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Cheap.European.Homes.S03E04
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00:00I'm Maggie Malloy and I'm on a mission to help Irish house hunters discover the
00:05overlooked gems of affordable European property. We're on the hunt in Italy,
00:10Spain, Portugal and France for great bargains. You've definitely surprised us.
00:16Feels nicer in the sun for sure. Property experts in each country will help guide
00:21our search. Vanity and toilet you'll be like 3,000 euros. And our very own
00:26intrepid reporters Kevin McGahern and James Cavanagh will be getting to know
00:31the regions we visit. Can we give it a bit of welly? I suppose we could. Clubs are a great
00:36way
00:36to connect with people. They'll be giving our house hunters a head start on local complexities,
00:41customs and most importantly the crack. What you just said is I want to live. It's wonderful.
00:49From forever homes in Portuguese villages. Massive crack, not in a good way. To sun-drenched
00:56Spanish cities. We need to talk about this price. You could throw anything at me. I'll help find the
01:01best homes a modest budget can buy. It's a cracker of a house. It's massive inside. So grab your passport,
01:08pack your bags and join us on the hunt as we go in search of cheap European homes.
01:19This week myself and James are in Ostuni, the so called white city of the Puglia region of southern
01:26Italy. Set along Italy's Adriatic coast, this region is known for its dramatic scenery, unique
01:33architecture and long hot summers. It's warmer and more rural than many parts of northern Italy,
01:40with a distinct character and pace of life. So we're in Ostuni and you can really see why they
01:47call it the white city can't you? It's gleaming. I think the thing about Puglia is that it's more rural
01:53isn't it than the north. It definitely has a different more traditional feel. Do you go with the flow,
01:58the sun's shining. Yeah. And the value. You know I would think this part would be more expensive because
02:04it's so coastal and it's so rural. I want to show the house hunters beyond the house. I want to
02:08show them the
02:08culture, how to integrate. So I think maybe if I introduce them to some couples who have done it
02:14before and maybe walk that path, I think that'd be useful. The things that face couples buying versus
02:19someone buying on their own is totally different. This is going to be fun. It is, but I think we
02:22should
02:23get to work. Yeah, maybe a little bit of work. Todd Posius and Niall Sherry have been together for over
02:2920 years. Both work in the HSE and are starting to think about the next chapter of their lives and
02:36possibly even an early retirement. After years of traveling the world together, they're considering
02:42putting down roots abroad. I'd say probably together we've been to about 100 countries in the last 20
02:49years or so. But I think on the final count, we're around 117 countries that we visited. Now as I
02:55get
02:55older, it's like it'd be nice to live, to try to live somewhere else. And we've traveled to different
03:01parts of Italy and there's lots going on there. You know, the people are great. The food is great there.
03:07We'd be interested in immersing ourselves a bit more in what's going on and the language and the people.
03:12And the variety what we feel Italy can offer. And again, it's cheaper to live there. Our maximum
03:19budget is $150,000. So that's ultimately all what we've got, including any renovation. Kind of would
03:26like to probably two bedroom apartments, maybe a house. Ideally close to people, so we don't want to
03:31be too isolated where we are. On our holidays now, we would do an awful lot of hiking and trekking
03:36and
03:37walking. And so we do like to get out. We're not afraid of a bit of renovation in the, in
03:43the property.
03:43We're not afraid of getting our hands dirty. The bones and the structure of the building has to be
03:49that Italian. There has to be Italy. It's traditional, it's, it's old and it's probably been there well
03:57before us and will be there after us. We'd ideally like to have some kind of terrace. If that was
04:02really,
04:03that would be, that would be, that would be the ideal. Always a little bit land around it or at
04:07the
04:07side, a little garden. It is a project. I mean, no, it's a project and it's, it's not a month
04:14project.
04:14It's probably a good few year project. I'd be okay with that. Whatever Maggie can show us, be happy to
04:20see it.
04:29Julia sits in the heel of Italy's boot. It's famous for its welcoming people, rich food culture,
04:36and the distinctive Truly houses with their cone-shaped roofs. And while property prices in
04:43northern Italy and the major cities have soared, this part of the south remains far more affordable,
04:49particularly if you avoid the touristy coastal hotspots. Property here averages around €1400 per
04:58square meter, meaning a modest two-bedroom home can often cost in the region of €120,000.
