00:00As crazy as it may seem, it is really possible to acquire an entire city.
00:05These places have once been animated, but, over time, they have been abandoned.
00:10Of course, these forgotten cities are sinister, but they also have an undeniable charm.
00:15There are thousands of ghost cities on sale, only in the United States.
00:19Their state differs considerably.
00:21Some still host a few residents, while others have been deserted for decades.
00:27Owning an entire city can seem tempting, especially when you discover surprisingly affordable prices.
00:33But in practice, the task is much more arduous.
00:36As you can imagine, buying a city is sensitively different from buying a house.
00:41These cities are classified as non-municipal, which means they do not belong to any local administration.
00:48Good luck getting a mortgage.
00:50While a mortgage is conceivable for a classic house,
00:53banks will not be inclined to finance a ghost city at $200,000.
00:58However, the very idea of acquiring a city remains captivating.
01:02Let's say you have the necessary funds and decide to take the plunge.
01:07It is then convenient to take into account the frequent absence of infrastructure.
01:11No running water, no electricity, no other essential services.
01:16This is added to the security problem,
01:18because many of these cities were built at a time when the norms were non-existent.
01:23Let's take the example of Utah, where a city is put up for sale for $199,000.
01:28Sure, the buildings of this locality are in poor condition, but its potential is real.
01:33A future owner could make it a tourist destination.
01:37What if this city was haunted by paranormal phenomena that pushed its former inhabitants to leave?
01:42There are many anecdotes surrounding ghost cities,
01:45and buyers must persevere to find the best deals.
01:48Prices can go down to $70,000.
01:52It is for this amount that a city called Swansea, located in California, was sold in 2013.
01:58Why are these cities to be sold?
02:00The reasons are varied.
02:02For example, in Canada, some companies built communities
02:06to house employees of gold or silver mines with their families.
02:09These mining cities could sometimes accommodate more than 5,000 inhabitants.
02:13However, when resources were running out, the inhabitants left the place.
02:18Years later, these communities ended up in real estate ads.
02:22Swett, a famous ghost city in the South Dakota, is currently for sale.
02:27The future buyer will not only get the land and housing,
02:30but also a tavern, a gas station, and local commerce.
02:34Let's take the time to explore these places, which could arouse your curiosity.
02:38Oreto is a small Italian village.
02:41The Barbara Varese family began to acquire houses there about thirty years ago.
02:46Over time, they connected the 18 buildings to form a single interconnected structure.
02:51This complex consists of a bedroom, kitchen, secret staircase, and many other elements.
02:58Being a historical site, the renovations were made with traditional materials,
03:03such as stone and wood, to preserve its authenticity.
03:06At the time of the first acquisitions, only two elderly inhabitants still lived in this region.
03:11Today, the entire village belongs to the Varese family.
03:15The houses have wells, old ceilings, and original floors dating back several centuries.
03:20An old barn has been transformed into a banquet hall,
03:23while the old stone squares have been furnished as salons.
03:27Here is an example of a Spanish ghost village currently for sale.
03:30Mixing enchanting landscapes, historical heritage, and development opportunities,
03:35this small rural town bears the charming name of Olgueira.
03:38It includes three historic rustic stone residences dating back more than a century.
03:42Unfortunately, their current state requires considerable work to restore their past splendor.
03:48However, this investment will be worth it, because they offer generous spaces.
03:53The largest house measures more than 280 square meters.
03:57The second is almost as large, and the last is about half their size.
04:02This town seems to have a real potential to become a high-end holiday resort.
04:08It emits an undeniable charm.
04:10There are two hundred-year-old attics, a fountain, as well as a stone oven.
04:14The surroundings offer a varied landscape, with meadows, forests, and plains.
04:20In addition, the village is located only 24 km from magnificent coastal cities,
04:25such as Ribadeo, and famous sites such as Playa de las Catedrales.
04:29Do I look like I'm bragging about this place? Not at all, I just like it.
04:33Maybe you're dreaming of buying a city to become the mayor.
04:36I can totally understand this ambition.
04:38And why not this one, which seems to be frozen in the past?
04:42Pierce, in Arizona, was founded by John James Pierce.
04:45When he arrived, he began to exploit a nearby gold deposit.
04:50Imagine watching your cattle, moving a few stones, and falling on gold.
04:55This is exactly what happened to him, radically changing his life from one day to the next.
05:00The discovery of this gold quickly went around the region, attracting many curious and investors.
05:06This allowed the creation of the city, which was officially founded in 1895.
05:11In a short time, Pierce became one of the richest gold mines in Arizona.
05:16Thanks to this effort, the city prospered, attracting new inhabitants
05:20and developing infrastructure such as a forgery, restaurants, a butcher shop, an ironworks, hotels, saloons, and even a lawyer's office.
05:28All these places are included in the sales price.
05:31In addition, you will inherit the contents of the General Store, an old building over 125 years old.
05:37You will probably be able to resell the old objects that are there, which will help you cover some of the purchase costs.
05:44But how did this city fall into disrepair?
05:47In 1927, the mining activity in Pierce began to decline.
05:51Finally, the mine was closed in the 1940s, and today, the site is in search of a new owner, ready to give it a new life.
05:59Now let's move on to Wild West Town.
06:01Yes, that's its real name.
06:03Located in Colorado, this city offers a unique setting inspired by the Far West, as its name suggests.
06:10It is not only the architecture and the atmosphere that make it special.
06:14In fact, this city has served intermittently for a long time.
06:18Since it has not been abandoned for many years, its condition is relatively good compared to other cities on our list.
06:25Today, it is again on sale, hoping to find its next owner.
06:30This property is located on Blair Street, at the foot of the San Juan Mountains.
06:34In the past, the area was frequented by miners in search of refreshment and nocturnal entertainment.
06:40This place was once dominated by a saloon, a hotel, a general store, a post office and a prison.
06:46Today, many well-preserved historical buildings house various artisanal businesses.
06:52The area includes two commercial buildings still in operation, three rental spaces, as well as a storage building.
07:00One of the buildings has been transformed into a vintage photography studio.
07:04There is also a two-bedroom apartment located above the boutique built in 2005 and currently used as a seasonal rental.
07:11The property also includes the San Juan Historical Justice Palace, dating from 1875, and the Swaney's Old Mine Sluice,
07:20where visitors can try their luck in search of gold and precious stones.
07:25There are so many examples to cite, such as this small medieval dock called Ceraval.
07:30It is located between the Italian cities of Modena and Bologna.
07:34This village dates from the 9th century.
07:36There is a castle there, literally a three-story mansion dating from the 18th century.
07:41What else is there?
07:43A garden shelter, a four-story gated tower built in the 1220s, as well as a majestic park.
07:51It should be noted that there are even offers on sites like Craigslist or eBay for those who want to buy a city.
07:58However, there is a crucial point to take into account.
08:01Before you buy, you must absolutely check the small lines of the contract.
08:05Sometimes, a village or a city needs an influx of liquidity.
08:09In this case, the agreement you conclude and the property you will get will be purely symbolic.
08:15See it as receiving the city key.
08:17The best you can get could be a nice plaque or a monument on the village square as a thank-you note.
08:23Captivating, isn't it?
08:25Maybe your new hobby will be to look for ghost towns to sell, even if you don't intend to buy one.
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