A woman who snapped up a €1 home in a picturesque Sicilian town where she hopes to retire, says she loved the place so much that she bought two more houses. Rubia Daniels, 51, a sustainable planning consultant, snapped up the three dilapidated houses in the historic town of Mussomeli in central Sicily after hearing about the scheme. The town council launched the €1 property initiative in 2017 with 80 new houses to attract new residents and investments to the area. Like other rural towns in southern Italy, Mussomeli has suffered from a dwindling population over recent years. “I was on vacation in Bali in 2018 and my better half mentioned he had seen houses in Italy for a euro. Within days I had my flights booked,” said Daniels.

Arrival in Mussomeli

When she arrived in Mussomeli she was given a tour of all the houses on sale for a single euro. “When I arrived there were 300 houses on sale for a euro and just me on the tour. Now there would be around 30 people on the tour and only one or two houses.” Daniels selected her house because it had the strongest foundations. “I work in renewable energy construction so I am always up for breaking things down and putting them back together again – having a project,” she said. Daniels, who is originally from Brazil but lives in California, describes herself as a “pioneer” of the €1 home programme, being one of the first foreigners in Mussomeli to take advantage of it. (Photo: gkuna/Getty)

€60k in renovations

Since buying the house, 40 minutes’ drive from the coast, she has invested €60,000 (£51,871/US$69,708) in renovations, and brought it to an exceptional standard. “I could have done it for less. I had to spend about €12,000 [£10,374/$13,941] more because I made a few mistakes and made it exactly the way I wanted.” She goes to visit her house in Mussomeli three times a year but plans to retire there. “I want to increase the time I spend there little by little until, in 10 years, I can retire there,” she said.

Buying two more properties

“That is the house I want to retire in. The village is affordable, it has good air, drinkable water and the cost of living is so so much lower. A decent meal with a glass of wine is only $20 [£14/$19]. “If I want to have a cappuccino in California, that would cost $12. In Sicily I can pay €7 (£6/$8) for five cappuccinos and five croissants. “I am super proud of myself when I see the final results and all the accomplishments.” Since buying the first house, Daniels has bought two more properties, each for another euro, which are undergoing building work. The second is having the roof rebuilt, while the third is a “huge building” that Daniels plans to turn into a community centre. “That is my way of giving back to the community,” she said.

Revitalising the town

The Sicilians have been incredibly welcoming to her and other foreigners who have bought property here, she said. “The locals have been super welcoming and made me feel like I was going back home. They took me in as if I was family. That is what makes it so special.” And the scheme has revitalised the town, she said. With the programme having attracted international buyers, she said the town had become “incredibly diverse”.

Rebuilding history

“It is super vibrant with people all over the world and a lot of new businesses. It has really been quite an incredible programme. “There was a real need for it. This beautiful, historical town was just abandoned. The programme gave it a chance to rebuild history and bring the town back to life. “It is a good place with a good energy. It has a different vibration, no one is rushing. Everyone has an enjoyable pace. No one has two jobs just to get by month-to-month.”

An incredible chance

She cautions that buyers should go in with their eyes open to different cultural dynamics, and not expect things to happen as quickly as they might elsewhere, considering the different pace of life in Sicily. However, she says that anyone who has the opportunity to buy one of the houses included in a scheme like this should take it. “If you have the chance, it is an incredible chance for very little money,” she said. “It really has been quite an adventure.” And now she has finished one of her properties she can afford to relax a bit while she is there. “My main concern when I am there is what flavour gelato I will have that day,” she said. (Photo: Wirestock/Getty/iStockphoto)