When Rubia Daniels heard a town in Italy was selling off abandoned homes for $1 apiece, she had to take a look for herself, NBC News reports.
The Berkeley, Calif., resident booked her first flight to Mussomeli, Sicily, in 2019 and quickly ended up buying not one, but three, fixer-uppers at a bargain price.
Daniels, 50, has a construction background and she staked out her vision for three dream projects: a vacation home, a restaurant and a wellness center. So far, she’s spent about $35,000 working with a local crew on her vacation home.
This American bought a $1 home in Italy and spent $35,000 renovating it: 'It's much easier to be happier here': Rubia Daniels bought three abandoned homes in Sicily being sold for 1 euro each. https://t.co/xoOYpQKnCz pic.twitter.com/oNWjHZBF7s
— Fallenberg™ 🇩🇿 (@Fallenberg) May 5, 2024
Despite the stress of renovating a home across the world, Daniels says the welcoming Sicilian lifestyle has brought more happiness into her life.
Mussomeli is tiny, with just about 9,900 residents, but she says many people have strong bonds.
“In Sicily, the social life is very important. Everybody has time to talk to you, to know you, or to share a cup of coffee … it’s much easier to be happier here than it is to be happier back at home,” Daniels told NBC.
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