House in Italy for ₹ 12.4 lakh: Couple has an incredible business in a picturesque location; 2-storey house, basement, attic

Cassandra Tresl, a writer and content creator, recently shared her family’s home buying story with CNBC. In 2019, she moved from New York to the Italian countryside. Her family eventually settled permanently in the Italian region of Abruzzo.

The couple paid 11,500 euros ( ₹12.4 million at the current rate) for their property directly. Living in a small town made this remarkably low price possible. Such affordability would be unimaginable in most US housing markets.

The house is located in a traditional town on a hill. “That means we have these wonderful views,” Tresl wrote. “I can’t imagine moving back to the US anytime soon,” she added.

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Their home is spread over two floors with a total area of roughly 1,076 square feet. Includes two bedrooms on the main living level. The third bedroom is also in the basement. The land space complements the overall layout of the property.

Beyond the purchase price, the couple invested additional funds in renovations. They spent approximately €15,000 ( ₹16 lakh) to improve the property. Including the purchase price, the total investment was around USD 30,200 ( ₹28.5 million).

Crucially, Tresl and her husband bought the house entirely in cash. This avoided the financial burden typical of American home ownership. Tresl described the achievement as feeling “unbelievable” when he reflects on it. She also noticed that she felt a real sense of relief from this arrangement.

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With no mortgage or rent to pay, the family gained significant flexibility. This single decision fundamentally changed their financial obligations and monthly budget. There were no interest payments or long-term debt accompanying their transition to home ownership.

Tresl initially continued to work remotely for her American technology company. After settling permanently in Italy, she eventually switched to a lower paying job. He now works in marketing for an Italian travel agency. They also create content as part of their income.

Despite making less than her previous salary in New York, Tresl finds the trade-off worthwhile. The lower cost of living in Abruzzo facilitated this transition smoothly. The reduction in housing costs played a major role in making this possible.

Cost of living

In addition to housing, daily expenses are more affordable locally, according to Treslo. The cost of food and child care turned out to be significantly lower than their equivalents in America. This affordability greatly expanded the family’s financial space.

The absence of housing debt greatly enhanced these broader savings. Together, these factors allowed the family to prioritize experiences over income growth. Tresl described feeling “less focused” on constantly making more money.

Financial freedom

Buying with cash has eliminated a major recurring expense that most families face. This freed up time that was previously spent earning money specifically for mortgage payments. Tresl now maintains a flexible activity schedule for his daughter.

Can manage school drop-offs and pick-ups without strict financial constraints. The family also gained the freedom to travel around Italy regularly. They implement creative and professional projects without the traditional financial pressure associated with housing.

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According to Livingcost, the monthly cost of living in Abruzzo is $1,315 ( ₹1.24 million). This is 1.14 times cheaper than the average in Italy. The city was ranked 15th most expensive. According to the publication, it is also the 12th best state to live in Italy.

In Abruzzo, the average salary after tax is $1,742 ( ₹1.65 million). Livingcost says this is enough to cover 1.3 months of living expenses.