Cute village..

Right? Of course the cheapest homes are dilapidated, and there are also places going for more that are move-in ready

The mayor says he’s set up a special team to guide interested buyers through every step of the purchase, from organizing tailored private tours of the available dwellings to finding contractors, builders and navigating required paperwork.

I've edited the plurk to add the direct website for anyone not wanting to click the article

I wonder if that means there are regulations protecting the historic value of some of the dilapidated houses and that means you need special contractors who are licensed to do restoration work, like in the UK

I wouldn't be surprised.

Sardinia | Italy, Map, History, People, & Points of ...

I'm not sure if the article goes into it, but Italy has been doing this for a while, and a lot of folks who've bought the 'one euro homes' have been very honest that fixing up those houses to just basic livability costs generally between 30,000 and 60,000 before you can even move in, and the contract requires that renovation begins as soon as purchasing.

Also that the price starts at one euro, but these houses are sought after and so they get unofficially auctioned, with having to offer more and more money to actually buy that single euro house.

And yes, they are mostly historic and need to be renovated in a very specific way.

With heavy fines if anything is done 'wrong'.

There's Always A Catch etc

(but still honestly that's extremely affordable by US housing standards)

but it's definitely not just "move into a cheap place" it's a whole project, which is fine if that's what you want to embrace, but not if you just want to move

Yeah, it's honestly still a good deal, there's just a lot of hidden catches and fees and hurdles. Some moreso than others, depending where in Italy (or Spain, or Croatia, or any other country with the euro property program) you're looking. Some are much more lenient in reno and moving in times - like Mussomeli gives you three years to renovate.

But others are like 'YOU HAVE TO RESIDE ON THE PROPERTY AND BEGIN RENOVATING AS SOON AS YOU SIGN THE DEAL, NO EXCEPTIONS!'. Or even require you to be a resident of Italy before making the purchase.

But! If this is something you (general use of you) are interested in, they do have websites and services designed specifically for Americans buying these properties to help you navigate everything. I think Renovita is the most popular.