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‘I bought 6 homes for $1 each’. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
A US woman has revealed how she snapped up six properties in Italy for the bargain price of $1.06 ($AU1.65) each and transformed them into dream homes.
Rubia Daniels, who is originally from Brazil but lives in San Francisco, purchased six crumbling houses in 2019 in Mussomeli, a centuries-old hill town in Sicily, through a local initiative that aims to breathe new life into abandoned real estate, according to SWNS.
With Australian real estate prices soaring, and the Italian government’s relaxed property laws, many Aussies have also jumped on the one euro scheme.
Ms Daniels explained the houses came with a catch: they were in various states of ruin, with some missing roofs and lacking basic infrastructure.
“I packed six suitcases of all my tools and a generator,” Ms Daniels recalled to the outlet.
The 51-year-old planning consultant flew out with her husband and brother-in-law to collect the deeds, having spent a total of about $US25,440 ($A39,600) after administrative fees and agency costs, the New York Post reports.
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Rubia Daniels bought six abandoned homes in Italy for just $1.06 each. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
The homes are located in Mussomeli — a hilltop town in Sicily. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
The properties were in disrepair — some with collapsed roofs and lacking basic utilities. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
Despite the dilapidated conditions, the mum-of-three felt at ease with the undertaking.
“I’m comfortable with the idea of transforming things and breaking walls,” she said.
“For example, my husband panics when he sees me eyeing up projects like this, but for me it’s just a combination of excitement and joy.”
The first property, which was completely collapsed, is now fully renovated.
It “has a beautiful marble bedroom,” she said.
The restoration cost her approximately $US63,600 ($A98,850) and she hopes it will require no further work “for 50 years”.
Her vision extends beyond family homes.
One of the six properties is earmarked as a future wellness retreat offering yoga and meditation classes.
“It would be nice to give back to the community this way,” she said.
A kitchen. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
A bedroom. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
A bathroom. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
One of six homes. Picture: rubia.daniels/Instagram
Ms Daniels also furnished the properties using local vendors — installing everything from sinks to flooring sourced nearby.
“We wanted to do it with the community in mind,” she explained. “We love it here — it’s much nicer than California.”
What drew her to Mussomeli wasn’t just the bargain prices, but the way of life.
“Nobody is rushing around, everything is affordable,” she said. “A coffee and a croissant costs €1.50. In California, it’s a very stressful environment and everything is so superficial.”
Now, her two aunts, aged 70 and 82, plan to retire in the hilltop town permanently.
And while her project initially raised eyebrows back home, the once-overlooked Sicilian village has gained international attention.
At least 30 people are looking at one home now, she said, explaining how the influx initiative has grown in popularity.
For Ms Daniels, the appeal was clear from the start: “You’re getting the house basically for free and you can turn that into whatever you desire”.
Parts of this story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.
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The four-bedroom house at 8-10 Wilson Place, Geelong, sold for $1.7m.
A bespoke home built in a little-known laneway in Geelong’s inner east has sold very quickly as buyers cottoned on to the serenity on offer.
The home was originally built as a family home by Geelong builder Bruce Warren and has transacted for the second time as the present owners move to Queensland, McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous said.
The 343sq m property just off Fitzroy St at 8-10 Wilson Place sold for $1.7m after five weeks on the market.
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The entertaining credentials of this house are underlined in this main living area boasting two kitchens indoors, plus the outdoor kitchen in the yard.
“It was a pretty popular property, actually there was two or three buyers on it,” Mr Cortous said.
“It was a really good product. Obviously it’s tucked away down a laneway, so it’s a nice, quiet spot.
“Laneways aren’t for everybody but some people really like them because they’re quiet, little dead-end lanes.
“The product itself is amazing. Bruce did a fantastic job with that one, it was actually his home.”
The house features two kitchens (the butler’s pantry doubles as a full second kitchen, both fitted with fridges, ovens and stone benches), an extensive outdoor entertaining area and multiple living zones.
The four-bedroom house is located off Fitzroy St, which is close to the hospitals, Garden St cafe strip, and the waterfront.
The four-bedroom house at 8-10 Wilson Place, Geelong, sold for $1.7m.
A covered outdoor area is within the roofline offers an outdoor kitchen and seating area to enjoy the northern sunshine.
The bathroom and ensuite have floor-to-ceiling tile work, stone benches, freestanding bath, stunning matt black tapware and underfloor heating.
There’s hydronic heating, CCTV and double glazed windows throughout.
The location is close to Geelong’s main city hospitals and is walking distance to the Garden St cafe strip, botanic gardens and waterfront.
Mr Cortous said the home offered great architecture and great execution.
