Latest news with #Mussomeli
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I've moved from LA to Italy to renovate a £23,000 crumbling medieval house with 17 rooms - it was the only way to get on the property ladder
A woman has moved across the world to renovate a 600-year-old medieval Italian home because house prices in her hometown have 'skyrocketed'. Kiki Leigh was stunned by the local property market when she came across a tiny Italian town called Mussomeli, where historic homes were going for 'the price of a handbag'. The 28-year-old snapped up a 17-room pad for just £22,800 (€27,000) - a fraction of the estimated £367,000 the property would have cost in Los Angeles, where Kiki has been living. Although the move across the world is daunting, Kiki is embracing the challenge and throwing herself into renovations. Kiki, originally from Winnipeg, Canada, said: 'It started as a bit of a wild idea. I had always seen news stories about cheap homes, but never seriously considered it. 'I'd been living in the city for years, surrounded by constant pressure to chase a version of success that didn't actually fit me. Life felt expensive, overstimulating and a little soulless. 'I experienced a lot of loss and pain and, when I finally picked my head up and really looked around, I realised I wasn't living in a way that felt true to me and I wasn't even sure why.' Kiki said that when she stumbled upon the property, she took the opportunity based on a 'gut feeling' - in search of a 'more grounded way to live'. Having looked for a home before, Kiki called the real estate prices in LA 'laughable', and said even in her home country Canada the prices had 'skyrocketed'. She said: 'I was working hard, doing well, but owning a home, let alone a dream home, always felt out of reach. 'I couldn't justify spending half a million dollars on something that didn't feel special. Then I realised that, for a fraction of that, I could own a literal piece of history. The maths just started to make sense in a way that North America never did.' At some points, Kiki was paying the equivalent of £1,830 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. She said, 'That didn't include parking or peace of mind, let alone castle views and cobblestone charm. Rent felt like a monthly punishment for staying somewhere I wasn't thriving. It wasn't sustainable long-term, financially or emotionally.' The bustling lifestyle of LA, where influencers and celebrities flock in swathes, was another reason Kiki wanted to leave. While living in the US and Canada, Kiki was at points paying the equivalent of £1,830 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Pictured: The renovation of Kiki's 600-year-old home 'In LA, everything felt like a rush - fast food, fast fashion, fast success,' she said. 'In Mussomeli, time feels expansive. 'I'll be cooking more, walking more, talking to neighbours, hosting dinners instead of scrolling. My daily life will be rooted in connection, creativity and calm. 'I'll still be working and creating, but from a place that nourishes me. It's not about slowing down completely, it's about being intentional.' So far, Kiki has spent £42,185 on renovations to the 600-year-old pad. She said: 'This is a historic home, the kind of place that reveals new surprises behind every wall. 'To me, this isn't just a house, it's an experience, an art project, a home base for my future and a way to live life a little differently. So, I'm more than happy with the investment.' With the money she's saving, Kiki plans to build a spa with a jacuzzi and sauna and a full bar, because she wants it to be 'a little magical'. Kiki estimates the total cost will land somewhere around £101,250 -£118,140. 'I want it to feel like the ultimate home for peace and tranquility,' Kiki continued. 'A place where I can bring all my loved ones together and experience something special and rare.' To add to the quirkiness, Kiki is building a library as a homage to the home's previous owner, a Sicilian scholar and professor. 'It felt only right to preserve that legacy and create a space where books, ideas and conversation are front and centre,' she said. The new homeowner now splits her time between Sicily, LA and Canada while renovations continue, but she is almost ready to move in full-time. Once the remodel is finished, she estimates she'll save £2,200 on outgoings each month. Kiki explained: 'Rent alone is already eliminated,' said Kiki. 'Groceries, utilities, dining out - everything is more affordable here. 'And I don't need to pay to escape chaos, I just step outside and I'm in a 14th-century fairytale. 'This house felt like a chance to take something forgotten and make it beautiful again. There's a kind of romance to that.' Kiki urged others to take a leap of faith in similar situations, arguing that 'life doesn't have to follow the script'. She said: 'You don't need a five-year plan, a perfect timeline or anyone's permission to build a life that feels good. 'I bought an old, crumbling house in a tiny Sicilian town with no real plan beyond "this feels right" and it's led to more freedom, joy and community than I could have imagined. The life I've built here feels amazing.' For work, she is continuing her career in fashion PR, but she added: 'Once my home is completed, I plan to start a business here. 'What business exactly, I'm not entirely sure, but I have a few ideas that I'm working on. I'm just healthier mentally, physically and spiritually than I ever was in North America. 'It's truly remarkable what this town has given me, and the version of myself I've been able to return to because of this journey.'
