Buying a home in Italy for a fraction of the price in the United States has gone from a fantasy to a familiar strategy. The once novel €1 housing scheme – building properties in idyllic towns for just over $1 – is now a well-established and mostly successful avenue for bargain hunters.
But this low-stakes route didn’t appeal to John Alan Ambrose, 61, of Houston, and his wife, Vicki, 57. Instead of chasing a one-euro fixer-upper, they bought part of a dilapidated former palace in a city that most people outside Italy have never heard of. And they did it secretly.
Still, it was a relatively good deal. In 2022, they paid 140,000 euros, or about $160,000, for the empty shell of a historic mansion in the heart of Biella, a city in northern Italy’s Piedmont region at the foot of the Alps.
They then embarked on a further €150,000 three-year renovation to transform the new property into a boutique luxury apartment with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and two panoramic balconies spread over more than 3,000 square feet on the building’s second floor.
However, not everything went smoothly.
Located in the old part of Biella, where most buildings date from the 16th to 18th centuries, the property is a 1930s building built in the Liberty style, an Italian Art Nouveau style. Formerly owned by an Italian aristocracy, it sat vacant for several years before being purchased by the Ambrose family.
Although the property’s interior was in a dilapidated state at the time of purchase, the Ambroses believed they had found a bargain. Features 14-foot ceilings, solid wood doors, and arched windows with views of the courtyard or the Alps. It also included an attic for storing winter ski equipment and a cellar perfect for storing Piedmontese wine.
Known as a center for high-quality wool production, Viera may be an unusual choice for an American couple, but Vicki discovered the city through work.
Her first visit was in 2022. After the pandemic, she wanted to take a break from the cycling apparel company she was running and start a fashion business focused on Italian cashmere and wool. A local friend arranged a meeting with the supplier, which made the trip easy for Biella.
“When I first arrived, I really liked the vibe of the town,” she says. “We loved the fact that we were in a beautiful setting, close to the main airport and at the gateway to the Alps and ski resorts of the Aosta Valley, yet felt safe and secure in a small city rather than a village.”
Other attractions included the city’s traditional Italian central square, the 600-year-old Duomo Cathedral, and the Sanctuary of Oropa, a pilgrimage site and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The proximity to the beautiful lakes of Orta, Maggiore and Viverone, as well as the vineyards of Piedmont, didn’t hurt either.
It didn’t cost anything. “The real estate prices were also very attractive compared to the United States,” said Vicky, who is from Bogota, Colombia.
Back home in Texas, John, general manager of a Norwegian personal protective equipment manufacturer, was fascinated by his wife’s description of Viera. Although he had never set foot in the city, they both decided to buy a house there.
They had hoped to find a larger apartment, but the pandemic closures convinced them they needed plenty of space. Another condition is that the property must be able to be “locked and left” as it may be left unattended for long periods of time.
They searched online to find their prospective apartment and made an offer sight unseen.
Although the house hadn’t been lived in for years, it was clearly in good condition and they said they could buy a comparable property in Houston for $900,000, so they were confident the gamble would pay off. Having a local friend in the city helped navigate the maze of Italian laws and made the purchase easier.
The last time they visited, they were met with some “Oh, what have we done?” Highlights. To enter through the front door, they had to climb over shattered wall tiles strewn across the hallway. Amazingly, the apartment’s old gas water heater had come loose from its moorings and was hanging from the kitchen wall. I opened a closet in one of the bedrooms and found it filled with grim old plumbing for a sink.
While the renovations have had some happy moments, they have not been without complications, especially as Italian construction companies were still catching up on post-COVID-19 backlogs and labor was scarce.
“First there’s the language barrier, then the seasonal changes in estimates, disappearing contractors, and promises blurred into open-ended timelines,” says Vicki.
“Some contractors and contractors, like our plumber, were very reliable, but others made excuses and were late so many times that they held on to our money for nearly a year. I had to travel multiple times a year to supervise and drive progress. There was a huge cultural gap, as projects that would take at most six to eight months in the U.S. dragged on for nearly three years.”