“People now want that turnkey stuff because it’s expensive to build, it’s expensive to renovate. “There’s probably more value in something like that because you don’t have to go through the pain of building such a nice property.”
The post Bespoke Bruce Warren home sells in central Geelong laneway appeared first on realestate.com.au.
155 Queen St, Woollahra, which has no off-street parking, sold for $12.1m recently to an overseas-based buyer.
The boss of a Belgium-based telco who once ran Austar has paid a $12.1m record price for a house with no parking in Woollahra.
John Porter, CEO of Antwerp-based Telenet, and his wife Susan Mougey appear on settlement records for 155 Queen St, Woollahra, which achieved the mega result off-market recently via Maclay Longhurst of Sotheby’s.
Prior to joining Telenet, Porter was the CEO of Australian digital satellite subscription TV provider Austar, which was bought by Foxtel in 2012.
His Linked In profile says he is a “global citizen with American-Australian dual nationality” who has four children, presumably some of them based in Sydney.
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Former Austar CEO John Porter at the company’s office in Sydney in 2010.
The house has a modern addition — but there’s not potential for off-street parking as it backs onto a public park.
Longhurst didn’t want to discuss the purchasers, saying only that the owners were based overseas.
“It was only on the market for a week, but these buyers loved the location because it’s walking distance from Woollahra village,” he said.
“It’s definitely the highest price ever for a house without parking in Paddington/Woollahra and probably Australia.”
There’s no doubting the charm and beauty of the incredible home, which records show was owned by hedge fund manager David Curtis and his wife Joan, who bought it for $5.65m in 2017.
Woollahra Council approved their $450k reno in 2020, which merges the classical Victorian front of the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a contemporary addition.
Mirvac managing director Campbell Hanan sold in Moore Park Rd, Paddington for $9.75m. Picture: Nikki Short
The result was a street record — one of nine achieved by Longhurst this year.
There was no possibility for off-street parking at the 291sqm block — it backs onto a public park.
Longhurst’s had a string of big sales recently, including the $12.4m deal for Dr Andrew Goy’s Bourke St, Surry Hills warehouse (the old Labor club) which was a new suburb record for Surry Hills.
He’s also recently broken a range of street records — nine this year he advises — including 49 Glenview St, Paddington which records show is owned by Joseph McGlennon, creative director at Doctor V Energy Drinks, and his wife Janet for $9.3m; and 302 Moore Park Rd, for $9.75m owned by Mirvac CEO and managing director Campbell Hanan.
The purchaser was Declan Boylan, founder of Seven Consulting.
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Queensland has unveiled two new priority areas to accelerate housing development in the state.
The state government announced two Priority Development Areas (PDAs), which together could deliver over 10,000 new homes in the Moreton Bay and Redland City areas.
A PDA is a designated zone of land in Queensland designed to deliver development projects, to meet community needs and stimulate economic growth.
The latest one, the North Harbour PDA, aims to deliver over 3700 new homes over the next 15 years, with an initial release of up to 200 homes in Burpengary East, located 50km north of Brisbane’s CBD.
This PDA will build upon the existing North Harbour development, which currently houses 3000 residents and is noted as one of five significant projects in the City of Moreton Bay Regional Economic Development Strategy 2020 – 2041.
According to 2021 census data, Burpengary East had 2148 private dwellings. Of those 1911, were houses, 107 were semi-detached homes and 10 were listed as apartments.
While development has continued since the census, the new PDA could almost double the housing options for its 6658 residents.
“The construction of apartments and standalone housing will further boost the economy and provide another option for people looking to live in City of Moreton Bay,” City of Moreton Bay mayor Peter Flannery said.
“The development of a marina at the site will unlock a new local marine industry, from boatbuilding to repairs, generating more skilled employment opportunities for our residents.”
The second PDA spans 890 hectares in the Southern Thornlands region, located 32km east of Brisbane’s CBD.
This proposal aims to unlock 8000 new homes, with an initial release area providing 900 homes, including 20% earmarked for affordable and social housing.
The area has 6779 dwellings, according to 2021 Census data, with 5593 of those being houses, 743 semi-detached homes and 63 as apartments.
With this PDA, 8000 new homes could be available to 19,263 of the area’s residents.
The PDA also proposes a $4 million investment to upgrade the intersection of Springacre Rd and Boundary Rd to manage increased growth in the area.
Assistant minister to the deputy premier and assistant minister for planning, housing and better regulation Rebecca Young said the government will work with council to plan the 20-year PDA.
“Now is the time for all levels of government and the community to come together and work towards the best possible 20-year plan for Southern Thornlands,” she said.
“The Crisafulli Government is delivering on our commitment to unlock, build and boost housing options across the state.”
Are you interested in buying and building new? Check out our dedicated New Homes section.
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