05:06Good news for Todd and Niall, whose all-in budget is €150,000. They're looking for a two-bedroom
05:13property with outdoor space, ideally within walking distance of a lively village or town.
05:20Value is really important to them, and they're happy to get their hands dirty with a renovation
05:25if it helps them achieve it. So, with all that in mind, for this week's house hunt,
05:32we're staying off the coast and searching between the dazzling white city of Ostuni and the faded grandeur
05:39of Muro Luchese, a search area where their budget will stretch further than they expect.
05:46So, Todd, Niall, welcome to Ostuni. It's a beautiful place. Very nice around. Enjoy the square here.
05:52It's lovely, isn't it? Amazing. So historical and pretty. Really cool.
05:55You're our first couple house hunting this season. That's cool.
05:58How do you think you're going to work as a team?
05:59I think we do work well together. We know what we like, and we do know what we do not
06:05like,
06:05which helps. It helps me anyway. Yeah. We know our budget is quite modest,
06:10so we do need your expertise. We need the help on the ground. Okay. Well, I definitely am known for
06:15finding chief houses, so you've come to the right place. There you go. That's good. Looking forward to it.
06:20Well, look, I'm going to go exploring, so I'll see you later. See you later.
06:24Our first house is just 10 minutes from here. Oh, great. So, will we hit the road? Let's go.
06:33As promised, our first property is tucked away on quiet farmland, just five kilometers from the main
06:40piazza in Ostuni. This two-bedroom country villa is full of rustic southern Italian charm. It's surrounded
06:48by mature fruit trees and olive groves on over an acre of land and costs 105,000 euro. But the
06:57low price
06:58does come with a few quirks, such as the lack of an indoor toilet. So, while the setting is beautiful
07:06and the price is tempting, Todd and Niall will need to roll up their sleeves if they want to turn
07:11this
07:12rustic retreat into a comfortable modern home. Architect Elizabeth Francis, a Donegal native,
07:19who's been working in Italy for over 20 years, is meeting us at the property. Her local knowledge
07:25will be invaluable for our search. Okay, boys, welcome to your first cheap Italian home.
07:32Well, the setting is amazing. It's so rural, but so close to the town as well. I like the
07:37surrounding. I like the olive tree surrounds. It's a typical country feel. It is. And what do
07:42you think of the style of the house? Looking from outside, yeah, that's Italy. That's good. So,
07:47these would typically have been farm buildings, solid stone construction. The roof is also stone,
07:53so it's very good protection from the heat and also from water. I don't see anything that's
07:59structurally of concern. So, what about the windows and doors, Elizabeth? They definitely would need
08:03to be replaced. A bit prison-like now. They're not very aesthetically pleasing, are they? Are you ready
08:08for the notebook? Oh, we're ready for the famous notebook. There you have it. Oh, look at this.
08:16Well, it's a nice space, isn't it? It's very authentic. You wouldn't touch the floor,
08:20like the stone. No way. It's big enough. It's big enough for us anyway. What do you think about
08:26the ceiling? The ceiling is amazing. It's like a vaulted ceiling. You can feel the cool. You can
08:31feel the cool in here. Which in the summertime, that would be pleasant to be inside in the evening
08:35time. Yeah, absolutely. And look at the fireplace in the corner. It's really nice. That's authentic.
08:39That's authentic. There's no cooking in the room. No, I don't think. Two fridges hiding in the
08:44corners. I know. You have two for one, but you probably need some sort of appliances. Don't
08:49see any heating or air conditioning or anything, so that's something. Maybe we can ask. We can ask
08:54that. Yeah, yeah. But you probably wouldn't touch here. No, I wouldn't touch anything structurally
08:59in here or walls or anything. It's pretty cool. You have to watch your hair there. Okay, that's a big
09:05room. That's nearly an equally sized room. Again, super high ceilings. There's no wardrobe space at the
09:10moment. So, that unit there in the corner, what do you think that is? Is it heating? Yeah,
09:15I'd love to ask that, I think, as well. I'm not sure how comfortable it would be here in the
09:19wintertime. How do we get heating into it to get it comfortable? And what do you do to bring the
09:23comfort levels in the cooler months? So, it's another bedroom. Slightly smaller than the others,
09:31I think. Is this a modern edition? It's more modern, because they have a kind of a modern
09:35tile on the floor. Though, it feels dry inside. There's no dampness on the walls. Yeah, yeah.
