Fixer-upper in Tuscany

[Crowbob]

Serious fixer-upper. Has electric, water from well, BARELY habitable, 50 miles from Florence in a village with two restaurants, one bar. Open windows i,e., no glass nor screens, 1.5 overgrown acres, road (walking path) with no mass transit for 1/2 mile or 1kg or whatever, 700 years old.

$100k.

Deal or no deal?

[Arizona_928]

Can get double the craftsmanship at half the cost

[70SATMan]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

Serious fixer-upper. Has electric, water from well, BARELY habitable, 50 miles from Florence in a village with two restaurants, one bar. Open windows i,e., no glass nor screens, 1.5 overgrown acres, road (walking path) with no mass transit for 1/2 mile or 1kg or whatever, 700 years old.

$100k.

Deal or no deal?

Throw in Diane Lane??

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Can get double the craftsmanship at half the cost

Double? Artistry, if you got the cash, which I won’t. Stricktly summer place. Like camping under terra cotta roof and stone walls. A ‘ruin’ if you will. Plumbing, electric and that’s it. Small garden space. Walk to bus stop 1/4-1/2 mile away. Stupendous mountainous view.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by 70SATMan

Throw in Diane Lane??

Ha!

My inspiration (back when I could get it up just looking at a mollusk).

[Arizona_928]

[Crowbob]

I’m talking two beds, one bath, on separate floors with outside stone stairs to first floor from the ground floor kitchen, bath and pantry or whatever. Tiny fridge. No internets.

[Arizona_928]

Second house or full time? Retirement visa has a threshold of income. Just something to consider.

[WPOZZZ]

I think there are more fish in the ocean.

[MBAtarga]

Italy has (had?) a program where for $1 (or maybe euro) you can purchase a property in a distressed area - not near any heavy tourism spots. You've got to guarantee refurbishment and residence - I think for 2 years or so. The spot you mention sounds like one of those properties - but not for $100k.

[look 171]

I hear they are giving it away as most of their young men a nd women have left to large cities to make a better living leaving the elders to fend for themselves. Some Africans have settle down in those smaller villages and made it their home and are thriving or keeping afloat. I am not sure about a small village, since They are only fun or exciting for about a week or two.

You guys watch too many Under the Tuscan Sun. Diane is a dear client of mine and have known her for over 25 years. She's a real sweet heart. Careful there, bud

[Bill Douglas]

We get it on TV here all the time. Usually the English go over there and buy one. OFTEN it turns into a nightmare. Very vague rules regarding deeds and ownership. Unless you have Italian mob connections I'd stay clear of it.

[craigster59]

Throw in Gina Lollabrigida and you got a deal.

[Evans, Marv]

Have you checked it & the area out on Google Earth?

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by craigster59

Throw in Gina Lollabrigida and you got a deal.

I don't think you'd want that. As for Tuscany, I wouldn't mind living there, but I would have to do a few extended stays first.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Second house or full time? Retirement visa has a threshold of income. Just something to consider.

Second house for winters only.

I certainly can see some nightmarish traps with ‘ownership’.

It sure would be fun…for awhile.

[berettafan]

Visited Italy once. Fell in love with it. Beautiful views, wholesome and cheap food, yummy and cheap wine, awesome manual transmission diesel cars, a motorbike culture in the cities, etc etc etc.

Immediately started looking into how reasonable it might be to own a home there. Could I rent it out for a decade or so and then retire to it a few months each year?

Met an Italian American who ran a business in Italy for several years. After about an hour of talking with him I am more or less cured of that dream. Still want to spend extended time there in retirement but not as a property owner. Italy, as he described it, is a mess in many ways. Long story short it is not America with a different view and language.

[LWJ]

Is this serious? I have a contact who is a high level realtor in Umbria. You need to check out the area first. Also, there a many groups covering questions surrounding this sort of venture on FB.

Side note: I am SUPER interested in something like this.

[KFC911]

I saw someone on TV recently who had purchased a $1 fixer-upper, and then both on either side for $2 more (residences and biz purposes) ... after sinking a couple hundred grand (mebbe 250), she was very happy.

No free lunches tho.... not even $3 lunches.

[flatbutt]

Pix of the house?

Pix of Diane just as good.