Want to Move Abroad? These Countries Offer Homes for Less Than $1

Italy’s 1 Euro House Revolution

In recent years, Italy has caught the world’s attention with its bold initiative: charming old homes for sale at just 1 euro (about $1.10). Towns like Sambuca, Mussomeli, and Cinquefrondi in Sicily have led the way, hoping to revive their fading communities.

Here, abandoned houses from the early 20th century stand empty, and local governments are eager to attract new residents. Official data from ISTAT, Italy’s national statistics institute, show population declines of up to 30% in some rural areas since 2000.

Buyers must commit to renovating the homes—often spending $20,000 to $50,000—but the initial price tag is truly astonishing. In 2023 alone, over 250 homes in Sicily were sold under this scheme, with many new owners coming from the US, UK, and Australia.

Not only do buyers get a slice of authentic Italian life, but they also become part of efforts to revive these picturesque towns.

Spain’s Bargain Basque Villages

Spain has quietly launched similar ultra-low-cost housing offers, especially in the Basque Country and Galicia. Villages suffering from rural depopulation, such as Rubiá and A Xesta, have listed homes for as little as 1 euro.

According to Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE), some villages have lost half their populations in the last 40 years. Local councils often add conditions: buyers may need to renovate within a certain period, and sometimes must make the house their primary residence.

In 2022, a small hamlet in Galicia had three houses sold for under $2 each, attracting buyers from France and the UK. These offers are real, but the houses often require major repairs, so buyers need to plan for extra costs.

Still, the chance to own a home in a peaceful Spanish village for less than the price of a coffee is undeniably tempting.

Japan’s “Akiya” Empty Houses

Japan faces a unique problem: millions of empty homes, known as “akiya,” scattered across the countryside and even in some cities. A 2018 government survey found over 8 million vacant homes nationwide—a staggering 13% of all housing.

In depopulated areas like Nagano, local governments have launched “akiya banks” that list properties for free or as little as 100 yen (about 70 cents). Buyers must usually agree to live in the home or renovate it, and sometimes must be under a certain age.

In 2021, the small town of Okutama, west of Tokyo, offered a handful of empty houses for $0, with the only condition being the commitment to restoring and occupying them. The reason is simple: local governments want to attract families, boost school enrollment, and revive regional economies.

Switzerland’s Rustic Alpine Hamlets

Switzerland may not seem like a place for cheap homes, but a handful of mountain villages have experimented with symbolic property sales. In Monti Sciaga, Ticino, and Gambarogno, old stone cottages in need of major repairs have been offered for a symbolic 1 franc (about $1.20).

These properties are often hundreds of years old and require substantial investment to make them livable. The municipality of Gambarogno, for example, reported in 2020 that several dozen homes were available for 1 franc, provided buyers renovate them within three years.

This move aims to prevent the total abandonment of these postcard-worthy villages. While renovation costs are high, the opportunity to own a home in the Swiss Alps for less than a cup of coffee is truly remarkable.

France’s “1 Euro House” Movement

France has joined the trend of selling homes for just 1 euro in some struggling rural communities. The town of Saint-Amand-Montrond in central France, for example, launched its own 1 euro home scheme in 2022.

The goal is to attract young families and professionals to towns where schools and businesses have closed due to population loss. According to INSEE, France’s national statistics office, about 3.1 million homes stand empty nationwide—many in small towns.

Buyers must agree to live in the property and carry out renovations within a set timeframe. In the past year, several properties have been snapped up, with buyers drawn by the prospect of affordable living in the idyllic French countryside.

Greece’s Island Home Giveaways

Greece’s remote islands are facing severe depopulation, with some villages housing fewer than 50 permanent residents. To reverse this, local councils on islands like Antikythera and Symi have started giving away abandoned homes for symbolic prices, sometimes as low as 1 euro.

In 2019, Antikythera offered four homes for nearly free, with the only condition being that families with children move in and restore the properties. The Greek Orthodox Church, which owns much of the land, supports these efforts.

According to ELSTAT, Greece’s statistical agency, more than 35% of homes on some islands sit empty. The government hopes that by attracting new families, schools and services can be kept open and island life can flourish again.

Portugal’s Hidden Village Gems

Portugal has also experimented with low-cost housing to combat rural decline. In 2023, the village of Cerdeira in central Portugal announced a plan to offer abandoned houses for as little as 1 euro to buyers willing to invest in renovations and commit to living there.

Portugal’s National Statistics Institute reports that in some inland regions, populations have shrunk by over 20% in a decade. These offers generally come with the expectation of spending at least $15,000 on repairs.

Local councils hope these incentives will bring new life and jobs to their fading communities, while buyers can claim a stake in Portugal’s scenic heartland for virtually nothing.

Germany’s “Symbolic Price” Houses

Germany has not been immune to rural depopulation, especially in the east. Some towns in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg have offered abandoned homes for as little as 1 euro to attract new residents.

In 2022, the village of Alwine famously auctioned off the entire settlement—complete with several homes—for just 140,000 euros, averaging less than $1 per square meter. According to Destatis, Germany’s federal statistics agency, eastern states have lost up to 20% of their populations since reunification.

Local leaders hope that selling properties at symbolic prices can help reverse the trend by drawing in young families and remote workers. The catch: buyers must restore the buildings and contribute to village life.

United States: Detroit’s $1 Home Auctions

The US isn’t typically known for $1 homes, but Detroit, Michigan, has been a unique exception. Facing widespread abandonment after decades of population loss, the Detroit Land Bank Authority began auctioning off city-owned homes for as little as $1.

In 2019, more than 2,000 homes were sold this way, though most needed major repairs. City data shows that Detroit has over 22,000 vacant homes, with some neighborhoods having vacancy rates above 30%.

Buyers must show proof of renovation plans and agree to bring properties up to code within six months. While the homes require investment, the initial price makes homeownership accessible to many who could never dream of it otherwise.

Argentina’s “Empty House” Incentives

Argentina’s rural provinces, particularly in Patagonia, have started offering abandoned homes for symbolic prices to attract new residents. In 2021, the town of Sarmiento in Chubut province offered a handful of empty houses for less than $1 each, provided buyers restore and occupy them.

The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) reports that some rural areas have lost up to 15% of their population in the last decade. Local mayors hope these low-cost offers will help boost local economies and keep schools and services running.

While renovation costs can be high, the offers have attracted international attention and a surprising number of applicants.

Bulgaria’s “Village for Sale” Offers

Bulgaria’s rural villages have seen drastic population declines since the 1990s, with some settlements nearly empty. As a result, a growing number of properties are being sold for symbolic prices—sometimes less than $1—by both local governments and private owners.

In 2022, several villages in the Rhodope Mountains listed dozens of old houses on Bulgarian real estate platforms for 1 lev (about 55 cents). National Statistics data show that over 500 villages have fewer than 10 residents.

The condition: buyers must commit to restoring the homes and living in them, aiming to breathe new life into these forgotten settlements.