<strong>Sambuca di Sicilia:</strong> This pretty Italian town was a pioneer in selling off homes for just over a dollar to try to revive its fortunes. Many of the buyers are said to be from North America.
Sambuca di Sicilia: This pretty Italian town was a pioneer in selling off homes for just over a dollar to try to revive its fortunes. Many of the buyers are said to be from North America.
Simone Padovani/Awakening/Alamy Stock Photo
<strong>Future plans: </strong>David Waters, an internet businessman from Idaho with a passion for Italian real estate, plans to renovate his newly acquired Sicilian abodes through crowdfunding -- and then give them away.
Future plans: David Waters, an internet businessman from Idaho with a passion for Italian real estate, plans to renovate his newly acquired Sicilian abodes through crowdfunding -- and then give them away.
Courtesy David Waters
<strong>Quiet corner: </strong>David Waters bought two adjacent buildings by placing winning bids of €500 for each. They're located in Sambuca's quietest corner, an ancient district where abandoned houses line the streets.
Quiet corner: David Waters bought two adjacent buildings by placing winning bids of €500 for each. They're located in Sambuca's quietest corner, an ancient district where abandoned houses line the streets.
Courtesy David Waters
<strong>Big job:</strong> Waters' two-floor properties need a thorough makeover, but says he wants to show people how such dilapidated homes can be transformed into "something gorgeous and great."
Big job: Waters' two-floor properties need a thorough makeover, but says he wants to show people how such dilapidated homes can be transformed into "something gorgeous and great."
Courtesy David Waters
<strong>Double purchase: </strong>Brigitte Dufour, a French-Canadian lawyer and founder of a human rights organization, bought two abandoned dwellings -- a small one for €1,000 and a larger home for €5,850.
Double purchase: Brigitte Dufour, a French-Canadian lawyer and founder of a human rights organization, bought two abandoned dwellings -- a small one for €1,000 and a larger home for €5,850.
Courtesy Brigitte Dufour
<strong>Sight unseen</strong><strong>:</strong> Dufour placed bids for both properties without seeing either one. She says she wants to help the local community by using the houses to offer space to artists from all over the world escaping crises<br />
Sight unseen: Dufour placed bids for both properties without seeing either one. She says she wants to help the local community by using the houses to offer space to artists from all over the world escaping crises
Courtesy Brigitte Dufour
<strong>Safe haven: </strong>Dufour says the smaller two-floor, 50-square-meter property will serve as a residence where artist refugees can "take a break from the difficult environment and pressure in their home countries."
Safe haven: Dufour says the smaller two-floor, 50-square-meter property will serve as a residence where artist refugees can "take a break from the difficult environment and pressure in their home countries."
Courtesy Brigitte Dufour
<strong>Good shape: </strong>"It's quite better than what I expected, not a ruin," Dufour says. "Everyone was telling me 'oh but you'll get a ruin.' Instead, it has good walls, but there is quite a bit of renovation to do."
Good shape: "It's quite better than what I expected, not a ruin," Dufour says. "Everyone was telling me 'oh but you'll get a ruin.' Instead, it has good walls, but there is quite a bit of renovation to do."
Courtesy Brigitte Dufour
<strong>In love: </strong>"I thought it was best to have more than one house to bring in more artists," Dufour says. "But then when I visited Sambuca after I won the bids I fell in love with the village and thought I might keep this second home for me and my family."
In love: "I thought it was best to have more than one house to bring in more artists," Dufour says. "But then when I visited Sambuca after I won the bids I fell in love with the village and thought I might keep this second home for me and my family."
Courtesy Brigitte Dufour
<strong>Winning bid: </strong>Arizona-based chef Daniel Patino snapped up the only available building with three floors and a panoramic terrace by placing a bid of only €2,500 -- and winning.
Winning bid: Arizona-based chef Daniel Patino snapped up the only available building with three floors and a panoramic terrace by placing a bid of only €2,500 -- and winning.
Courtesy Daniel Patino
<strong>Risk taker: </strong>Patino admits his purchase was something of a gamble. "I could not see what the inside was like because it might have been dangerous to walk in, so I guess it will need quite a lot of remodeling."
Risk taker: Patino admits his purchase was something of a gamble. "I could not see what the inside was like because it might have been dangerous to walk in, so I guess it will need quite a lot of remodeling."
Courtesy Daniel Patino
<strong>Decision time: </strong>Patino says he might use the property as a holiday home or also as an Italian branch of his food chain.
Decision time: Patino says he might use the property as a holiday home or also as an Italian branch of his food chain.
Courtesy Daniel Patino