Washington-born couple Cassandra Trestle, 33, and her husband Alex Ninman, 34, were living with her grandfather in the Czech Republic when their daughter was born in 2020. They were facing a crossroads. Should I return to the US or remain overseas?
The couple had been living together since March of that year when they learned Trestle’s grandfather was pregnant, and they used his grandfather’s house as a base when traveling to Europe before Trestle was due to give birth.
Trestle said she had told friends she would return to the United States after her daughter was born, but when she started thinking about how much money it would cost to buy a house and pay for child care, she decided to look to Italy instead.
“I really thought I would move back to the States after I had kids,” Trestle said. “In the end, it didn’t happen because I realized how much money it would cost me if I went back.”
Trestle recalled seeing stories about towns across the country selling houses for 1 euro in order to attract foreign investors to buy and renovate homes to encourage population decline, so he decided to consider his options in Italy.
For Trestle, having a view was a non-negotiable when looking for a home, she says.
Cassandra Trestle
Tresl wanted to first find out the actual cost of purchasing one of these homes to see if it was an option for the couple, as they don’t want to spend more than 20,000 euros, or about $23,627, on a purchase.
Many €1 properties have their pitfalls. In some towns, you can symbolically buy one for 1 euro, but the real price can be thousands of dollars. In other regions, bidding starts at 1 euro, but the final price is usually higher. And once a buyer acquires a property, they are usually required to complete renovations within a certain period of time.
“I started looking online for homes for sale in Italy. We’re in Europe and have been to Italy, so it wasn’t a problem to go there and check out some of these homes. Also, I’m not the type of person to do anything without seeing a sight like this in sight,” Trestle told CNBC Make It.
house hunting in italy
In 2021, the couple went on a house-hunting tour of Italy, viewing 15 homes in Abruzzo and Tuscany. They eventually bought a two-story, two-bedroom house in Abruzzo, just under 1,076 square feet, with a third bedroom and an attic in the basement.
They knew renovations would be expensive, so Trestle said they chose the house primarily based on price and the fact that it had a view from the terrace.
“I’m a spreadsheet person, so I figured out all the pros and cons of all these homes, but in the end I came to the conclusion that Abruzzo was a much better value overall,” she says. “In hindsight, there are many other reasons why I’m glad I came here, but at the time I didn’t know anything other than price and hoping for the best deal.”
Nimman did most of the renovation work himself to save money.
Cassandra Trestle
The couple closed on the home in February 2022 for an all-cash price of 11,500 euros ($13,150 at the time), according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
“We liked the price and the terrace,” Trestle says. “In Italy people think it’s very easy to find a house with a garden by just throwing a stone in any direction you want, but that’s not the case. We have a terrace and a really nice view. That was a non-negotiable for me.”
The couple say the house they bought had been vacant for decades.
Cassandra Trestle
The price also allowed the couple to purchase the property, which “save a lot of stress in many aspects of their lives,” Trestle said. “Even if income fluctuates or money gets tight, at least we don’t have a mortgage and our family has a safe roof over our heads. In fact, this financial freedom was one of the main factors that made this action and decision possible.”
live permanently in Italy
Trestle, Ninman, and their daughter returned to the Czech Republic temporarily to plan where they would live. Because their home in Italy at the time was not habitable. Trestle said the house needed a lot of work because it had been vacant for 30 years. They decided to rent an Airbnb in a nearby town in Abruzzo for a little over a month while their home was being renovated.
The house had been vacant for decades, so the walls had to be resurfaced, some of the electrical work done, the windows and doors redone, and the bathroom and kitchen gutted. Trestle said Ninman did most of the work himself, but the couple hired someone to do the plumbing.
They estimate that the couple spent a total of about 12,000 to 15,000 euros, or $14,207 to $17,758, on renovations to their home.
As part of the renovation, the couple enlarged the terrace, added a bathroom downstairs and converted the basement into a proper guest suite. Most of the renovations were completed in the fall of 2022, but the basement and attic will be redone in 2023.
During the renovation, Trestle decided that the design of the new home should be eclectic.
Cassandra Trestle
Trestle said she wanted her home to have an eclectic design, so she sourced vintage items by visiting thrift stores and flea markets.
“We wanted it to be both warm and cool, using natural materials. When it came to paint, we used a lot of colors in the house because it felt small, so we wanted it to be a happy home,” Trestle says. “Everything I choose is for a reason. I wanted to set myself a goal to remember where everything I see came from.”
Although the couple does not have a mortgage, they are not completely free to live in their home. According to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, here’s a breakdown of the couple’s housing-related expenses: All costs are rounded.
Internet: 12 euros (about $14) per month Property tax: 61 euros (about $72) per year Water: 91 euros (about $108) every 2 months Electricity: 217 euros (about $256) every 2 months Garbage: 286 euros (about $338) per year
The couple also has a pellet stove, which they use in the winter. Heating could cost an additional 42 euros a week, or about $200 a month, Trestle said.
The house had been vacant for decades, so the bathroom and kitchen had to be demolished.
Cassandra Trestle
Since moving permanently to Italy, Tresl quit her tech job and started creating content for travel blogs and newsletters. She also works as an operations manager at another travel blogger. Ninman quit his job as a butcher when the couple left the United States and now manages the couple’s second property, which he rents out on Airbnb.
roots in italy
In addition to their primary residence, Trestle and Nimman acquired a second property in Italy in 2024, which they rent out on Airbnb for up to 85 euros (about $101) per night.
Located in the countryside of their town, this one-story home has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a private garden. The couple bought it for 17,000 euros, or about $20,083.
Trestle decided it would be better for her daughter to plant roots in Italy rather than return to the United States.
Cassandra Trestle
Mr Trestle said he had previously been asked why the couple didn’t make it their primary residence, but they loved living in the center of town. “I’m really happy just being able to walk everywhere from my house,” she added.
The couple currently own two properties in Italy, which they plan to keep until they become empty nesters.
“My husband and I talked about maybe moving out of Italy once we see how our daughter is doing and she decides to go to school somewhere else,” Trestle said. “This will give us the freedom to do whatever we want, but we want stability for our daughter, so we’re not looking at it for at least another 10 years.”
The couple visits the United States about once a year, and although it has always been home, Trestle said it feels foreign each time they return.
Cassandra Trestle
They visit the United States about once a year, and although it’s always home, Trestle says it feels foreign each time they return.
“I feel like an outside cat has to come home and vice versa. It just feels weird. I grew up in the ’90s and I feel like my childhood was very different compared to what I witnessed on my last visit. That’s a big part of why I love being in Italy now, because I feel like my daughter is having a healthier experience and an authentic childhood,” she says.
Conversion from EUR to USD was performed using the OANDA exchange rate of 1 EUR to 1.18 USD on February 9, 2026. All amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.
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