• ArtieShaw@fedia.io
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    3 days ago

    This has been a program for awhile now, so I guess it’s just being marketed in a new way.

    The upside is that you get a free house. The downside is that it’s basically an abandoned structure in an isolated village. The repairs will be (generally speaking) beyond the DIY capabilities of most North Americans. Drywall? That’s easy. Stone and plaster? Not so much.

    Plumbing? FML - I’m going to try to say this nicely, but I’ve found that most post-war era Italian plumbing can be described as “non-standard,” “inventive,” or “surprising.” Sorpresa, bitches.

    The repairs are the initial problem. The lifestyle may be another. These homes are in rural, isolated villages. It may seen charming, but not many amenities nearby. And because most young people have left these villages, you may not be able to communicate with your neighbors. And because you don’t understand the local language, customs, and norms, they may actively dislike you.

    • Horsey@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      A 2 hour 175km drive to Cagliari for everything “big-city”… good luck. Not to mention Sardinian Italian is different enough that learning cosmopolitan Italian isn’t enough to communicate with your neighbors and laborers (because you’ll need to hire people for repairs if you’re not already skilled in construction)

    • PhilipTheBucket@ponder.catOP
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      3 days ago

      Yeah, I feel like this is one of those “too good to be true” situations. If they can’t find anyone on earth who wants to pay more than $1 for this house, there is probably a strong reason for it.

      • XTL
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        2 days ago

        You just need some of that real American spirit! There were no amenities in the frontier either. You build it and they will come.

        • Didros@beehaw.org
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          2 days ago

          There is a strong point of, if there are no amenities there is no competition for any you want to run yourself.

  • Mr_Blott@feddit.uk
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    2 days ago

    We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card."

    Aye history has long proven that when Americans invade your country, you’re pretty much guaranteed a win lol

  • PineRune@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    Imagine a rural Italian village filled with American Trailer-Trash, yelling at each other and starting fights with each new day.

    • constnt@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      The article says they are specifically calling for Americans with digital nomad visas. They are creating a village of influencers.

  • Concave1142@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I saw a video on YouTube about this thing couple of months ago. Sure the house is $1, but it will need tens of thousands of dollars in repair sometimes.