Washington-born couple Cassandra Tresl, 33, and her husband, Alex Ninman, 34, have been dwelling within the Czech Republic together with her grandfather when their daughter was born in 2020. They confronted a crossroads: transfer again to the US or keep overseas?
The couple had moved in with Tresl’s grandfather round March of that 12 months after studying they have been anticipating, utilizing her grandfather’s place as their house base whereas touring round Europe earlier than Tresl was attributable to give delivery.
Tresl says they’d instructed mates they’d transfer again to the U.S. after their daughter was born, however after they began taking a look at how costly it will be to purchase a home and pay for childcare, they determined to look to Italy as a substitute.
“I actually thought that if I had a child, I’d return to the States,” Tresl says. “After which it ended up not occurring, as a result of I spotted how way more costly it will be if we did return.”
They determined to discover choices in Italy after Tresl remembered seeing tales about cities throughout the nation promoting one-euro houses with the intention to entice international buyers to purchase the homes, rehab them and drive up the dwindling inhabitants numbers.
When home looking, having a view was a nonnegotiable for Tresl, she says.
Cassandra Tresl
Tresl first needed to find out the precise price of buying a type of houses to see if it was an choice for the couple, since they did not need to spend greater than 20,000 euros, or about $23,627 USD, on the acquisition.
Lots of the one-euro properties include a catch. In some cities, the one-euro buy is symbolic and the actual costs are within the 1000’s. In others, the bids begin at a single euro, however the last worth is normally greater. And as soon as patrons get their properties, they typically have to finish the renovations inside a sure timeframe.
“I began to look on-line for homes on the market in Italy. Since we have been in Europe and we have been to Italy, it wasn’t an issue to go there and take a look at a few of these homes. I am additionally not the kind of particular person that will have ever finished something like this sight unseen,” Tresl tells CNBC Make It.
Home looking in Italy
In 2021, the couple went on a house-hunting tour in Italy and seen 15 houses throughout Abruzzo and Tuscany. They ended up buying a two-floor, two-bedroom home slightly below 1,076 sq. ft, with a 3rd bed room within the basement and an attic, in Abruzzo.
They knew renovations could be expensive, so Tresl says they picked their house largely primarily based on the worth — and the truth that the terrace has a view.
“I am a spreadsheet kind of particular person, so I had all the professionals and cons of all these homes and it got here right down to Abruzzo being a a lot better worth basically,” she says. “In hindsight, there are lots of different the explanation why I am glad that we landed right here, however at that cut-off date, I knew nothing else moreover the worth and that I needed the very best deal.”
Ninman did lots of the renovation work himself with the intention to lower your expenses.
Cassandra Tresl
The couple closed on the home in February 2022 in an all-cash deal for 11,500 euros, or $13,150 on the time, in line with paperwork reviewed by CNBC Make It.
“I cherished the worth and the terrace,” Tresl says. “Individuals suppose that it is tremendous simple to only throw a rock in any route and discover a home with a backyard in Italy, nevertheless it’s simply not the case. We do have a terrace, and we now have a very nice view, and that was a nonnegotiable for me.”
The couple says the home they purchased had been empty for many years.
Cassandra Tresl
The value additionally allowed the couple to purchase the property outright, which “alleviated lots of stress in a number of areas of my life,” Tresl says. “If my earnings fluctuates or cash will get tight, no less than we do not have a mortgage and our household has a safe roof over our heads. This monetary freedom was really one of many fundamental elements that made this transfer and choice doable.”
Shifting to Italy completely
Tresl, Ninman and their daughter briefly returned to the Czech Republic to develop a plan for the place to stay, since their Italy home wasn’t liveable on the time — it wanted lots of work because it had been empty for 30 years, Tresl says. They determined to hire an Airbnb in a close-by city in Abruzzo for slightly over a month whereas their home was renovated.
