Washington-born couple Cassandra Tresl, 33, and her husband, Alex Ninman, 34, had been residing within the Czech Republic together with her grandfather when their daughter was born in 2020. They confronted a crossroads: transfer again to the USA or keep overseas?
The couple had moved in with Tresl’s grandfather round March of that 12 months after studying they had been anticipating, utilizing her grandfather’s place as their house base whereas touring round Europe earlier than Tresl was on account of give delivery.
Tresl says that they had instructed associates they’d transfer again to the U.S. after their daughter was born, however after they began how costly it might be to purchase a home and pay for childcare, they determined to look to Italy as an alternative.
“I actually thought that if I had a child, I’d return to the States,” Tresl says. “After which it ended up not taking place, as a result of I spotted how way more costly it might be if we did return.”
They determined to discover choices in Italy after Tresl remembered seeing tales about cities throughout the nation promoting one-euro properties as a way to entice overseas buyers to purchase the homes, rehab them and drive up the dwindling inhabitants numbers.
When home searching, having a view was a nonnegotiable for Tresl, she says.
Cassandra Tresl
Tresl first needed to find out the precise price of buying a kind of properties to see if it was an possibility for the couple, since they did not need to spend greater than 20,000 euros, or about $23,627 USD, on the acquisition.
Most of the one-euro properties include a catch. In some cities, the one-euro buy is symbolic and the actual costs are within the 1000’s. In others, the bids begin at a single euro, however the ultimate worth is often increased. And as soon as consumers get their properties, they often must full the renovations inside a sure timeframe.
“I began to look on-line for homes on the market in Italy. Since we had been in Europe and we have been to Italy, it wasn’t an issue to go there and take a look at a few of these homes. I am additionally not the kind of particular person that may have ever finished something like this sight unseen,” Tresl tells CNBC Make It.
Home searching in Italy
In 2021, the couple went on a house-hunting tour in Italy and considered 15 properties throughout Abruzzo and Tuscany. They ended up buying a two-floor, two-bedroom home just below 1,076 sq. ft, with a 3rd bed room within the basement and an attic, in Abruzzo.
They knew renovations could be expensive, so Tresl says they picked their house largely based mostly on the worth — and the truth that the terrace has a view.
“I am a spreadsheet sort of particular person, so I had all the professionals and cons of all these homes and it got here right down to Abruzzo being a a lot better worth basically,” she says. “In hindsight, there are a variety of different the reason why I am glad that we landed right here, however at that cut-off date, I knew nothing else in addition to the worth and that I needed one of the best deal.”
Ninman did a variety of the renovation work himself as a way to lower your expenses.
Cassandra Tresl
The couple closed on the home in February 2022 in an all-cash deal for 11,500 euros, or $13,150 on the time, in line with paperwork reviewed by CNBC Make It.
“I cherished the worth and the terrace,” Tresl says. “Folks suppose that it is tremendous simple to simply throw a rock in any path and discover a home with a backyard in Italy, nevertheless it’s simply not the case. We do have a terrace, and we’ve got a very nice view, and that was a nonnegotiable for me.”
The couple says the home they purchased had been empty for many years.
Cassandra Tresl
The worth additionally allowed the couple to purchase the property outright, which “alleviated a variety of stress in a number of areas of my life,” Tresl says. “If my earnings fluctuates or cash will get tight, a minimum of we do not have a mortgage and our household has a safe roof over our heads. This monetary freedom was really one of many predominant elements that made this transfer and choice doable.”
Shifting to Italy completely
Tresl, Ninman and their daughter briefly returned to the Czech Republic to develop a plan for the place to dwell, since their Italy home wasn’t liveable on the time — it wanted a variety of work because it had been empty for 30 years, Tresl says. They determined to lease an Airbnb in a close-by city in Abruzzo for somewhat over a month whereas their home was renovated.
