Ollolai, a small village on the Italian island of Sardinia, is offering Americans the chance to escape the aftermath of the recent U.S. presidential election, which saw Donald Trump re-elected.
The village, facing decades of depopulation, is selling dilapidated homes for just one euro (approximately $1.05) in an effort to attract new residents and revitalize the community.
Mayor Francesco Columbu told CNN that Ollolai has launched a new website specifically aimed at attracting American expats.
The website welcomes prospective buyers with the message: “Are you worn out by global politics?
Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities? ”
It’s time to start building your European escape in the stunning paradise of Sardinia.”
Columbu added, “We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all,” explaining that the village is prioritizing U.S. citizens as key to reversing its population decline.
The village offers three types of accommodation: free temporary housing for some digital nomads, one-euro homes that require renovation, and move-in-ready homes priced up to €100,000 (about $105,000).
Columbu stated that a team has been set up to guide buyers through the process, including private property tours, assistance with contractors, and help with paperwork. “We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card,” he said.
Ollolai, which once had a population of 2,250 people a century ago, now has only about 1,150 residents, with few births recorded each year.
Columbu expressed hope that this initiative will help reverse the village’s shrinking population, noting that, “Of course, we can’t specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he’s the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country.”
The village’s website has already attracted over 38,000 inquiries, mostly from the United States.
The offer has sparked excitement, but the preference for Americans has raised some eyebrows.
Ollolai’s initiative comes as rural Italian towns, facing an exodus of young people to urban centers, have been trying to revive their communities by selling homes cheaply.
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Columbu mentioned, “We can’t of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure.”
The offer of one-euro homes is not without its costs. Although the homes may require substantial renovations, the cost of repairs is relatively low, with renovation costs ranging between $21,000 and $52,800, depending on the property size.
Columbu stated that legal fees for buying a home abroad can add up to $3,170, and some towns also require a “guarantee fee” ranging from $1,056 to $10,568, depending on the town and the renovation project.
While Ollolai is not the only village in Italy offering such deals, it is one of many towns in the country struggling to maintain their populations as young people leave for city jobs.
In Sicily, for instance, the village of Mussomeli also offers homes for a euro but requires that the property’s facade remain as it originally was.
Columbu further explained that, “Of course, we can’t specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he’s the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country.”
The website, which advertises the homes in Ollolai, also emphasizes the village’s beautiful natural surroundings and rich traditions. You’ll find €1 houses for sale on websites such as 1eurohouses.com, case1euro.it and property-in-sicily.estate as well as on individual local government websites such as the Comune of Sambuca’s or Citta de Troina’s in Sicily.
The initiative is part of a broader trend in Italy, where selling homes for one euro has become a way to repopulate rural areas.
Some homes, however, have attracted bidding wars, with prices for popular properties going as high as $5,284 or even $21,138.
Despite the low entry cost, the program offers Americans an affordable opportunity to start a new life in a picturesque part of Europe.
For those not interested in buying a home, other options for escaping the U.S. after the election are also emerging.
Florida-based Villa Vie Residences has launched a “Tour La Vie” program, allowing travelers to visit over 140 countries for up to four years while avoiding the United States.
Prices for the program start at just under $40,000 per year, with cabins for the full four-year journey priced at $256,000 for single occupancy or $320,000 for double occupancy.
“We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all,” Columbu stated, hoping to attract individuals seeking a new start away from the political upheaval in the U.S.