09:40Looks like our last room is still no toilet in sight. There is no toilet in sight. Interesting.
09:46Okay, let's have a look. Oh, kitchen. You have to walk out to come to the kitchen. That's the
09:52Italian living, I suppose, outdoor living, maybe. It's okay again. It's okay in summer. Could be work
09:56and cook it. And another fridge. So, we have three fridges so far. There's no toilet.
10:04Okay, I have the most amazing outside bathroom in this building here. Okay. I hope it's worth the
10:12trek all the way through the garden. Through the barrister in the trees. When it comes to moving a
10:19bathroom, Elizabeth, from outside to closer to the house, in the context of the overall spend, I don't
10:25think it's a huge cost. Okay. You would have a demolition cost and then rebuilding and then
10:30obviously the plumbing. Would you need some sort of local planning permission? Yes, you would need
10:35a building permit. So, you'd have to get a local professional to help you and you'd have to look
10:39into what are the regulations? What volume do I have? Because they look at volume here rather than
10:44square footage. And the kitchen outside needs work for sure, I think. If you just link it in some way
10:50to
10:50the house, that would solve that problem. So, we have over an acre of land. An acre's a lot now,
10:56yeah. It's a lot of space. And it's well-matured garden. You can see around it. It's been here for
11:00quite some time. Talk to me about this list. I can see a couple of things. A few things. We
11:05saw some
11:06like air conditioning, maybe heating units on the walls. They do have air conditioning and those machines
11:11do heat and cooling. Well, there's nothing in the main room though we saw. There's only in the two
11:17bedrooms, aren't they? Yeah. In these buildings in the summer, especially in the older part,
11:20you don't really need air conditioning that much because it stays so cool because the walls are so
11:25thick. And how do you think we'd heat it in the winter? Well, in the main room there's a fireplace.
11:30Right. And after running the fire for a few days, the walls absorb all the heat. So, it stays quite
11:37warm,
11:37comfortable. It's on the market at the moment for 105. Okay. But I have been advised that it could be
11:45got
11:45for around 80. Okay. Interesting. Food for thought, isn't it? It's definitely food for thought.
11:50That's not bad for first girl, Maggie. No, I like that. Starting on a positive note.
11:55With its centuries-old way of life, southern Italy has a timeless charm that's hard to resist.
12:02It's exactly what has drawn Todd and Niall here. To get a real sense of what life is like,
12:08I'm meeting John Nolan, who moved from Kildare to Puglia with his partner Dave. Thank you very much.
12:13I love the area. It's gorgeous. How long are you here? Two years.
12:16So, it's a bit of a difference. Yeah. Yeah, it's a lot warmer. Yeah. Yeah.
12:21So, what made you come to Puglia? My sister was looking down south at euro houses.
12:27Euro houses, that's you pay a euro. So, you buy them for a euro. Okay.
12:31We said, I will come with you for a look. But as we looked into it, it turns out there's
12:36so many
12:36stipulations. Like, you have to have the work done within a certain period of time. Okay.
12:41Or else you could lose the money that you put into this euro house.
12:44Oh, really? Yeah. Okay.
12:46So, we thought we'd leave my sister and her partner alone for a few days and we came up here
12:50to Astuni.
12:51Hmm. Came up for two nights and thought, oh my god, this is it.
12:55And what were some of your reasons for making that move?
12:58The mortgage kept going up, wages weren't. So, we didn't really have a life.
13:02Yeah. Sold the house, sold everything we own and decided to move over.
13:06So, two years into it, are you still loving it? Absolutely. Yeah, every day.
13:11No regrets. Yeah, no regrets. Even the sunshine when you wake up in the morning.
13:15I'd say psychologically, it's just nicer seeing that. It does. It lifts your spirits and it, you know,
13:19gives you a nice feeling to walk out there with the sun and your coffee. Yeah, the simple things.
13:29It's so pretty, but what's it like to live here? It's great. There's a great cafe culture here.
