I bought 6 houses in Italy for $ 1 piece – here’s how much I spent to turn them into homos of dreams

When Rubia Daniels first told her friends that she was buying six houses in Italy for $ 1.06, they thought she was joking.

“They couldn’t believe it,” she said.

But in 2019, the 51-year-old planning consultant, who has lived in San Francisco since 1996, followed through the purchase of six destroyed properties in Msomel, a centuries-old hilly city in Sicily, through a local initiative targeting SWNS.

The houses came with a catch: they were in different states of destruction, with some lost roofs and had no basic infrastructure.

“I filled six suitcases of all my vehicles and one generator,” Daniels recalled in the outlet. She flew with her husband and her brother -in -law to collect the works, having spent a total of about $ 25,440 after the administrative tariffs and agency costs.

Despite the destroyed conditions, Daniels – which has been a planning consultant for more than 16 years – felt calm with the subconscious.

“I’m happy with the idea of ​​transforming things and breaking the walls,” she said.

“For example, my husband panicon when he sees me looking at projects like this, but for me it is just a combination of excitement and joy.”

The first property, which completely collapsed, is now completely renovated.

She “has a beautiful marble bedroom,” she said. Restoration cost her approximately $ 63,600, and she hopes she will not seek further work “for 50 years”.

Its vision extends beyond family homes.

One of the six properties is designated as a future attraction of wellness that yoga and meditation classes offers.

“It would be good to return to the community that way,” she said.

Daniels also furnished properties using local sales – by installing everything from the sinks on the floor source ready.

“We wanted to do it with the community in mind,” she explained. “We love it here – it’s much nicer than California.”

What drew it to Msomel was not only affordable prices, but the way of life.

“No one is rushing around, everything is affordable,” she said. “A coffee and a croissant costs € 1.50. In California, it’s a very stressful environment and everything is so superficial.”

Now, her two aunts, aged 70 and 82, plan to retire in Hilltop city forever.

And while her project initially raised her eyebrows at home, the once overlooked Sicilian village has received international attention.

At least 30 people are watching a home now, she said, explain how the initiative of impact has increased to popularity.

For Daniels, the appeal was clear from the beginning: “You are taking the house fundamentally free and you can turn it into everything you want.”