If you’ve always dreamed of running away to France and starting a new life, now is your chance! The small town of Saint-Amand-Montrond is offering up what could be your dream home for just €1.
We’ve seen this before in other countries like Italy, or similar programs in Switzerland where the Swiss government will actually pay you to move there, all with a common thread to counteract declining populations.
The €1 home is located just 45km from Bourges and right in the city center of the small French town. “It is close to everything: the hospital, schools, associations, shops, sports facilities…” said a local official. Spanning two levels across 77 square meters, the vacant building even has a courtyard and a garage.
Though the home in Saint-Amand-Montrond is on sale for just €1, there are a few requirements that come along with singing the lease. First off, interested homeowners must renovate the residence. And seeing as it hasn’t been inhabited in over a decade, a commissioned architect foresees necessary renovation costs to be anywhere around €127,800 ($136,603).
Secondly, the homeowner must be willing to relocate their life to Saint-Amand-Montrond and contractually live in the home for 10 years, minimum. The whole point of the program is to revive abandoned buildings and the city itself, so the applicant must be serious about making Saint-Amand-Montrond their new community and permanent home.
Beyond that criteria, you also must be a first-time buyer. It does not matter whether you are a French citizen or a foreigner in the application, so long as you are serious about the demands of the home and settling in the town for some years. Property visits will be ongoing from May 15 onwards.
Applications are being accepted now through June 15. Applicants must detail their development and financial plans for the property for consideration. A cover letter is encouraged but not mandatory to send in. A buyer will be chosen in July, before being officially being validated in September. More details here.