13:34It's just a beautiful vibe. Even though it's quite pretty like a museum, it's a working town.
13:39Oh, very much so. People live here. It's all real. It's not Disney.
13:42Yeah. Even though it looks like it, you know.
13:44What are the people like? Really nice. They're actually very like the Irish.
13:48Ah. There's not a lot of materialism around and people don't earn a lot of money here, to be honest.
13:53Ireland in the 80s is what me and my sister call it. It's very family-orientated here,
13:59so at night time you'll have kids running around. There's not a lot of crime.
14:03And do you have a lot of the language? I'm getting there.
14:06OK, but you still find you can connect regardless?
14:08Always, yeah. They'll make an effort and we'll make an effort.
14:11You have no issue getting your steps in here. Absolutely not.
14:15You see 90-year-olds flying up and down the steps here. Buns of steel.
14:20Well, they live so long here, don't they? It's the steps and the diet.
14:23Absolutely. At least till 150, so I have another 20 years left.
14:29So that's the Adriatic over there. What a view.
14:32And a line of olive trees all the way. Oh my God.
14:35Was there anything you were kind of nervous about moving over here?
14:38You have to be realistic nowadays and not everywhere is gay friendly.
14:42So southern Italy, very religious. We didn't know, are we going to be accepted?
14:46Are they going to be waiting on pitchforks at the end of our driveway?
14:48And they weren't? Not at all. OK.
14:50No. And we have had absolutely no trouble at all.
14:53Yeah. Sounds like it's more traditional than conservative.
14:57Very traditional. They're very open-minded at the same time.
15:01So acceptance was no problem. Was there any logistical issues?
15:04There was. There's a lot of bureaucracy in Italy and it's very hard to get your head around.
15:09I definitely recommend learning Italian. Not fluently, but learning enough to get by.
15:14And get yourself a good agent. You really have to have a good agent behind you.
15:20Before we wrap up our first day in Puglia, John has brought his partner Dave along to meet Todd and
15:26Niall.
15:26The one thing you'll just have to learn to enjoy the process because everything is piano piano. Tranquilo. Just relax.
15:34There's a great expat community from all parts of the world. They're great friends.
15:39Meet up with them every now and again, but you do need to embrace the Italians themselves and get used
15:42to their community and their lifestyle.
15:44I know it's challenging. It can be challenging as any project, but it's nice to hear from you. You're so
15:50positive about it.
15:51Maggie, I think job well done. They're all getting on.
15:54Yeah. I think there's something about making that first connection with a human being in your new country.
16:00Yeah. That just makes everything else seem more attainable, doesn't it?
16:03And someone who's walked the path already. What could it this?
16:06Yeah. We're like, we should set up a dating agency, maybe. Setting up people.
16:12James and I shouldn't get carried away just yet. I still have to find a house for the boys.
16:18Luckily, I have my cheapest one coming up. It's like a blank canvas in here.
16:22Not even sure what this room originally is or was or should be.
16:26And James learns about the tough realities of renovating in Italy on horseback.
16:34This week, myself and James are in Puglia in the heel of Italy.
16:38We're helping Todd Pussius and Niall Sherry find their dream Italian home on a modest budget of €150,000.
16:47They're looking for a two-bed property with a terrace or outdoor space.
16:52And importantly, it has to feel authentic and Italian.
16:56So far, we've seen this rural retreat on the outskirts of Ostuni.
17:01It has a huge plot of land, but no indoor toilet. And it's on the market for €105,000.
17:09Look at the fireplace in the corner. It's really nice.
17:11That's authentic. That's authentic.
17:12For our next property, we're heading almost as far south as you can go in Puglia
17:18to the beautiful Cilento town of Murolecese.
17:22Just off the main square sits this unique townhouse.
17:26It may only have one bedroom, but for a small house, it's built on quite a grand scale
17:32with a gorgeous roof terrace. But the real surprise here is the price.
17:38This property is on the market for just €56,000.
17:43First, architect Elizabeth Francis and I are meeting Todd and Niall on the main square
17:49so they can experience the atmosphere of this beautiful location.
17:54Don't you feel like you're truly in southern Italy now?
17:57Well, you do today with the sun.
17:58I feel I'm blending in the colour scheme with my attire today.
