Italy to Spain, these 5 exotic places will pay you to move there. But there is a catch
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how we work and more importantly, where we work from. And at the same time, there are places in the world; mostly villages, which are emptying out as residents move to urban spaces. This series of events seems to have perfectly come together. Now, cities and countries are offering money to outsiders; even foreigners, to move into their villages.
You must have heard about the lucrative and unbelievable deal where villages in Italy are selling homes for as low as just 1 euro, which is about Rs 83. Or you must have heard of offers like the Portugal government paying people some 4,300 euros to move to a specific location in their country.
But like all good things, these too come with a catch. So, before you get too excited and pack all your belongings for a life away in the scenic European countryside, you might want to check out their terms and conditions.
1. CALABRIA, ITALY
This scenic beachside village in Italy started a scheme to repopulate and rejuvenate its economy. Under the scheme, people willing to move to the town would be paid nearly 28,000 euros or over Rs 24 lakh to resettle there.
DISTANCE FROM CAPITAL: Calabria is nearly 530 km from Italy's capital, Rome.
However, there are a few catches:
- You must be willing to stay there for at least 3 years
- You must be willing to set up a business from scratch or take over a business existing in the village that is in need of professionals
- You must be no older than 40 years
- Applicants must move in within 90 days of the approval of their application
- Moreover, the sum promised may not be handed out in one go. It may be paid in monthly or yearly installments.
2. CANDELA, ITALY
Like Calabria, Candela is a medieval village in Italy that promised to pay singles 800 euros, couples 1,200 euros, 1,500 to 1,800 euros for 3-member families, and over 2,000 euros for a family of four if they moved there. However, applicants, once successful, will need to rent a house, register as a resident and have a job paying a minimum of 7,500 euros.
DISTANCE FROM CAPITAL: Candela is around 265 km from Rome.
Moreover, the promised sum won’t be paid in a lump. 50% will be paid at the end of first year and 50% will be paid at the end of the second year.
Guess if you dream of this life, you will have to invest first.
3. ALBINEN, SWITZERLAND
In 2017, it was proposed that the tranquil village in Switzerland, Albinen, will pay people nearly Rs 20 lakh to move there. And a family of four would be eligible for a whopping Rs 51 lakh grant.
DISTANCE FROM CAPITAL: Albinen is around 190 km from the Swiss capital Bern.
However, it comes with a catch or catches:
- Interested people should be willing to live in the village for 10 years
- They should be able to build or buy a house worth 200,000 swiss francs or nearly Rs 1.6 crore in the village
- They cannot own a second house
- Foreigners need to have a C permit for a permanent Swiss settlement
- Also, those willing to move there must be under 45 years of age
If you have always dreamed of settling down in a place like Switzerland, then the grants are free money that will cover some of the expenses.
4. ITALY’S ONE-EURO HOMES
This started a few years ago. Even now, Italy’s offer of $1 or one-euro homes in idyllic villages is a rage across the world. People from around the world flocked in to get the deal when it was first announced. But these houses weren’t exactly one-euro homes as promised.
DISTANCE FROM CAPITAL: Sambuca is 213 km from Rome.
- Some houses in Sambuca of Italy were sold at auctions, where the price started at $1 but went to the highest bidder. So, it was not really a dollar home.
- Then there is the deposit which can range from about 5,000 euros or Rs 4 lakh. The deposit is returned if homeowners are able to start the renovations within one year of buying the house and completing the project within 3 years.
- People would also need to spend on contracts for the taxes and the real estate company, which is estimated to be around $3,000 or Rs 2.2 lakh.
- Some of these houses were reported to be in really bad shape, requiring renovations worth $17,000 or Rs 12 lakh.
- Business Insider estimated the total cost of one of these one-dollar homes to be about $76,000 or Rs 57 lakh.
5. PONGA, SPAIN
DISTANCE FROM CAPITAL: Ponga is around 450 km from the Spanish capital Madrid.
Ponga is offering 3,000 euros to help people settle into the village. The cherry on the top is that the village will also give 3,000 euros whenever a child is born. However, the state of the homes here is the same as those in the Italian countryside; abandoned and deteriorating. So, if you can pick up the renovation costs and can commit to living for at least 5 years, then perhaps this is the place for you.
All these options can only be explored if a person has quite some amount of money saved in their piggy bank. Still, the deals are worth exploring as they come with massive discounts in otherwise extremely expensive locations.