BUYING a house may seem like an expensive goal – but one 28-year-old shared how she bought a 17-room Medieval mansion in Sicily for less than the price of a Honda.
Adventurous Kiki Leigh snapped up the Italian home for just £22,800, (€27,000) – a fraction of the estimated £367,000 ($500,000) one closer to home would have cost.
In a clip on her @gucci.spice account, she shared how she has been renovating it ever since buying it last summer.
Of course, for that price, the historic building needs a lot of work doing to it, and Kiki shared how she has had to gut some rooms so they can be used as bedrooms, a kitchen, library and a bathroom.
She shared: “17 rooms. €27K. 4 months in. Not finished. Not even close. But the dream’s starting to look like something real.
“First I was intrigued by the prices here. But I very quickly realised I was getting a whole lot more than a house.
“The people I’ve met are friends for life, the food I eat is healthier, the lifestyle is more relaxed and peaceful, the weather is amazing.
“When I came here for the first time I got a feeling like I was always meant to find this place, a lot of my foreign born neighbors felt the same, this place is special to so many.
“You do not need citizenship. Almost anyone can purchase property in Italy, you don’t need to be Italian or even a citizen of the EU.
“There’s many homes in mussomeli for this price and even way cheaper.”
Depending on the region, a number of towns and villages across Italy have offered cheap properties to encourage people to move to the area.
The conditions for buying each property also vary, but the majority of them need large renovation works.
Kiki added: “I have an architect who is handling all the paperwork for me. I met him first and he only works with one construction company in town, so I didn’t really have a choice but even if I had I wouldn’t have chosen any differently. I’m so happy with their work.
“I’m still working remotely in fashion pr, as I have on and off for about 8 years.
“Once my house is done and I’m settled here I will be looking to transition out of that career and take on something new.
“Not sure exactly what that will be yet but I have a few ideas.”
Despite involving a move across the world to a place she doesn’t know a soul, Kiki is embracing the challenge full-heartedly, throwing herself into renovations .
Kiki, originally from Canada , who had been living in LA , shared how she had been fed up with how expensive life was, and then stumbled upon the tiny Italian town that was selling homes for bargain prices.
Kiki says: “I’d been living in LA for over a decade and the real estate market there is laughable.
“Even in Canada, prices have skyrocketed.
You do not need citizenship. Almost anyone can purchase property in Italy, you don’t need to be Italian or even a citizen of the EU
Kiki Leigh
“I was working hard, doing well, but owning a home, let alone a dream home, always felt just out of reach.
“I couldn’t justify spending half a million dollars on something that didn’t feel special.
“Then I realised that for a fraction of that I could own a literal piece of history.
“The math just started to make sense in a way that North America never did.”
At some points she was paying £1,830, ($2,500), a month for a one-bedroom apartment.
She explains: “That didn’t include parking or peace of mind.
“Nor with castle views and cobblestone charm.
“Rent felt like a monthly punishment for staying somewhere I wasn’t thriving.
“It wasn’t sustainable long-term, financially or emotionally.”
The people I’ve met are friends for life, the food I eat is healthier, the lifestyle is more relaxed and peaceful, the weather is amazing
Kiki Leigh
So far she has spent £42,185 (€50,000) on renovations to the 600-year-old pad.
She says: “This is a historic home, the kind of place that reveals new surprises behind every wall.
“To me, this isn’t just a house, it’s an experience, an art project, a home base for my future, and a way to live life a little differently.
“So I’m more than happy with the investment.
“I’m building a spa with a jacuzzi and sauna, and full bar, because if you’re going to bring a home back to life, why not make it a little magical?”
Kiki estimates that the total will land somewhere around £101,250 – £118,140, (€120,000 – €140,000).
She adds: “I want it to feel like the ultimate home for peace and tranquillity.
“A place where I can bring all my loved ones together and experience something special and rare.
“It is the kind of place that feeds your soul and makes you feel at home the second you walk inside.
“I’m also building a library as an homage to the home’s previous owner, a Sicilian scholar and professor.
“It felt only right to preserve that legacy and create a space where books, ideas, and conversation are front and centre.”
Kiki now splits her time between Sicily, LA and Canada while renovations continue, but she is almost ready to move in full-time.
She estimates it’ll save her around £2,200, ($3,000 a month) once renovations are finished.
She says: “Rent alone is already eliminated.
“Groceries, utilities, dining out, everything is more affordable here.”
And she’s not wrong, according to local prices you can expect to pay around £3.40 for a pint, less than most supermarket sandwiches.
She got the keys to her new home in January, started renovating in March and is moving in next month to do the finishing touches.
Kiki, originally from Winnipeg, Canada, says: “You don’t need a five-year plan, a perfect timeline, or anyone’s permission to build a life that feels good.
“I bought an old, crumbling house in a tiny Sicilian town with no real plan beyond: this feels right.
“And it’s led to more freedom, joy, and community than I could have imagined.
“The life I’ve built here feels amazing.”
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