18:02Looking around here, this is exactly the kind of style we were looking for
18:05on the house hunt because it's just typically Italian.
18:07So, there's an alleyway right behind you and we are all going to head down there now
18:12and look at your house.
18:13That's exciting. Let's go.
18:17This is your house and where the paint gets a bit cleaner down the alleyway
18:21is where your house stops.
18:22Very substantial looking, I think.
18:24It's authentic.
18:25It's a tall building.
18:26I know it's maybe a little bit needs attention, but that's just cosmetics.
18:30I don't see anything that's particularly of concern that it would be a bigger job than that.
18:35More maintenance than renovation.
18:37You know, we wouldn't touch a lot of that.
18:39The shutters and things we love.
18:41The stonework, it's just authentic and beautiful.
18:44Maybe just cleaning a little bit of the graffiti with GIF.
18:48A little bit, yeah, I think so.
18:49No SIF now, Todd.
18:50Oh, it's SIF now, yeah, yeah.
18:54Okay, so we are inside. Look at that ceiling.
18:58That was the first thing I saw when we came in the door.
19:00The height of that ceiling.
19:02This would be a very typical star vault.
19:05It's very elegant and it's beautiful to look at, but it's also structural because there's a stone roof above this
19:11and it distributes the weight down.
19:14I love the floor. I love those tiles.
19:16So these floors would be from, let's say, the 1950s. Very typical, these sort of terrazzo tiles.
19:23It's like a blank canvas in here.
19:25I'm not even sure what this room originally is or was or should be, so it's perfect for what we're
19:29looking for.
19:30Okay, so why don't you two go and explore the rest of the house on your own?
19:33Myself and Elizabeth will meet you in a little while up on the terrace.
19:40Okay, that's definitely the kitchen of the house.
19:42Oh, yeah, I think so.
19:43I like how it's kind of molded into one piece, the sink and the whole countertop.
19:48Yeah, it's very nicely done, nicely finished.
19:51I think over there there might be a little bathroom, I think.
19:53It's like a bathroom sink and the toilet in there.
19:56A mud and bowl there.
19:57The space is a little bit maybe tight with the chairs.
20:01Yeah.
20:01But instead of having chairs, maybe you have a bench.
20:06Okay, I think we have our bedroom, Todd.
20:08It's a good-sized room.
20:09Yeah, looks like the only bedroom. That's the first point I'd make.
20:13I think so.
20:13I know there's no wardrobe there at the moment, but where the bed is, it kind of gives you the
20:17feel.
20:18You can have a smaller unit in there.
20:20There's good light coming from the window. It's a really nice room.
20:23That looks like a shower room in the corner.
20:25Yeah.
20:26So we have no toilet here.
20:27No, I don't think so.
20:29So there's only one toilet which is downstairs and I'm not a big fan of the toilet next to the
20:34kitchen.
20:35No.
20:37Hey.
20:38Hey, hey.
20:39So what do you think of your terrace?
20:40Amazing, isn't it?
20:41It's a good size space around it and you can see all the streets leading each direction and the old
20:48buildings.
20:49And you have a second terrace potentially up here as well if you wanted it. So you have quite a
20:54lot of outside space.
20:54Do you believe we would be able to convert it into a conventional terrace?
21:00Yes.
21:00Yeah, put some sort of flooring paving. It's strong enough structurally.
21:03And keep maybe this as a pergola or something to get this a shaded area. Maybe keep that in the
21:07sun. It might be nice. Yeah, it'd be cool.
21:09So what do you think of the rest of the house?
21:10It's a nice blank canvas to work with which is good. The only downside to the bedroom is that there's
21:15only a shower room which is a bit of a negative for us.
21:18How easy would it be maybe to flip and install downstairs shower and have the toilet upstairs instead?
21:24So not easy. I wouldn't say it's easy but it's definitely possible. There's just about, I'd say, just about enough
21:31space for a toilet in the shower space. Get permission for it.
21:36And downstairs I would keep the little bathroom as it is but put the shower immediately when you come in
21:42the door. It's the only place where you have the full head height.
21:45I think if there would be a second bedroom I think it would be very hard to say no.
21:50Okay. So it's just a matter really of trying to figure out whether you could switch around the uses of
21:55the other rooms maybe a little bit.
