We chat to the American couple who bought and renovated a 1 euro house in Sicily

Massoud Ahmadi and Shelley Spencer are a married couple from Washington who have always wanted to buy a property in Italy. Their dream became reality thanks to the 1 euro houses project promoted by the municipality of Sambuca di Sicilia, in the province of Agrigento. Now an old property of 100 m2 - which has undergone extensive renovation and reconstruction work - has become their home for six months of the year. They told idealista/news about their experience.

Massoud Ahmadi

Why would a couple from Washington decide to buy a house for one euro in a small town in the heart of Sicily?

My wife, Shelley, is a lawyer but the owner and managing director of an international development company based in Washington. I, on the other hand, am an economist with consulting projects in the US and around the world.

We have always wanted to buy property in Italy. We love the country's history, culture, food, wine and beautiful landscapes. In 2019, we saw a CNN article describing a one-euro auction in Sambuca di Sicilia. So, intrigued, I went to Sicily with my brother-in-law, who is a construction engineer, to see the town. I was very impressed by its history, the beautiful buildings, the Baroque, the wonderful views and the tranquillity. After all, the city is very close to the major historical sites and to Palermo (which is 79 kilometres away). That is why we decided to participate in the auction.

Massoud Ahmadi

1 euro houses also in many countries. Why did you choose Sambuca di Sicilia for your house?

We liked the tranquillity of the town, its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, Palermo and many other historical attractions. In addition, the town is surrounded by beautiful vineyards and olive groves. I also liked the people in the town. They are very friendly and try to help in any way they can.

Do you plan to live in your new home for some time or did you buy it as an investment, e.g. as a holiday home?

We plan to spend at least six months a year in Sambuca. Besides the 1-euro house, we also bought a portion of the house next door to enlarge ours and add more bedrooms, a garage and a garden. We will only use the house for ourselves.

Massoud Ahmadi

Was language a problem during the work? How did you deal with Italian bureaucracy?

We had no problems with the language. I carried out the work through a local architecture and engineering company. The architect speaks English. He handled all the bureaucratic paperwork, building permits, tax code, bank accounts. The municipality, for its part, was very professional and we did not encounter any difficulties.

How does the process of buying 1 euro houses work? What has been your experience?

I would give the process of buying a 1 euro house in Italy a 10 out of 10. The process was very smooth and professional. Everything was explained to the bidders before the bidding process. The mayor's office did a fantastic job.

The work, I imagine, must have been long and complex. Did you manage it from Washington or did you move to Sicily to follow everything personally?

The renovation and reconstruction project was very challenging. Fortunately for us, the local chief architect spoke English and took care of all the construction issues. He kept us informed about all the problems. I visited Sicily several times during the construction phase, but only to see the progress. I will tell you that I was very impressed by the rapid pace of the work, given the COVID problems that delayed everything a bit. The architect stuck to the budget and always kept me informed of the progress, sent me photos of the work and we were always in touch.

Massoud Ahmadi

In your opinion, is it worth buying a euro house and rebuilding it?

We also added a lift and used local marble in all bathrooms and the kitchen area. I recommend 1 euro houses if people have the patience to wait for the final results. I also recommend working with a local architect.

Buying a one euro house also contributes to the economic development of small towns by reducing the number of dilapidated houses. People in these towns really appreciate the effort.

What was the state of the property you just bought and what changes did you make with the renovation?

Our 1-euro property was a 100-square-metre historic house with many charming elements. However, my neighbour in Sambuca, who currently lives in London, proposed that we also buy a portion of his house, which he no longer used. So we also bought another 100 square metres of a historical structure to extend our house. We combined historical structures such as double barrel ceilings, stone walls and original historical floors with modern comforts such as an open kitchen, a courtyard, guest quarters, a lift and a wonderful terrace overlooking the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Massoud Ahmadi

Do you think the distance will be a problem? 

It's not as far away as it seems. Let me explain: I normally travel from Washington to Rome and, without leaving the airport, I go to internal flights and take the plane to Palermo, which is only 45 minutes from Fiumicino. I also have a stopover in Munich from Washington, which is a two-hour flight from Sicily. Once there, I rent a car and drive fifty minutes to Sambuca. A fantastic trip by the way, surrounded by a unique landscape. This way the journey from America to my new home takes just over ten hours.

Massoud Ahmadi

If I come to the village this summer, will I find you at the café in the square drinking coffee?

Of course. The owners of the bar in Sambuca are friends of mine. I will be there from May until the end of June. I practise my Italian with them and have a coffee or a glass of wine every day when I'm there.