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I ditched city for a hidden historic town where houses cost as little as £4K & pints are cheaper than a Tesco sandwich
PERUSING the offerings on sale, Kiki Delichte weighs up her options. A nice vintage one-off for £3,451 that would need a little restoration work, or she could fork out another £700 for a larger piece with fewer flaws. 7 7 But Kiki isn't perusing eBay for a vintage designer bag but rather she's house-hunting for her dream home in Italy. The 28-year-old moved across the world to renovate a 600-year-old medieval home – because house prices in her hometown had 'sky-rocketed'. Kiki was stunned by the local property market when she came across the tiny Italian town of Mussomeli online where historic homes were going for 'the price of a handbag'. The 28-year-old snapped up a 17-room pad for just £22,800, (€27,000) – a fraction of the estimated £367,000 ($500,000) one closer to home would have cost, and has been restoring it ever since. Despite involving a move across the world to a place she doesn't know a soul, Kiki is embracing the challenge full-heartedly, throwing herself into renovations. 'It started as a bit of a wild idea,' Kiki, who works in fashion PR, says . 'I had always seen news stories about cheap homes but never seriously considered it.' Kiki, who is originally from Canada, had been living in LA and quickly found the city overwhelming. 'I'd been living in the city for years, surrounded by constant pressure to chase a version of success that didn't actually fit me,' she says. 'Life felt expensive, overstimulating, and still a little soulless. Reality star quits UK for new life abroad less than a year after shock split with her fiancé 'I experienced a lot of loss and pain, and eventually, when I finally picked my head up and really looked around, I realised I wasn't living in a way that felt true to me, and I wasn't even sure why. 'Then I came across this tiny Italian town where you could buy a historic home for the price of a handbag. 'It wasn't some carefully calculated life plan, it was a gut feeling that there was a richer, more grounded way to live.' Kiki soon found her future home, which she says cost just a fraction of the price of what a house would cost in the US - playing a huge role in her decision. Kiki says: 'I'd been living in LA for over a decade and the real estate market there is laughable. 'Even in Canada, prices have skyrocketed. 'I was working hard, doing well, but owning a home, let alone a dream home, always felt just out of reach. 'I couldn't justify spending half a million dollars on something that didn't feel special. 7 7 7 'Then I realised that for a fraction of that I could own a literal piece of history. 'The math just started to make sense in a way that North America never did.' At some points she was paying £1,830, ($2,500), a month for a one-bedroom apartment. She explains: 'That didn't include parking or peace of mind. 'Nor with castle views and cobblestone charm. 'Rent felt like a monthly punishment for staying somewhere I wasn't thriving. 'It wasn't sustainable long-term, financially or emotionally.' But it was not only the price that influenced Kiki who was looking for a change of pace when it came to her lifestyle. She says: 'In LA, everything felt like a rush — fast food, fast fashion, fast success. 'In Mussomeli, time feels expansive. 'I'll be cooking more, walking more, talking to neighbours, hosting dinners instead of scrolling. 'My daily life will be rooted in connection, creativity, and calm. 'I'll still be working and creating, but from a place that nourishes me. It's not about slowing down completely, it's about being intentional.' So far she has spent £42,185 (€50,000) on renovations to the 600-year-old pad. She says: 'This is a historic home, the kind of place that reveals new surprises behind every wall. 'To me, this isn't just a house, it's an experience, an art project, a home base for my future, and a way to live life a little differently. 'So I'm more than happy with the investment. 'I'm building a spa with a jacuzzi and sauna, and full bar, because if you're going to bring a home back to life, why not make it a little magical?' Kiki estimates that the total will land somewhere around £101,250 – £118,140, (€120,000 – €140,000). She adds: 'I want it to feel like the ultimate home for peace and tranquillity. 'A place where I can bring all my loved ones together and experience something special and rare. 'It is the kind of place that feeds your soul and makes you feel at home the second you walk inside. 'I'm also building a library as an homage to the home's previous owner, a Sicilian scholar and professor. 'It felt only right to preserve that legacy and create a space where books, ideas, and conversation are front and centre.' Kiki now splits her time between Sicily, LA and Canada while renovations continue, but she is almost ready to move in full-time. She estimates it'll save her around £2,200, ($3,000 a month) once renovations are finished. She says: 'Rent alone is already eliminated. 