In Germany, the dream of home ownership for many people never fulfilled. In the south of Italy, this wish can now be realized. In Sambuca di Sicilia, a small town in western Sicily, apartments are offered at bargain prices. As "CNN" and "The Guardian" report, the 40 to 150 square meters of apartments and houses cost only one euro. Deputy Mayor Giuseppe Cacioppo says: "If you want the house, you'll get it right away."
Cacioppo's main aim is to counter depopulation. In view of the lack of prospects, the inhabitants of the region have been fleeing to the larger cities for years. Sambuca di Sicilia currently has less than 6,000 inhabitants, while Palermo, just 80 kilometers away, has almost 650,000 inhabitants.
The purchase of the one-euro home, however, also has a catch: Although the administration asserted that this was not a PR action. Nevertheless, the owner undertakes to carry out renovations worth at least 15,000 euros over the course of three years. In addition, the buyer must deposit 5000 euros to the city as a deposit - in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Such bargain prices are no longer a rarity in Italy. As early as 2017, houses in the Sicilian town of Gangi were offered for one euro. Gangi also has to struggle with rural exodus.