21:57So take for example that lovely vaulted sitting room. Get your kitchen in there or even get a kitchen living
22:03room in there and it frees up another room somewhere else.
22:06I feel like I might have something that might tip it over the edge for you. How does 56,000
22:11sound?
22:12Wow. We like a good bargain. We like a good bargain. 56 is a bargain isn't it?
22:1656,000 sounds like a bargain to me. By giving up the bedroom the price kind of reflects that.
22:23Yes. My mind is racing now. Yeah.
22:27That last house really was a bargain Maggie. But at that price it's clear the lads will have some renovation
22:33work ahead of them.
22:34And, as we've already discovered, getting work done in Italy isn't always straightforward. Especially if you're not a local.
22:44Oh they're all so beautiful.
22:47I've come to meet Emilia Bunyard, a horse riding instructor and food guide.
22:52She knows firsthand what it's like to renovate here, having moved to Puglia ten years ago.
22:57And it wasn't without its challenges.
23:00So you know firsthand all about this. You renovated. Can you tell me a little bit about your journey?
23:05When I moved here I didn't speak any Italian beyond, you know, sort of vino and coffee please.
23:11That's important.
23:11Good morning, buongiorno. I wanted to do a renovation project.
23:14And it was much harder. It was much harder than I thought. I mean partly because people don't turn up
23:19on time.
23:20The sense of time here is very different. People are much more relaxed. Which is beautiful, but...
23:26You have a sense of urgency from where you're from.
23:28You're kind of going, oh here's my budget and here's my schedule and I've got like this much time to
23:32finish it.
23:33That's quite stressful.
23:35Bureaucracy here is absolutely confusing and I still don't understand it.
23:41I had to kind of have a word with myself and go, okay, kind of like all the beautiful things
23:45that outweigh the stressful things are worth it.
23:48But I have to accept how it is rather than I can't change it.
23:52Have you become a bit more relaxed as a person?
23:55No, hell no.
24:00Niall and Todd have arrived and Emyria has kindly offered to help us explore the area.
24:18We heard a lot about the red tape here initially. Any advice for us how we might proceed if we
24:23were to move here?
24:24The expectation is that you know the system and you know the hidden fees so someone might give you a
24:29cost but it might not include like the taxes and I think that locals know to expect those things and
24:35I obviously didn't found out as it came up.
24:39So you have to learn to know what questions to ask.
24:42Yes, they have to be like more thorough than you would expect and I suppose that's part of the difference
24:48in the system.
24:49Any advice how to tackle the red tape?
24:51I think hire an expert. I mean you have a geometra here if you're renovating. A geometra is somewhere between
24:56an architect and an engineer.
24:59But like they will be super super useful for you. Budget extra and be patient.
25:18Back home building and expenses for building is through the roof. What are the prices like over here?
25:23You know the prices have gone up also for properties here and I think for labour and now materials, the
25:29cost of materials has gone up.
25:31But still yeah, you know I think a fraction of what it is at home absolutely.
25:34And is it easy to get people to do work for you or are you waiting and waiting?
25:39Be prepared for everything to take longer than you expect so be relaxed about that and learn Italian.
25:47The fully easy people are super welcoming, super friendly and once they take you to heart, you know like they're
25:53your mates for life.
25:54I think if you don't integrate, you might as well just eat pizza and stay at home.
25:57Yeah, you might as well stay in Ireland. What's the point? You know, you have to make some sort of
26:00effort to get into the country you're living in.
26:03So you're ten years in. Any regrets?
26:06No, no, not really. Overall, I absolutely love it here. It's been hard work but totally worth it.
26:13That's lovely. This is all ahead of you. Oh yeah, looking forward to it.
26:18Yeah, still a smile on her face. Yeah, that's good. Some tears maybe but smiles.
26:24Well salute day to you. Yes. Salute day. Thank you. Grazie, grazie.
26:29The next day it's back to business and time to look at our third property.
26:36This time we've headed north of Ostuni to the town of Caravino,
26:41an up and coming place that still offers great value.
26:44Just a short walk from the town centre are two gorgeous apartments.
26:49Both are for sale but I'm focusing on the top one as it has three bedrooms,
26:54a roof terrace and my favourite feature, a wraparound balcony.