'Groceries, utilities, dining out, everything is more affordable here.' And she's not wrong, according to local prices you can expect to pay around £3.40 for a pint, less than most supermarket sandwiches. Kiki says that another benefit is that she no longer has to pay for holidays. 'I don't need to pay to escape chaos, I just step outside and I'm in a 14th-century fairytale,' she says. 'This house felt like a chance to take something forgotten and make it beautiful again. Italy's €1 house scheme Depending on the region, a number of towns and villages across Italy have offered the cheap €1 properties to encourage people to move to the area. There are around 25 regions who are taking part, each with a number of properties. Many of the areas have a dwindling or aging population and hope to build the community again. The properties range from small houses to larger villas, but are all in a very rundown condition. The conditions for buying each property also vary, but the majority of them need large renovation works which are part of the scheme 'There's a kind of romance to that.' And to anyone else looking to take a leap of faith, she says that 'life doesn't have to follow the script'. She got the keys to her new home in January, started renovating in March and is moving in next month to do the finishing touches. Kiki, originally from Winnipeg, Canada, says: 'You don't need a five-year plan, a perfect timeline, or anyone's permission to build a life that feels good. 'I bought an old, crumbling house in a tiny Sicilian town with no real plan beyond: this feels right. 'And it's led to more freedom, joy, and community than I could have imagined. 'The life I've built here feels amazing.' For work, as of now - she is continuing her career in fashion PR. She adds: 'But once my home is completed I plan to start a business here. 'What business exactly, I'm not entirely sure, but I have a few ideas that I'm working on. 'I'm just healthier mentally, physically, and spiritually than I ever was in North America. 'It's truly remarkable what this town has given me, and the version of myself I've been able to return to because of this journey.' 7
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I left frantic UK life to buy 85p home in sunny paradise – now I'm building property empire for cost of two pints
AFTER years of enduring the rat race as a jewellery dealer in the UK, George Laing took a gamble on a new life in Europe - with just 85p. With gruelling hard work and patience, the Brit is slowly transforming a derelict three-story building into his dream home - and he has another plan up his sleeve. 15 15 15 He has just finalised the deal on a SECOND 85p house - and intends to purchase up to 15 more over the next three years. When George snapped up his first home in Sicily for only 85p over two years ago, he was well aware of the long, painful and pricey process he'd have to endure during the renovation. The property was in desperate need of an overhaul, with a hole in the roof and no running water or electricity. Several wooden beams were rotting from both ends and worrying cracks lined almost every wall in each room. The bathroom was a tiny box and the kitchen was simply a metal stove connected to a propane tank. But beyond the gloomy exterior and lackluster interior, jeweller and business mogul Laing saw its potential. And even with no prior background in revamping anything close to a three-floored home, George was determined to get stuck in. He now spends two weeks a month at home in the UK and the rest in beautiful Sicily, working tirelessly to complete his future kingdom. George even plans to open up an antiques shop in Mussomeli at the end of the year so he can continue his jewellery business in Italy. Speaking to The Sun, the young homeowner has revealed just how far he has come in the past 12 months. I left UK to buy 85p home - I get perfect weather, cheap booze & better neighbours He said: 'It's surreal to see the first house coming together - we've got water, electricity, and now we're onto the exciting part: fitting out the kitchen and bathrooms with marble from a local quarry. 'I want the finish to be as beautiful as the bones of the building. 'Once the first house is finished, we're throwing a huge celebration — the mayor's coming, the neighbours are invited. "It's not just a personal milestone, it's a community one. "What started as a crumbling €1 house has now started to turn into a beautiful, liveable home." Just 10,000 residents live in George's new hometown of Mussomeli. The sun-soaked region of Sicily has long been known as a glorious haven for those wanting the laid back European lifestyle. George, who lives in Eastbourne and used to work to London, says the drastic change in vibes is one of the key factors behind why he purchased the home. He explained: "In Sicily, life is just a bit slower. "You've got a different quality of life, and obviously the weather is 25-30 degrees everyday. And it's a beautiful place." 