Finding suitable contractors was difficult, as was taking into account municipal requirements for geometry and working with surveyors.
“Many Italian tradesmen did not submit detailed bids that covered the scope of the work, which made it difficult for them to participate from afar, as they were unsure of their local reputation,” says John. “We have also been active in real estate and real estate, so we have a general knowledge of how much it costs, as labor costs in the U.S. should be higher than in Italy. But many of Viera’s suppliers wanted to overcharge for their services.”
To speed things up, they took matters into their own hands. After flying to Italy, meeting an American friend, and ordering tools online, Vicki rolled up her sleeves and spent two weeks ripping out the old tile work in her apartment.
Some seemingly small tasks turn out to be incredibly complex. Although no structural changes were made to the house, even cosmetic modifications had to be approved by the local government due to the building’s historic past and location.
The Ambroses wanted to remove two old, drafty bathroom windows and install environmentally friendly, well-insulated windows, but they quickly became embroiled in red tape.
“These are exterior windows and because we are in a historic centre, we had to prove that they would not negatively impact the architectural facade of the building, while also benefiting from the condominium association,” says John.
They kept pushing. Air conditioning was added, the floors were sanded and refinished, and the entire apartment was given a fresh coat of paint. Bathrooms and kitchens have been transformed from post-war utilitarian spaces to more luxurious installations, with top-of-the-line fixtures and clean lines, combining Italian craftsmanship with international flair.
I replaced the wiring and piping. Glossy wooden floor tiles were installed. A dingy closet full of plumbing has been transformed into a private shower for the guest room. The couple also added a bar.
Their efforts paid off. The Ambroses have now acquired their dream home and are hosting friends and their son Cleary, 26, a musician who lives in Brooklyn, New York. They use it as a pit stop for alpine skiing vacations and more adventurous trips to Europe.
They appreciate that everything is within walking distance in the city, like their favorite cafe, where they go for a cappuccino or a pastry while watching people make their way through the piazza to the Duomo. Another popular pastime is riding the free tram to the city’s medieval Piazzo district. “Even though it’s only a few blocks away, it feels like you’re in another town with its quaint bistros and bars,” says John.
The couple quickly fell in love with another area attraction: skiing. They were attracted not only by the views and the food, but also by the relatively affordable prices of the dishes, and by Bombardino, a warm eggnog and brandy mixture served on a mountain terrace. They tried them for the first time while skiing in Courmayeur, and half-jokingly referred to them as the turning point in their decision to buy a winter home in Piedmont.
Piedmontese wines also added to the appeal. Vicki is currently starting to lay the foundation for an import business in the United States.
Biella’s location also proved attractive. From the city, you can take a short drive to mountain roads, vineyards and even the Italian Riviera.
Still, they are shocked by how often locals react with surprise to their presence. Because Biella is off the main tourist routes, casual conversations in cafes and restaurants often start with the same question: “Why Biella?”
“I don’t think a lot of locals realize what a great place this is and how everything is right at their back door,” says Vicki.
Adapting to the pace of daily life has become more difficult. The couple was used to the 24-hour convenience of American cities. In Biella, most shops close on Mondays for a long lunch break. Planning an errand requires some forethought.
“Unlike Italians, Americans have a hard time slowing down and relaxing, so that’s a problem for us,” says John. “This attraction may take some time to get used to after our many trips to Italy.”
For now, they plan to use the apartment several times a year, during ski season, during Thanksgiving, or on the way to visit family in Croatia.
One of the things they ruled out early on was the idea of a 1 euro house.
“You generally get what you pay for, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” says John. “So the 1 euro houses in the south did not attract our attention at all. Biella seems very calm and safe compared to its reputation in the south.”
With its snowy winters and tranquil alpine backdrop, Piedmont ticks all the boxes you’re most curious about.
The couple lived in Barbados for three years and had a ski resort in Canada for 17 years. After the sale, I realized that I wanted to go to the mountains sooner than expected.
“Vicki can spend over 100 days a year on the slopes,” says John. “But after three weeks at the beach, you get excited.”
