Sambuca di Sicilia has just launched its house for 3 euro scheme trying to offload some old buildings. If it’s the sort of thing that excites you and you have considerably more than 3 euros here is what you need to know:
The houses are here: https://comune.sambucadisicilia.ag.it/Web_Case%20a%203%20Euro/Index.htm
You have until 4 August to place your bid.
They all need wholesale restoration, and one – lot 9 – doesn’t even have a house, its just a parking spot.
You have to put 5000 euros down, and if you win the draw you have 90 days to deposit all the technical documents necessary for the restoration. If you don’t finish the work within the 36 months following you lose your money and the purchase of the house can be revoked.
Bear in mind, that ignoring various ‘experts’ on Instagram – you cannot restore the house yourself. Any structural work must be done by certified builders, including roofs. You can tile, paint and potter, but none of these houses seems to currently satisfy the antiseismic laws, which will require major interventions.
One of the papers tells of a couple who bought a house for 1 euro and are now thrilled with their investment having spent 130.000 to do it up. To be clear you can buy a very nice house keys in hand in most parts of Sicily for that money: one which you can sell when you decide to move on.