philat98

The italian economy has been stagnant or in recession for the past 15 years.
A bit of economic growth could breath new life into these places and make the projects much less risky.
When Italian parents are worrying about the job prospects of their children the purchase of a holiday home is a low priority.

marcuzzo

Maybe the mayor needs to look further afield?
Not sure where you get 15 years from though.....

modicasa

Estate agents and vendors have a legal requirement to tell buyers of tings that affect the property - such as if they are going to build a road at the end of the garden, open a refuse dump. Whether a specific address is at risk of frana is not something you can know unless you have been informed of it by the powers that be. In Italy it is still 'buyer beware' although deliberate omission of information or misleading information can result in the seller or even the agent being forced to buy back the property. Im all for keeping history alive and the repopulating of abandoned towns, but Sicilians in general arent , and a borgo with some expats in is not going to be high on a mayors list of investment, seeing they cant even vote. Being Italian you will know that comunes are dirt poor in the south, and that is without the added strain of 'vested interests'. Looking on websites there is a completely restored house of 85mq in Gangi for 75000 euros, certficate of agibilità included - or in Salemi a house of 120mq with terrace structurally restored but to finsih for 11K. This doesnt mean a house for a 1 euro is a bargain, but the marketing would encourage you to think so. Like in anything, you need to do research and keep your head on your shoulders - but waving 1 euro price tag in front of peoples faces makes them forget good sense.