How Italy is luring Americans who want to leave US after Trump with $1 homes

Trying to escape Trump 2.0, but have nowhere to go? An Italian village is offering Americans a special deal.

Located in the picturesque countryside of Sardinia, the ancient town of Ollolai recently launched a “Live in Ollolai” initiative promising affordable homes – some as cheap as $1 – for US citizens who are “worned (sic) out by global politics” and “looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle,” according to the village’s website.

Why is the Italian village offering such incredibly cheap homes? How can one buy the casa? Here’s everything you need to know.

Why is Italy selling houses for $1?

As young Italians increasingly migrate to cities in pursuit of cosmopolitan careers, many of Italy’s picturesque rural villages are facing a decline.

With a lack of younger residents, many elderly Italians have no one to pass their homes down to.

In the past century, Ollolai’s population has shrunk from 2,250 to barely 1,150 residents with only a handful of babies born each year.

As a result, the older residents instead hand over their properties to local authorities, who are left to decide what to do with them.

Meanwhile, the younger generations who do inherit properties in these declining areas often have no intention of relocating, reported The Independent.

Having a second home in Italy comes with taxes, so selling these unused properties cheaply can often be more profitable than maintaining them.

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That’s why Ollolai and over 20 other Italian towns are offering a deal that’s hard to resist: a house for the symbolic price of $1.

The plan is that by improving and occupying these homes, the villages will see long-term benefits. An influx of new residents will help stimulate the local economy, supporting local agriculture, creating jobs, and boosting tourism by creating boutique hotels or rental homes.

‘Americans are our winning card’

Following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, many disappointed Americans are looking to leave the country, and the Italian village of Ollolai has sniffed a potential opportunity.

Following the November 5 election results, the village launched a website targeting potential American expats, offering a variety of affordable homes in hopes that those dissatisfied with the US election outcome will flock to its vacant properties.

“Are you worned (sic) out by global politics? Looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle while securing new opportunities?” the website asks. “It’s time to start building your European escape in the stunning paradise of Sardinia.”

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Mayor Francesco Columbu told CNN that the website was specifically designed to attract Americans, as he believes that they are the best people to help revive his community.

“We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all,” he said. “We can’t of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure. We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card.”

Ollolai is offering three tiers of accommodation: free temporary homes for select digital nomads, one-euro dilapidated homes that need renovation, and ready-to-move-in properties priced up to 100,000 euros ($105,000).

The mayor revealed that the initiative has caused a stir, with the website recently receiving 38,000 requests for information on available properties, mostly from the United States.

Columbu said the administration has also set up a dedicated team to guide potential buyers through the process, from arranging private tours of available homes to assisting with finding contractors, and builders, and handling necessary paperwork.

But this isn’t the first time Ollolai has used attractive housing deals to draw new residents. In 2018, the village sold rundown properties for just one euro and offered empty workspaces to digital nomads for only a dollar. In return, they had to create something for the community, like an artwork or book.

But revival plans did not go as well as local authorities had hoped. Since 2018, only 10 homes have been sold for one euro and renovated, Columbu told CNN.

“The village remains half empty, we still have about 100 unoccupied cheap homes potentially on sale, ready to move in. We have mapped and listed them all, and soon photos will be online for buyers to take a look at,” he said.

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‘Preferential treatment’

According to CNN, there are zero demographic requirements for US applicants; these can be people of all ages, pensioners, remote workers or entrepreneurs who wish to open a small business in the village.

Columbu said that having a US passport is not a prerequisite but Americans will get “preferential treatment” above potential applicants of other nationalities.

“Of course, we can’t specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he’s the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country,” Columbo adds.

With input from agencies