As a result of the home had been empty for many years, the partitions wanted resurfacing, some electrical work wanted to be redone, the home windows and doorways wanted redoing and the lavatory and kitchen wanted to be gutted. Ninman did a lot of the work himself, however the couple employed out to do the plumbing, Tresl says.
In complete, the couple spent round 12,000 to fifteen,000 euros, or $14,207 to $17,758, to renovate the house, they estimate.
As a part of the renovation, the couple made the terrace greater, added a toilet downstairs and turned the basement into a correct visitor suite. They completed a lot of the renovation within the fall of 2022, however redid the basement and attic in 2023.
Throughout the renovation, Tresl determined the brand new home design ought to be eclectic.
Cassandra Tresl
Tresl says she needed the home to have an eclectic design, so she visited thrift shops and flea markets to supply classic items.
“I needed pure supplies and to mix each heat and chilly. I’ve a variety of colour in the home when it comes to paint as a result of I felt like the home was small, so I needed to make it a cheerful home,” Tresl says. “All the things I picked out, I’ve a purpose for it. I needed to set a aim for myself that every thing I have a look at jogs my memory of the place I acquired it from.”
Though the couple would not have a mortgage, the home is not utterly free to dwell in. This is a breakdown of the couple’s house-related bills, in line with paperwork reviewed by CNBC Make It. All bills are rounded.
- Web: 12 euros (about $14) per thirty days
- Property taxes: 61 euros (about $72) yearly
- Water: 91 euros (about $108) each two months
- Electrical energy: 217 euros (about $256) each two months
- Rubbish: 286 euros (about $338) yearly
The couple additionally has a pellet range that they use within the winter. It may well price a further 42 euros per week, or about $200 a month, for heating, Tresl says.
As a result of the home had been empty for many years, the lavatory and kitchen wanted to be gutted.
Cassandra Tresl
Since transferring to Italy completely, Tresl left her tech job and began creating content material for her journey weblog and e-newsletter. She additionally works for one more journey blogger as an operations supervisor. Ninman left his job as a butcher when the couple moved out of the U.S. and now manages a second property the couple owns and rents out on Airbnb.
Placing down roots in Italy
Along with their main residence, Tresl and Ninman acquired a second property in Italy in 2024, which they lease on Airbnb for as much as 85 euros, or about $101, per night time.
Positioned within the countryside of their city, the single-story two-bedroom, one-bathroom home sits by itself land and has a personal backyard. The couple purchased it for 17,000 euros, or about $20,083.
Tresl determined it might be higher for his or her daughter to place down roots in Italy as an alternative of returning to the U.S.
Cassandra Tresl
Tresl says she’s been requested earlier than why the couple would not make it their main residence, however she says she loves being within the middle of her city. “It is very nice simply to have the ability to stroll wherever from our home,” she provides.
Now that the couple has two properties in Italy, they are saying they’re staying put — most probably till they’re empty nesters.
“My husband and I’ve talked about in all probability transferring out of Italy as soon as we all know what our daughter is doing and if she decides to go to highschool elsewhere,” Tresl says. “It is going to free us as much as do no matter, however that is not one thing we’re fascinated about for a minimum of one other 10 years as a result of I need my daughter to have stability.”
The couple visits the U.S. about yearly, and though it’s going to all the time be house, Tresl says it feels extra overseas every time she returns.
Cassandra Tresl
They go to the U.S. about yearly, and though it’s going to all the time be house, Tresl says it feels extra overseas every time she returns.
“I really feel like an outside cat having to return in or vice versa … It simply feels odd. I grew up within the ’90s and I really feel like my childhood was so completely different in comparison with what I witnessed on my final go to. It is an enormous a part of why I really like being in Italy proper now, as a result of my daughter, I really feel, is getting a way more healthful expertise and a real childhood,” she says.
Conversions from euros to USD had been finished utilizing the OANDA conversion price of 1 euro to $1.18 USD on Feb. 9, 2026. All quantities are rounded to the closest greenback.
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