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Homes for sale in Italy for one euro

Homes for Sale - Level 4

It is a dream come true to get on the property ladder. A town called Sambuca in Sicily is selling houses for just €1. This is because of a decline in its population. The number of residents is falling because young people are moving to cities. The mayor says the houses will sell quickly because his town is so attractive. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is close to picturesque beaches. It has a lot of heritage, with cobbled streets and Arabesque architecture.

There is a small catch to this bargain - the buyer must spend $17,000 on repairing the property. The town owns the houses, so there is little red tape when buying a house. The deputy mayor said, "you'll get [a house] in no time". He said buyers would love the town because it is located in a natural reserve and has gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains. He said: "It's silent and peaceful - an idyllic retreat for a detox stay."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Homes for Sale - Level 5

It is a dream come true if you want to get on the property ladder - a home for one euro. Sambuca in Sicily, Italy is a picturesque town that is selling houses for just €1 to attract people. This is because of a decline in its population. Like many towns in Italy, the number of residents is falling because young people are moving to cities. Sambuca's mayor believes the houses will be easy to sell because his town is so attractive. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is close to gorgeous beaches. It has retained its heritage with its cobbled streets and Arabesque architecture.

There is a small catch to this one-euro bargain - the buyer must spend $17,000 on renovating the property within three years of buying it. The deputy mayor said the town owns the houses, so there would be little red tape when buying a property. He said the town does not liaise between old and new owners, and that, "you'll get [a house] in no time". He promised potential buyers would love the town. He said: "We're located inside a natural reserve, packed with history. Gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains surround us. It's silent and peaceful - an idyllic retreat for a detox stay."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Homes for Sale - Level 6

It sounds like a dream come true for anyone looking to get on the property ladder - a home for one euro (about $1.14). A picturesque town on the island of Sicily, Italy is selling houses for just €1. The bargain price is to attract people to move to the hilltop town of Sambuca because of a rapid decline in its population. Like many rural towns in Italy, the number of Sambuca's residents is dwindling because many young people are moving to cities. The Sambuca mayor believes the houses will be easy to sell because his town is so attractive. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, is close to gorgeous beaches and has retained its heritage with its cobbled streets and Arabesque architecture.

Like all bargains, there is a small catch to the one-euro houses - the buyer must promise to spend $17,000 on renovating the property within three years of purchasing it. Sambuca's deputy mayor said the houses are owned by the town, so there is little of the red tape normally associated with buying a property. He said: "We're not intermediaries who liaise between old and new owners. You want that house, you'll get it in no time." He promised potential buyers would love the town. He said: "This fertile patch of land is dubbed the "Earthly Paradise". We're located inside a natural reserve, packed with history. Gorgeous beaches, woods and mountains surround us. It's silent and peaceful - an idyllic retreat for a detox stay."

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson