A couple bought a Sicilian townhouse at auction with a one euro starting bid - and transformed it into a stunning $250,000 Renaissance-style palazzo. The council in Sambuca di Sicilia auctioned 16 abandoned homes in the sun drenched mountain village, with prices starting at a symbolic one euro.
Massoud Ahmadi, 70, and his wife Shelley, 60, bought an abandoned 18th century townhouse for just $10,500 (£8,400), in January 2019. The crumbling internal walls were stained brown and the rooms were packed full of old junk, including a retro pram.
They spent $200,000 (£160,000) on the once "uninhabitable" three-storey property. He "couldn’t fathom" renovating the property within a three year deadline imposed by the council - but pulled it off thanks to the help of local architects and artisans.
The two-bedroom, 250 square metre house has retained its original wooden windows, majolica tiled floor and vaulted double-barrelled ceilings.
It also features three bathrooms, a living room and an open-plan marble kitchen, plus a roof terrace with mountain views.
They completed renovations in January last year and now split their time between Sambuca di Sicilia and their home in rural Montgomery County, Maryland near Washington DC.
He thinks it's now worth at least $250,000.
Massoud, a semi-retired economist, said: "The house was uninhabitable and I couldn’t really fathom handling the project because it was beyond my pay grade.
"I look at before and after photos and it’s incredible.
"My architect did a fantastic job and when I walked in for the first time I couldn’t believe my eyes.
"It takes a lot of patience but the end result is something I’ll enjoy for years. It’s a Renaissance house.
"We re-designed practically everything but we decided to retain and maintain the historic elements.
"The property was built originally 350 years ago so we kept a lot of the original stone walls, the original tiled floors and the double-barreled ceilings.
"But the balance of the house is basically re-done and it gives you a mix of modern and historic.
"You see a glimmer of the past but also have the modern amenities, including an elevator.
"Everything from the kitchen cabinets to the marble floors was sourced locally from businesses in the village to maximise the economic impact.
"For the $200,000 we spent you couldn’t find anything comparable with the vista, the tranquillity of the village, all the amenities and the proximity to the sea.
"It was really painless and the only issue was Covid which basically shut down the project for a couple of months.
"We have no plans to sell it but as far as the market is concerned, I bet someone would jump right into it for $250,000 because you can’t find a property similar to this with the views and all the village amenities for that price anywhere in Italy."
Sambuca di Sicilia enjoys average summer temperatures of 25C and boasts an array of medieval plazas and a ruined ninth century Arab fortress, the Fortino di Mazzallakkar.
Massoud is now looking to extend the house after buying a neighbouring property, which could provide four more bedrooms, a garage and a garden.
He and his wife have been blown away by the quality of the food and wine on offer in the village’s restaurants, as well as the thriving community spirit.
He said: "When I first arrived I really liked the village. It’s a beautiful small village. I love the baroque architecture of the buildings and I liked the location.
"It’s close to Palermo, it’s only 20 minutes to the beach and historic sites like the Valley of the Temples are only an hour away.
"It’s really easy for travelling around Europe. I drive to Palermo, stick my car in long-term parking and then I can fly to Rome, Paris, Venice and London.
"My house back in the States has a country feel because I live in an agricultural area. The properties there are humongous but I don’t really see my neighbours.
"But here I can walk down the street to a bakery and to a café and get a cappuccino or an espresso.
"Access to restaurants and the quality of food and bars is remarkable.
"The people are also very, very nice. I was very impressed by how hospitable the villagers are.
"They welcomed us with open arms. I made a lot of friends, literally everyone in the village knows us by name.
"I’ve never really lived in a small village and for me the experience has been exhilarating.
"I walk out my door and everybody says good morning or good evening and everybody wants to buy me a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. It feels like my second home.
"There are a large number of expats here in Sambuca and we get together often and have parties.
"There are dozens of vineyards nearby that are internationally renowned and they’re the perfect setting for wine tasting experiences, and they serve you great food with the wine.
"I’d definitely recommend doing what we’ve done.
"Be patient, take your time and work with the locals."
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