As a result of the home had been empty for many years, the partitions wanted resurfacing, some electrical work wanted to be redone, the home windows and doorways wanted redoing and the toilet and kitchen wanted to be gutted. Ninman did many of the work himself, however the couple employed out to do the plumbing, Tresl says.
In complete, the couple spent round 12,000 to fifteen,000 euros, or $14,207 to $17,758, to renovate the house, they estimate.
As a part of the renovation, the couple made the terrace greater, added a rest room downstairs and turned the basement into a correct visitor suite. They completed many of the renovation within the fall of 2022, however redid the basement and attic in 2023.
Through the renovation, Tresl determined the brand new home design must be eclectic.
Cassandra Tresl
“I needed pure supplies and to mix each heat and chilly. I’ve lots of shade in the home when it comes to paint as a result of I felt like the home was small, so I needed to make it a cheerful home,” Tresl says. “All the pieces I picked out, I’ve a motive for it. I needed to set a objective for myself that every part I take a look at jogs my memory of the place I obtained it from.”
Though the couple would not have a mortgage, the home is not fully free to stay in. Here is a breakdown of the couple’s house-related bills, in line with paperwork reviewed by CNBC Make It. All bills are rounded.
- Web: 12 euros (about $14) per thirty days
- Property taxes: 61 euros (about $72) yearly
- Water: 91 euros (about $108) each two months
- Electrical energy: 217 euros (about $256) each two months
- Rubbish: 286 euros (about $338) yearly
The couple additionally has a pellet range that they use within the winter. It might probably price a further 42 euros per week, or about $200 a month, for heating, Tresl says.
As a result of the home had been empty for many years, the toilet and kitchen wanted to be gutted.
Cassandra Tresl
Since shifting to Italy completely, Tresl left her tech job and began creating content material for her journey weblog and publication. She additionally works for one more journey blogger as an operations supervisor. Ninman left his job as a butcher when the couple moved out of the U.S. and now manages a second property the couple owns and rents out on Airbnb.
Placing down roots in Italy
Along with their major residence, Tresl and Ninman acquired a second property in Italy in 2024, which they hire on Airbnb for as much as 85 euros, or about $101, per night time.
Positioned within the countryside of their city, the single-story two-bedroom, one-bathroom home sits by itself land and has a non-public backyard. The couple purchased it for 17,000 euros, or about $20,083.
Tresl determined it will be higher for his or her daughter to place down roots in Italy as a substitute of returning to the U.S.
Cassandra Tresl
Tresl says she’s been requested earlier than why the couple would not make it their major residence, however she says she loves being within the heart of her city. “It is very nice simply to have the ability to stroll wherever from our home,” she provides.
Now that the couple has two properties in Italy, they are saying they’re staying put — more than likely till they’re empty nesters.
“My husband and I’ve talked about most likely shifting out of Italy as soon as we all know what our daughter is doing and if she decides to go to high school some place else,” Tresl says. “It would free us as much as do no matter, however that is not one thing we’re fascinated by for no less than one other 10 years as a result of I would like my daughter to have stability.”
The couple visits the U.S. about annually, and though it is going to all the time be house, Tresl says it feels extra international every time she returns.
Cassandra Tresl
They go to the U.S. about annually, and though it is going to all the time be house, Tresl says it feels extra international every time she returns.
“I really feel like an outside cat having to return in or vice versa … It simply feels odd. I grew up within the ’90s and I really feel like my childhood was so completely different in comparison with what I witnessed on my final go to. It is an enormous a part of why I like being in Italy proper now, as a result of my daughter, I really feel, is getting a way more healthful expertise and a real childhood,” she says.
Conversions from euros to USD have been finished utilizing the OANDA conversion charge of 1 euro to $1.18 USD on Feb. 9, 2026. All quantities are rounded to the closest greenback.
Wish to get forward at work with AI? Join CNBC’s new on-line course, Past the Fundamentals: Use AI to Supercharge Your Work. Be taught superior AI expertise like constructing customized GPTs and utilizing AI brokers to spice up your productiveness at the moment.
