Italy Offers More €1 Houses, Now More Central In Gorgeous Village Close To Rome
Image via ID 225361451 © Giambattista Lazazzera | Dreamstime.com
The village of Maenza, around 40 miles southeast of Rome, is the most recent area to make some of its beautiful townhouses available for purchase for just €1 (US$0.85).
Maenza’s location is more central than areas previously offered up, like Sicily, which makes this offer particularly unique. And, it’s perfect if you’re after easy access to the city of Rome but not keen on dwelling in the heart of the bustle.
Around 100 properties are up for grabs in this scenic village, located on the top of the wild Lepini hills. Once an area for sheperds and tribes, the location boasts gorgeous views of the island of Sardinia and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
“Families and youths often leave town to move to larger homes in nearby cities and villas in the countryside, but there’s always some newcomer who takes their place so it’s balanced out,” Mayor Claudio Sperduti tells CNN.
“This is not a dying city,” he clarifies. “People still inhabit the old district but it needs a revamp, fresh oxygen.”
There’s a little bit of a catch, though—the residences are not ready for move-in straight away. The properties are dilapidated and require renovations. There’s also a deposit of €5,000 (US$5,900) to be made initially, but this can be refunded if the renovations are completed within three years.
Additionally, buyers are required to submit a detailed plan for renovations and their intentions for the property, if it will be residential or commercial. Families are especially encouraged to apply, as the village wants to discourage developers flipping for profit.
This “clearance sale” of single-euro properties is part of Italy’s plans to revive some of its quieter communities. Many houses, like the ones in Maenza, are falling into disrepair and would continue to sit abandoned if it wasn’t for this initiative.
It has also been reported that because of their state, the crumbling exteriors may also pose a risk to passersby if left unattended for too long.
An approximate cost of bringing the houses back to safe, habitable conditions would hover around €100 (US$118) per square meter for the average 50 to 70 square meter house, according to Sperduti.
In total, redoing the property would cost around €5,000 (US$5,900). This would include installing eco-friendly elements and fortifying against earthquakes.
”We’re taking it one step at a time. As original families get in touch and hand over to us their old houses, we place these on the market through specific public notices on our website to make it all very transparent,” Sperduti continues.
More information and details on applying can be found on their website.
[via New York Post, image via ID 225361451 © Giambattista Lazazzera | Dreamstime.com]
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