Tsuktiben Jamir
Buying a house in this economy is a scary prospect to imagine. But imagine buying 3 houses for a meagre $3.30, which is roughly Rs. 270! A Californian lady left everyone in shock when she seized the chance to pay just $3.30 for three deserted homes in Sicily, Italy. 49-year-old Brazilian expat Rubia Daniels purchased these homes in 2019 and is now in the process of renovating them.
Courtesy: Rubia Daniels.
But how did she get her hands on such a sweet deal? Even before the global pandemic, Italy was already struggling with a major population decline and was charging shocking fees for its deserted cities. For instance, Sambuca di Sicilia in Sicily sold homes for as little as $1 in an effort to reinvigorate the neighbourhood back in 2019. Even though these communities were selling their homes for exorbitant rates, nobody mentioned that restoring these run-down homes would cost anywhere from $24,000 (about Rs 20 lakhs) to $90,000 (around Rs 74 lakhs). However, Rubia Daniels wouldn’t let this opportunity slip from her hands and jumped at the occasion.
Courtesy: Rubia Daniels.
When Rubia Daniels first learned about the cheap homes in Italy, she knew she wanted to see them. So, towards the end of a 10-day tour to Mussomeli, a tiny village in Sicily, in July 2019, she acquired three derelict properties for just €1, or $1.10, each.
“I was so amazed. It was one of those things where you have to see it to make sure it’s true, I did my research, and within three days I had my plane ticket, a rental car, the hotel, and I left,” Daniels told Insider. Daniels left the Brazilian suburbs of Brasilia for California 30 years ago, said the Italian town reminded her of her own childhood home. She enjoyed the notion of repairing an abandoned property and was also intrigued by the town’s rich history and its residents.
Daniels has different plans lined up for the three homes she has purchased. She has made the decision to construct one of the three homes for the benefit of the community which has greeted her with open arms by converting it into a wellness centre. Her major undertaking will be the wellness centre, while another house will be renovated for when she visits the area. What’s even more interesting is that she intends to turn one of her homes into an art gallery.
Courtesy: Rubia Daniels.
Daniels told the Insider, “The one that I’m working on it now, I’m planning to turn into an art gallery. One will be for me to stay. And the third house, which will be my biggest project, I want to convert into a wellness center to give back to the community.”
By the end of 2019, the 49-year-old had started restoration work on the houses, but the pandemic forced her to put the project on hold. However, it appears like she is finally starting to rebuild the homes now and we cannot help but be eager to see the finished outcomes.
“It’s an environmental concept,” Daniels added, who works in the solar industry. “We need to stop building and start remodeling the existing things that we have.”
