#visited #Italy #time #hours #bought #house
Buying a home is often one of the most complicated life experiences to negotiate, requiring extensive deliberations regarding location before spending weeks searching for the right property. Finding a home in another country is an even more difficult process full of difficult decisions.
Unless, of course, we are Paul Millet.
In this case, he landed in Italy for the first time and, before the first day was over, he had already bought his own beautiful house with incredible views in the middle of the Basilicata region, in southern Italy.
However, Millet, a Los Angeles-based television editor, knew exactly what he was doing. The 54-year-old man was attracted to Italy by the houses offered for sale for one euro, or just over a dollar. But he quickly realized that they came with a catch – the need to spend thousands of euros to make them habitable.
“I read an article on CNN in 2015 about properties for sale for one euro and my interest was definitely piqued,” he says. “I had already visited several European Union countries on several occasions but never Italy, despite it being on my list.”
“I can’t quite express what it was that really attracted me to the idea of buying a one-euro property and renovating it, but it was something that captured my imagination.”
Instead, Millet focused his attention on other properties that, despite being more expensive because they were essentially move-in ready, were also for sale at bargain prices.
For him, Latronico, a stunning cliff-top village in Basilicata, was the perfect destination. Only two houses had been sold in that destination for one euro, so he concentrated his efforts on houses that had undergone cheap renovations in Barda in an attempt to revive the town’s dwindling population.
After you have listed empty properties online on the website https://casalatronico.eu/acting as a liaison between former and potential new owners, has so far sold 50 properties, mostly to North American buyers.
Millet says he started planning to travel to Italy to buy a house in 2019, but that was thwarted by Covid-19. He finally managed to make the visit happen in 2022 after heading to Ireland for a friend’s wedding.
He chose Latronico because the locals running the house sales program seemed extremely responsive to his queries compared to other towns with cheap houses that he had contacted before his trip.
“House prices were super attractive, especially coming from the Los Angeles area, and the majority of Latronico properties were in good condition.”
“Unlike the one-euro programs, you had no obligation to do anything with any house you bought. Obviously, renovating and making the properties viable was the objective, but as a foreign buyer I could do whatever I wanted,” says Millet. “I liked it.”
Support point for the future Paul Millet says he will spend around 33 thousand euros renovating the property (Vincenzo Castellano)
The tailor-made tour of the property, organized by the authorities in Latronico, made him fall in love with the town and he was completely amazed by its beauty and warm welcome by the locals, he says.
“At the end of the day, I bought my house and started thinking about renovations and the future”, he adds.
Millet does not have any plans to move permanently to Latronico. For now, she sees home as a refuge where she can slow down and disconnect.
“I plan to come at least once a year to get away from it all,” he says. “The house will serve as a support point for future trips around the EU. I’ll probably rent it out as a holiday home when I’m not here, to keep it alive, and share it with family and friends.”
The 60 square meter one-bedroom house was purchased for 12 thousand euros and he expects to spend up to 35 thousand dollars (less than 33 thousand euros) remodeling it.
The property has a balcony, a storage attic and a rooftop terrace with “a view to die for”, says Millet, describing the view as “the icing on the cake”.
Despite being small, the house has two cellars that are being reused, one that was once used to house livestock, the other with an old bread oven built into the wall and which still works.
The renovation work is almost complete.
“It was necessary to carry out work on the foundation of the larger of the two cellars”, says Millet. “I chose to install a reinforced concrete floor and the electrical system was completely replaced.”
“Given that the largest basement is a considerable size, I decided to transform it into a living area that will include an additional bedroom with a small adjoining living room and will also have a small bathroom and a laundry room serving the entire house. ”
The home’s old rough stone walls were whitewashed to brighten the space. The new microcement floor was stained and sealed.”
“It’s spectacular. I just need to add the small bathroom, do some cosmetic work, get furniture and it’s ready,” adds Millet.
Cocktails at sunset The house that Millet bought only has one bedroom, but it has two large cellars (Vincenzo Castellano)
Millet kept all the original vintage tiles and will add some details with more modern tiles to make it more presentable. The exterior of the house will be freshly painted and both the roof terrace and the steps leading to the main entrance door will be covered with tiles.
He says he can’t wait to have friends sipping sunset cocktails on the terrace and then dinner in the kitchen downstairs.
Millet says he was captured by the tranquility of Latronico, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of LA.
“The lifestyle is simply slower here,” he says. “My life in Los Angeles happens much more quickly – with deadlines and obligations at work, and lots of social things happening. I like my life here, but taking time to remove myself from this environment is very refreshing. Latronico will definitely help me relax.”
The village is so remote and so off the beaten path that it doesn’t even appear on some navigation apps. Millet says the maps app on his phone has no idea how a person gets around Latronico.
“Both times I came, the maps app was unable to successfully guide me to the Airbnb I was staying at. But I guided myself, obviously.”
When technology fails, locals take it upon themselves to make you feel at home.
“During my first visit, the Airbnb host met me at the place I was staying and took me to one of the local bars for coffee,” he says. “She introduced me to the bartender and then an older retired gentleman came up to me and offered me a cappuccino with a big smile.
“Franca, my hostess, said it was his way of telling me I was welcome here. It was very captivating. That describes my first hour in Latronico.”
Millet is excited to have already acquired local habits like the typical languid, sprawling lunches of southern Italy – a far cry from the quick, frugal salads of Los Angeles.
But he says he has no problem eating and exercising his waistline.
“It’s not very difficult for a person to get used to it. I just love taking a break during the day. Even if the day is relaxing. It’s so different from LA.”
Apoio local Millet (ao centro) com o ex-vice-autarch of Latronico, Vincenzo Castellano (Vincenzo Castellano)
However, there are downsides to staying in a sleepy Italian village, says Milet, although it depends on your perspective.
“A remote village is just that…remote. This is an advantage for someone looking to get away from it all in a beautiful setting, but a disadvantage for someone who wants the action of a big city.”
“The same applies to activities. If someone wants to stay in a place where there is a plethora of things to see and do, then a remote village is not necessarily their destination. But for someone who wants to escape the hassles of everyday life, then a small village like Latronico is perfect.”
That said, he adds, Latronico is strategically located in a part of Italy where it is possible to stay in a quiet village and drive to other areas with interesting places and things to visit and do, such as Greek ruins and beaches.
Facing the buying and selling process without help on the ground is a difficult task, warns Millet, who also owns an apartment in a condominium on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
“Navigating the logistics of buying a home was probably the biggest challenge. Since I don’t live in Italy, figuring out the negotiations and then, once the price was agreed, completing the transaction was potentially a hurdle.”
Millet was supported throughout the process by the founder of the village’s housing platform, the former deputy mayor of Latronico, Vincenzo Castellano, who acts as an intermediary between foreign buyers and local sellers.
After all, the negotiation ended up being quite painless once an agreement on the price was reached. Millet signed a power of attorney in the United States to allow Castellano to represent him in completing the paperwork and managing the renovation project.
Millet has advice for foreigners who want to buy property in small villages. “Do your homework” and first visit, live like a local – even if just for a day.
“I’m the kind of person who really dives into anything I’m considering, so it came naturally to me. All local authorities have different programs, so have an idea of what each one involves. Know that it will cost some money to have the house ready to live in, but it can be incredibly affordable and you can then use it as you see fit.”
Above all, he says: “Make sure the site speaks to you personally, make sure you love it.”
