The secrets behind the houses sold for 5 lei in Italy. A well -known vlogger shows the legal traps and steps to do

Thousands of foreigners, including Romanians, took advantage of the offers in Italy, the country where countless housing with a modest price are sold – one euro. Vlogger Cosmin Avram explains in a viral video that is hiding behind these offers.

Dream houses sell on modest amounts, from one euro. Photo: Adevărul archive

Cosmin Avram arrived in the south of Italy, Sardinia and Sicily, in an area where a lot of houses are put up for sale, each for one euro. The video posted on You Tube has gone viral and has collected almost 400,000 views.

“There is no need to be Italian to benefit from these offers. It is enough to come from a European Union country and be over 18,” says the vlogger at the beginning of the clip.

The secrets behind the houses selling with 5 lei

Further, he explains the secret behind this business. Even if the offer apparently is too good to be missed, given that any citizen of the European Union has the right to buy these properties, behind it there are many details that most often escape customers.

“If I told you that you can become the owners of a house by paying only one euro you would think I lost my mind or say this just to attract views to make as many people as possible. Well, it is not at all. Buy a house with only one euro.”, Says Cosmin Avram.

What many do not know about the offers of one euro in Italy

Some beautiful frames of a small town in Sardinia, surrounded by rocks and a dream landscape complement his words.

“Almost anyone can buy a house with one euro here in Italy, but I want to be very honest from the beginning and tell you that it is not as simple as it seems. In this clip I try to explain step by step how it works, because it is not so hard. And if you are lucky you can buy a house with only one euro in Sardenia. We as we don't have so much luck, you realize, we don't buy anything“He jokes.

Many of the houses that are sold at this modest price are actually in a very bad state.

“To know that a lot of houses like this looks like“Says the vlogger and indicates a building that is barely standing.

“I do not know what to say, I often think it costs you to renovate it than to buy it ready to renovate. Because a man here, a man of the place would renovate it cheaper from my point of view at least. Immediately we have a newly renovated portion. often involves many costs such as maintenance, taxes, renovations”He says.

Dream houses at a donut price but must be renovated

Further, Cosmin Avram answers a question that many of those who have been tempted to buy these houses must be asked.

“Now a lot maybe you wonder why the owner does not renovate it instead of donating it with a euro? Where is the scam? It's good, I'll try to explain you very briefly. Most of the time, selling the house to the town hall is made by a group of people, each having a small part that does not mean much. They do not understand each other, everything is lost.he completes.

Even so, he says, the investment could be really interesting for both those who want to move here or in other areas, as well as for those who want to buy a second house for holidays or for those who believe that they could get an income, from rent or resale.

“” At the side with the resale you need little attention because, as far as I understand, many mayors put a term you are not allowed to sell the house earlier than 5 years. And here we have a house that costs a euro. It has broken windows, they are locked, you have no interest. Many abandoned housing.says the Romanian.

Conditions and conditions

Many times, many Italian mayors are involved in this equation.

“Many mayors, in the hope of recovering the taxes from as many people as possible and repopulating these abandoned areas, decided to put these houses for sale at a symbolic price, on behalf of the owner, leaving the buyers to renovate them. “adds Abram. Basically, the requirements to conclude this business are to have a project to renovate and re-evaluate the property within a deadline.

“Usually, the term comes out for a year, but there are mayors who leave you up to 5 years. Now it depends on the town hall, depending on the area where you find your house. You have to assume the notarial costs for registration, change of property and registering in the real estate register, to obtain all the permits and then to start the work in the mayor. The good performance of the works.adds Cosmin Avram.

Many of these cities look exactly like in the old movies. Especially in the villages and towns of southern Italy, there is an unmistakable style.

“The City Hall here approved in December 2021 the plan of alienation and enhancement of its real estate. For many years the Sicilian mafia was led from here.”, Remins the Romanian.

Some pay hard money so they can renovate them

In fact, in most cases buyers get out of pocket tens of thousands of euros to make them habitable. And many do this too late.

“I understand that many can buy such homes for vacation. You have to like the area a lot to make such an investment. Because after all you invest some money, you invest in renovation. I mean, I do not think I manage to renovate such a house with less than 50,000 euros this, given that you will certainly pay between 10 and 15,000 euros per documents. The center looks beautiful but in this area I do not know what you could do. Apart from tourism and agriculture I see no other opportunities. This is the official flag of Corleone. Sicily is the region where most opportunities are found to buy a house with one euro and deserves a detailed analysis”He says.

The initiative to sell houses at this price is not necessarily a new one. From 15 years ago, in full crisis, several town halls in Sicily have decided to look for solutions to revitalize tourism.

“To know that this initiative is not new. It was first launched in 2010 to repopulate and revitalize tourism in Sicilian villages, the villages set. The first locality that promoted this kind of real estate was Salemi, a small village in the province of Trapani and from that time each year began to appear for more and more and more and more of the strate. It was a real success but there are also localities for which this initiative was a failure. ”

Are not easy to find

The bad news for those who believe they can find these houses without going to Italy is that these offers are not on real estate business sites.

“These euro houses will not be found on the classic real estate sites. Do not look for them because you do not find them there. You will have to send a request to the town hall, because all the town halls that have these offers provide you with some forms that you have to fill in. Then, if you meet all the conditions, you will not be contacted. Well, they are some charlatans from my point of view, I take your money and so much. Like Corleone the demand I think is close to zero. In these super tourist areas, such as Sardenia, as far as I understand are organized tenders are organized, now it depends, it differs from case to case. In conclusion you can buy a house with one euro if you have the money to restructure it, and here we think we talk somewhere at 50-60 thousand euros. It depends on the house, it depends on the area ”explains the Romanian ..

Basic conditions are about the same everywhere in Italy. However, certain details differ, depending on the owners or the way the problem pose the town halls, which have a certain degree of autonomy in Italy.

“In Sardinia, the same thing, many localities that have this offer. There is no need to be Italian to benefit from these offers. It is enough to come from a European Union country and be over 18 years old. says Cosmin Avram.