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Why You Should NOT Buy a House in Italy
This was originally written for The Unexplorer.
So many foreigners see how cheap houses are in Italy, particularly in Calabria, and they jump on buying a home, sometimes sight unseen.
I strongly advise AGAINST doing this, but let me explain my reasoning.
1. You Don’t Know the Area
It may sound idyllic to live in a quaint little village with a population of a couple hundred people on paper, but reality may be quite different for you.
You might envision walking everywhere in your new town, but upon arrival find out that the grocery store that appeared on Google Maps is actually shut down and that you would need to drive to buy your groceries. Or that the short distance to the commercial area is along a busy highway.
I rented my home in Montepaone after a quick week to check out the town. In general, it was fine, but after living there for several months, I hated being in the suburbs and not within walking distance of anything I wanted to walk to. I also didn’t like the lack of…soul. For me, I want to live in a town that feels active and alive, and Montepaone didn’t feel that way for me. Soverato, on the other hand, does. So I’m so glad I didn’t buy my house in Montepaone!