15 15 15 Despite living in a foodie paradise, renovating the home hasn't been without its challenges. He said: "It's been like a full-time job mixed with the most personal kind of DIY adventure. "I've overseen everything from rewiring and plumbing to sourcing materials locally and working with Italian builders who don't speak a word of English. "Navigating Italian bureaucracy without being fluent in Italian was definitely up there. "Also, understanding the true structural condition of the property - it's not always obvious what lies behind the walls until you start breaking them open. "And of course, doing all this on a tight budget meant I had to be hands-on with almost everything." But George loves the lifestyle so much that he has just finalised the deal on a second 85p house. BIG PLANS He said: "It's a totally different challenge, and I'm already planning how to preserve what's special, while breathing new life into it. "And I'm planning to purchase another three to five in the next year, another 10-15 over the next three years. "I've learned so much and now I want to go even bigger and begin to grow my property portfolio. "There's also something incredibly addictive about rescuing these abandoned homes. "I'm passionate about bringing life back to these forgotten places and helping others do the same." 15 15 15 From the first moment he arrived, George could tell he had entered into a tight-knit community. The locals in Sicily are very different to what George is used to. He quickly became friends with his Italian neighbours - although he admits he still has to use Google Translate to chat with them. And being in his early 30s, George has been thrilled to find the price of alcohol is drastically lower in Italy. He said: "It's just nice to buy things that are a lot cheaper. "You get a beer or a cocktail in Sicily for €1.50 or a glass of wine for €2 - whereas it's £7.50 now in London for a pint. "Even just living there day to day you spend less money, which is a nice bonus." 15 Three spacious storeys of room to play with and a classic Italian balcony at the front were paired with a glorious marble staircase. George is proud of his bold choice and says despite his pals being nervy about the move he is now confident it was the right choice. One of the main reasons he left was the struggle to find a home in and around London on the cheap. He said: "Financially getting on the property market in London or anywhere in the UK is incredibly hard. £5,000 in the UK isn't going to get you diddly squat." Another key factor is not having to pay an astronomical mortgage. Getting on the property ladder is notoriously hard in the UK due to the lack of available housing, surging house prices and rising bills. In 2023, 42,000 Brits left their lives behind and moved to a new EU nation. For George, when he heard Italy was flogging homes for less than £1, the bold move made sense - something others are now getting on board with. He said: "Seeing something so neglected come back to life is incredibly rewarding. "Also, becoming part of the local Sicilian community sharing food, stories, and wine with neighbours has made this much more than just a renovation. "It's been a total life reset in the best way." How does the €1 house scheme work? DEPENDING on the region, a number of towns and villages across Italy have offered the cheap €1 properties to encourage people to move to the area. There are around 25 regions who are taking part, each with a number of properties. Many of the areas have a dwindling or aging population and hope to build the community again. The properties range from small houses to larger villas, but are all in a very rundown condition. The conditions for buying each property also vary, but the majority of them need large renovation works which are part of the scheme According to Maurizio Berti, who runs the website "The houses are owned by private individuals who often want to get rid of them so as not to pay taxes and heavy taxes. "We are talking about dilapidated or unsafe properties that need major renovations." Conditions include notary fees, paying an additional three-year buying guarantee policy of €5,000 (which is refunded when it expires) as well as starting the project within two months once permits are given. The houses are put to an auction where people can bid on them so they technically aren't all €1. While some do sell for €1, on average houses sell for around €5,000 euros, although some are up to €20,000. Some of the schemes even offer to pay you money for buying a home if you can boost the economy with a new business venture. 15
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Brit reveals what it's really like to buy a 85p house in Italy – and the amazing secret he found inside
