllic spot:</strong> Morgane Guihot, from France, was one of the first buyers to purchase a €1 property in Mussomeli, a town located in the heart of Sicily.
Idyllic spot: Morgane Guihot, from France, was one of the first buyers to purchase a €1 property in Mussomeli, a town located in the heart of Sicily.
Comune Mussomeli
<strong>Bargain-rate house:</strong> Guihot and her husband purchased this 50-square-meter property, which they intend to use a second family home, for €1.
Bargain-rate house: Guihot and her husband purchased this 50-square-meter property, which they intend to use a second family home, for €1.
Courtesy Morgane Guihot
<strong>Renovation work:</strong> The pair have almost completed restyling the property after painting the walls and fixing the floors themselves.
Renovation work: The pair have almost completed restyling the property after painting the walls and fixing the floors themselves.
Courtesy Morgane Guihot
<strong>Happy customers: "</strong>What conquered us the first time we visited was the charm of the place," says Guihot. "It [Mussomeli] is super cute and locals are so welcoming."
Happy customers: "What conquered us the first time we visited was the charm of the place," says Guihot. "It [Mussomeli] is super cute and locals are so welcoming."
Courtesy Morgane Guihot
<strong>Rustic village: </strong>"The town is close to beautiful Sicilian destinations and not isolated as opposed to other villages," adds Guihot. "Here you've got everything you need, shops, supermarkets.
Rustic village: "The town is close to beautiful Sicilian destinations and not isolated as opposed to other villages," adds Guihot. "Here you've got everything you need, shops, supermarkets.
Maurizio Di Maria, Comune Mussomeli
<strong>Picturesque place:</strong> After surveying Mussomeli's €1 buildings, Belgian businessman Patrick Janssen opted to buy a more expensive home that needed less work.
Picturesque place: After surveying Mussomeli's €1 buildings, Belgian businessman Patrick Janssen opted to buy a more expensive home that needed less work.
Courtesy Patrick Janssen
<strong>Restoration process:</strong> "We were shown something like 25 old buildings, some badly in need of repair, so at the end we opted for a three-room decent building for €10,000 and I invested more money in the renovation," he tells CNN Travel.
Restoration process: "We were shown something like 25 old buildings, some badly in need of repair, so at the end we opted for a three-room decent building for €10,000 and I invested more money in the renovation," he tells CNN Travel.
Courtesy Patrick Janssen
<strong>Summer house:</strong> He has now almost completely refurbished the house and plans to use it as a holiday home, where his family can spend several weeks or months per year
Summer house: He has now almost completely refurbished the house and plans to use it as a holiday home, where his family can spend several weeks or months per year
Courtesy Patrick Janssen
<strong>High demand: </strong>After CNN broke the news that local authorities were selling off abandoned buildings to reverse depopulation in Sambuca, the Italian village was inundated with requests from potential buyers.
High demand: After CNN broke the news that local authorities were selling off abandoned buildings to reverse depopulation in Sambuca, the Italian village was inundated with requests from potential buyers.
Courtesy Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Price increase: </strong>Unable to meet demand, the mayor of Sambuca auctioned the properties to the highest bidder, and the houses were sold for up to €25,000 -- considerably more than €1.
Price increase: Unable to meet demand, the mayor of Sambuca auctioned the properties to the highest bidder, and the houses were sold for up to €25,000 -- considerably more than €1.
Courtesy Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Life changing decision: </strong>Meredith Tabbone, who is based in Chicago, submitted a bid for two dwellings without even visiting the town.
Life changing decision: Meredith Tabbone, who is based in Chicago, submitted a bid for two dwellings without even visiting the town.
Courtesy Meredith Tabbone
<strong>Bought unseen: </strong>"I Googled it but had really no idea what it was going to be like," she says. "At the end it turned out to be much better than I thought. The balcony is nicer".
Bought unseen: "I Googled it but had really no idea what it was going to be like," she says. "At the end it turned out to be much better than I thought. The balcony is nicer".
Courtesy Meredith Tabbone
<strong>New digs: </strong>Tabbone has completed all of the paperwork and is currently coordinating with architects regarding renovations.
New digs: Tabbone has completed all of the paperwork and is currently coordinating with architects regarding renovations.
Courtesy Meredith Tabbone
<strong>Second home: </strong>"I'm only 40 but have started to think about my future, when I'll retire from work," she adds. "People in Sambuca are warm, sweet and kind."
Second home: "I'm only 40 but have started to think about my future, when I'll retire from work," she adds. "People in Sambuca are warm, sweet and kind."
Courtesy Silvia Marchetti