1 Euro homes have excited a lot of interest in recent times, and Realpoint regularly receives requests for homes for sale under such schemes.

However WE CANNOT HELP YOU if you are looking for 1-Euro homes - you will have to contact the council in the area you are looking.

If you do plan to contact the councils about their 1 Euro house schemes, please make sure you understand what you are signing up for – you will have to take on a restoration project with local builders. Several of these schemes require you to set up a business. The deal may seem a good one, and has good intentions to regenerate communities, but may end up costing you more than you can buy a completed house for.

At Realpoint we think there is a simpler way - Italy still has rare gems hidden away at bargain prices - even in Tuscany.

There are other ways to secure your Italian dream without it costing the earth and you remain master of the situation. Realpoint thinks Italy still has rare gems hidden away at bargain prices - even in Tuscany - the most popular region for visitors in Italy.

Let's take a bargain property in Chianciano Terme, Tuscany as an example.

Firstly, the location: a Tuscan spa town in the province of Siena, one of the most visited areas of Italy. Shops, great restaurants and bars, and all the other services you require are on hand. And if you wish to rent out the property you already have a known brand and ready clientele wishing to stay in the town. The same can not be said of the rental prospects for a remote village with no facilities in the Sicilian Mountains.

Our example house is also an investment. You can move in straight away which is not the case with 1 Euro homes, and it is ideally suited to turn the two apartments into one or leave it as is for extra rental. Plus the partially completed loft provides further room for expansion. The property has a panoramic views, a large garden (900 m2), residents' parking and nice features such as frescoed ceiling in the bedroom and a wine cellar with chestnut beams.

Realpoint manages the sale process in English on your behalf  if you were to purchase the property. Please refer to Realpoints guide to buying Italian property 

We can assist  with upgrades to the property's partially renovated loft  by putting you in contact with reputable building companies where you decide when to carry out the work, and you are able to view the standard of completed work on other homes,  with no deposit to be put down.

Utilities are already be in place and being a spa town, it certainly doesn't lack water!

Please refer to Realpoint's guide to renovation.

You may have spotted our very own 1-Euro home, but this is not part of any 1 Euro scheme, it is a genuine attempt by a local council to save a historic property. You should be aware that this would cost around 1.8 million Euros to restore.

If that is the kind of  thing you are interested in, then let us know - we have access to many historic properties. They may not be 1 Euro, but you can certainly end up with a restored historic property for well under the 1.8 million Euros of Casone

Contact Realpoint to discover more Italian period properties for sale 

Another excellent way to secure a bargain Italian property is through auction. They have been around for some time, and can be an excellent way to find that elusive property at a bargain price.  Property sold at Italian auctions is typically being sold off by a bank or receiver to recover the debt on the property. Savings of up to 75% or more of the property value can be achieved.

This should not be considered as away to buy a cheapr property - you will have more costs in following the process. It is best suited for buyers of larger properties were the savings are signigicant.

Please see our guide to Italian Property Auctions