Daydreaming about packing up and moving somewhere new? A small town in Italy can help make those dreams a reality.
Presicce, which is situated in the Puglia region of Italy’s southern peninsula - in the heel of the country’s boot shape - is offering €30,000 (about $30,000) to anyone who will buy an empty house built before 1991, move in and live there, reports CNN.
Like many sleepy communities across Italy, Presicce is grappling with a surplus of abandoned homes because people are moving away from the area. Homes up for grabs typically cost around $25,000, though they may require renovations. The $30,000 incentive can go toward buying a home, as well as fixing it up.
“There are many empty homes in the historical center built before 1991 which we would like to see alive again with new residents,” says Alfredo Palese, a local town councilor. “It is a pity witnessing how our old districts full of history, wonderful architecture and art are slowly emptying.”
Presicce is not alone in its attempts to bring in new residents. Many other small communities have also made headlines for offering cheap housing to lure inhabitants. The practice dates back to at least 2008, when the mayor of Sicily’s Salemi offered up historic houses for just $1.
The concept’s popularity has grown in recent years, especially during the pandemic, when more people began working remotely. As of last fall, 34 towns in Italy had devised similar incentive programs, reported the Washington Post.
Fancy moving to Presicce? The details of the deal are currently being finalized, but authorities are ready to launch applications in upcoming weeks when information will be available on the town hall website.
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