Buy an Italian house for one Euro? Any extra costs? Let's look at Sicily

I would love to retire to Italy. I love the language. The food. The wine.  A house for one Euro?

Bargains and Hidden Costs

Some of the houses will require up to 3,000 in fees for taxes and agents and  paperwork. That's not the problem?

You have to renovate within three years. Depending on the condition of the house, that could cost up to sixty thousand pounds. 

Still a bargain. 

However, can you be sure of finding a contractor in the area? 

Would you do it yourself? How? Take in the tools? 

If you are not a strong man, but a frail old woman, where do you find the renovators?

Frankly, I would not move into a building with no roof, or unsafe floors.

It would be a lot easier if the town had on hand a team of renovators. Ideally they would just want you to sign the paperwork and pay a sum in advance. For your financial security, you could pay more each year, but only when they provided evidence, checked by the town council, that the work was satisfactorily and safely completed.

Why doesn't the town bring in a construction company? Or provide a free home for builders who worked for a year renovating three to six or ten homes?

What about the location? 

Sicily. 

Advantages

What is for it? History. Roman ruins in Taormina. Wine. Seasides. Friendly people.

Sicily has been one successful option for some. According to a BBC video which I watched.

What's Against the location?

Are you afraid of Sicily's association with the Mafia? Then maybe the north, a little nearer the rest of Europe, would be your favourite. If mountains are your favourite.

The wine is Marsala from the town of the same name.

Famous Italian cultural icons who lived in Sicily include Nobel prize winner playwright Pirandello and Greek father of Surrealism de Chirico.

Useful Websites

BBC

Wiki Sicily

Sicily - Wikipedia

Wikitravel Sicily

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places,  landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.

Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.

About the Author Angela Lansbury

The Author - Quick Quotations

Angela Lansbury B A Hons  is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books. 

About Angela The Speaker & Trainer

Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President  Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR

Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.

Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK

Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on bha.learncool.sg . 

Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.

Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is  the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time.  Inauguration of the new committee by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.

 

Angela The Blogger 

Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

See next post on sculptor Tom Harvey.

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