A JEWELLERY dealer swapped the UK for Italy and bought a house for just 85p - and the property came with a surprise. George Laing, 32, was handed the keys to the abandoned four-bed house in the Sicilian town of Mussomeli in 2022. 2 It was part of Italy 's popular €1 homes scheme, set up to encourage the renovations of crumbling, yet beautiful, properties. When he moved in he realised very quickly that he had his work cut out. The electrics, plumbing, bathrooms, structural repairs and roof update all needed doing. He told The i Paper: "It wasn't liveable at all when I bought it.' However, after a few years of hard graft, George is now able to live in his Italian dream house while he works on the renovations. He has almost finished the whole top floor of the property. In an attempt to save the pennies, he is doing up the entire house on his own. He has estimated his final costs to be between €5,000 and €10,000. "Someone else renovating the exact same property could have easily spent €40,000 or more,' he said. The house spreads over 1,291 square feet over three floors. Watch the video to see inside the family-of-seven's caravan home It has two bathrooms and a small balcony with views over the town. He stumbled across some hidden treasure tucked away in various nooks of the house. A purse filled with gold jewellery was stashed in a bedside table drawer. Then he came across a padlocked chest in the kitchen, which had a biscuit tin inside. However, it wasn't filled with biscotti - it carried eight ring boxes. The most valuable pieces were an 18-carat gold chain, which was valued at £851 and a 19th-century 14-carat emerald stone ring with pearls valued at £595. Despite keeping a few pieces aside for himself, he auctioned around £2,127 of the stash. As well as jewellery, there were plenty of antiques, including a vintage 1950s hen clock, a collection of postcards, religious statues, crystal vases and an antique gilded mirror. Italian law states that as the new owner of the house, George is the rightful owner of the antiques. The house has been abandoned for decades and the heirs of the property had no interest in personal belongings left in the house. So under Italian local law, the contents of the house were included with the purchase. George decided to move to Italy after becoming fed up with the soaring cost of living in the UK. He said: 'I was spending well over £1,300 a month for my small one-bedroom flat. "The private water and electricity companies have increased their rates by 400 per cent over the last five years. "The UK taxes me 40 per cent on my wages. A cup of coffee is £5. 'Once you add this all together I was just about surviving in London even though I was working full time and doing other projects on the side to make money." He said that he decided he needed to make a change and wanted to "thrive, not survive".
BBC News
09-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sussex man who owns 85p Sicily home besieged with advice requests
A man who bought a house in Sicily for 85p says he has been inundated with thousands of requests on social media asking for his advice on how people can buy their dream home at an affordable Laing, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, bought a three-storey house in the town of Mussomeli in December 2022, and is just two months away from finishing renovation 32-year-old said since he shared his story, he has received between 30 and 40 messages a day across his social media platforms - even from as far afield as said: "I have never expected to get so much attention from people asking advice on how to buy bargain properties. "I was even contacted by someone from Bondi Beach who said living in Sydney has become virtually unaffordable and they want to buy a home in Mussomeli."Mr Laing said most people who contact him were hoping to buy their dream homes in Italy for between €20,000 and €50,000 (£17,000 to £42,000), which require little renovation to the UK House Price Index, as of February 2025 the average property cost in this country is £268, cheap homes in Sicily are part of an initiative across Italy to sell unused properties to attract new residents to poorly populated Laing said while his Mussomeli property itself cost just 85p, the other associated costs included agency fees, legal costs, an energy certificate and notary costs which came to a total of £4,000. "Living in the UK has become increasingly difficult. Many people are struggling to keep up with their mortgage and bills," Mr Laing said."People just want to have a better quality of life and not be trapped in a cycle where they can't enjoy life." Mr Laing said he planned to buy between 15 and 20 properties in Mussomeli over the next five years to rent out."I also hope, at some point, to purchase an abandoned village in Italy, convert rundown homes so they have capacity for self-running electricity and water," he added."These homes are for people who need help, they can live in them for free. In return they do community work such as farming, so the village can be self-sustaining."
