Thermal baths in Tuscany (Le Terme del Mulino. Saturnia)gettyWith more Americans considering a move abroad, Italy’s €1 houses can sound like an irresistible shortcut to a European dream. In reality, the schemes are better understood as renovation commitments in depopulated towns, and the opportunities are limited to specific municipalities that open and close applications on their own schedules. More Americans Are Looking To EuropeThe desire to move abroad is booming for Americans. An October 2025 survey, supported by data elsewhere, highlighted that 1 in 10 Americans were actively researching a move overseas, driven primarily by financial and job insecurity, with people searching for a reduced cost of living, including less expensive access to healthcare, coupled with a better work-life balance. Europe is a popular choice—38% of Americans considering a move abroad, according to the same survey, said they were considering Europe. The €1 House In Italy Is Real But Requires DedicationThe €1 house in Italy has been popular in Sicily and Sardinia since around 2017, and there are maybe two dozen Italian municipalities where programs are still active, ranging from Oyace on the Swiss border to Pignone, not far from the idyllic scenery of Cinque Terre. They make headlines because they seem too good to be true—entire houses, in cobbled streets, in medieval villages, where you can live the rural European dream not far from the Mediterranean sea. But the reason they seem too good to be true is not that they are; it's that hard work and dedication are required. Lots of it. These houses are abandoned and available because families have left these villages, perhaps in search of work or better amenities. Abandoned buildings often need a lot of work, too, and while they may not be that expensive to renovate, average costs seem to be around €100,000 across Italy and France to renovate a house, which is much less than the house would have cost. Banks are unlikely to give loans to foreigners for redoing abandoned buildings, either, but this is a requirement of the application process in many cases.€1 Houses In Italy Require An Application Process Rather Than A SaleIt is also quite a long process, as applications must be submitted to the municipality which then reviews them to ensure they have the right funding and mindset. As the president of the Union and mayor of Monte di Malo, Mosè Squarzon, says in one program, the project is “an investment in life, not money”, adding that “The main goal is to bring people back to places that were emptied in the pursuit of modernity and comfort.”The goal is to simultaneously restore historic buildings, revitalize local economies and tackle depopulation.Where To Find €1 Houses In ItalyA recent scheme in the province of Vicenza, which closed in mid-April, received 78 proposals from people looking to buy a house for €1. After signing the deeds, local authorities usually demand that you start the work quickly and usually finish within a specified deadline, too, such as three years in the case of Guardia Sanframondi.There is no central Italian database listing where to find current €1 houses, but Idealista has an updated list as of 2026 and a map. As municipalities open and close schemes at different times, it is best to check the relevant municipalities' websites.Other regions in Italy offer financial benefits, as per Afar. Calabria is offering up to $33,000 for professionals under 40 to relocate and start a business. Radicondoli in Tuscany is offering financial incentives to renters or new homeowners. Trentino and Sardinia are offering financial aid to purchase homes, particularly if arriving with children and willing to put down family roots.The appeal of a €1 house in Italy is real, but buyers are usually taking on an abandoned or dilapidated property, plus renovation deadlines, guarantees, and costs that can quickly dwarf the purchase price. There is no single national database, so the safest way to find current openings is to check the official municipal websites and use updated maps or listings referenced in this article as a starting point.MORE FROM FORBESForbesItaly Strengthens Defenses Against OvertourismBy Alex LedsomForbesItaly Travel Foodie Highlights For Summer 2026By Alex LedsomForbesEurope’s New Border Control, EES, Is Now Operational—What To KnowBy Alex Ledsom