26:59It could do with some updating and needs to be properly subdivided from the rest of the building.
27:05So there is work to do, but the asking price is just €100,000.
27:11So I really want to show the lads an apartment.
27:13This building is very typical of sort of post-war construction in Italy.
27:18So they're quite well built, they're spacious, they have their own front door off the street.
27:23OK. It's an apartment but it's similar to a house.
27:26The top one is the one I love the most.
27:28The one on the bottom, at the same time though, is fully furnished and lived in.
27:33So what I'm thinking of doing is showing the lads around this one
27:35and then I'll just let them wander up and see the other one as well.
27:42So this is the main living space here.
27:45More spacious than I expected from the outside.
27:47We have three smaller rooms off that could potentially be bedrooms of different sizes.
27:53Then we have a big formal dining room that leads on to a really big kitchen and bathroom to the
27:59back.
27:59Lots of space, different rooms. I would be inclined maybe to open it up a little bit.
28:04OK.
28:05There's a lot of potential to improve this space.
28:07You can see that there's a little bit of damp in the ceiling coming from above
28:11but that's something that's fairly straightforward to repair.
28:15I think it's a really good place here.
28:17The lads loved yesterday's house though and I'm not sure whether even a large apartment
28:21is going to be enough to sway them away from that house.
28:25Very different, big contrast.
28:27Yeah, absolutely.
28:29Hey!
28:30Romeo, Romeo!
28:33So have you ever thought about apartment living?
28:35Oh, we certainly have.
28:36We would definitely not roll it out.
28:38So what I want to show you is this apartment here and all above us comes with it.
28:44But the apartment down below is also for sale and this one's fully furnished.
28:48So I think it will give you more of an idea of how to live in the space.
28:52Looks great from here, doesn't it?
28:53Looks clean and tidy.
28:55So you guys have a look.
28:57Myself and Elizabeth will meet you on the roof.
28:59Great, see you later.
29:00See you in a bit.
29:03Unexpectedly big.
29:04I wasn't expecting the high ceiling here.
29:07No, it's absolutely enormous, isn't it?
29:09I like that.
29:10It's a big double bedroom.
29:13It's a large kitchen.
29:14Huge.
29:15And I think we came through from the light room there.
29:18The middle room is a bit dark, isn't it?
29:20The middle room is very dark.
29:21There's no windows in there.
29:22There's no windows, no natural light at all.
29:24This is a little bit dark still.
29:27Yeah.
29:28The fireplace did surprise me.
29:29I didn't expect anything.
29:31It's amazing, isn't it?
29:31Yeah.
29:32In an apartment.
29:33Yeah, it's pretty cool.
29:34We have the bathroom and the toilet leading up the kitchen.
29:38Your favourite house.
29:39Not sure about that.
29:44OK, we have some light here, I think.
29:46The first impression, just the light coming through the window.
29:50Look at that floor.
29:51It's a little bit over-fashioned, but I think it's staying here.
29:56We wouldn't be touching that.
29:57No.
29:57I'm going anywhere near that with a can-go-hammer.
29:59That is staying exactly where it is.
30:01After a bit of thinking about how best to fit what we would like into this room.
30:06OK, that's a lovely balcony.
30:08OK.
30:08Oh, there's a full view of the town from here.
30:11I think that's a coast.
30:1310 minute, 20 minute drive.
30:14Yeah, maybe, maybe.
30:15You wouldn't walk.
30:16So what else have we got here?
30:17OK.
30:18Oh, look at that now up the hill.
30:19OK.
30:20Very cool.
30:21That's the old town.
30:23So how did you get on in that upstairs apartment?
30:25Do you like it?
30:26Yeah, I don't know where to start.
30:28Just the space.
30:30Each room is very generous.
30:32Yeah, and the good high ceiling is not quite as high as the apartment on the ground floor,
30:36but still pretty high.
30:37Now the kitchen is dark, but that room in the middle is really super dark.
30:40The same issue as the one on the ground floor.
30:42What can we do about that?
30:43So what I would do is I would open up that wall and maybe take down the wall to the
30:48smaller
30:48room with the window.
30:50And so you'd have one large living dining kitchen space.
30:54Yeah, I like the idea.
30:55I think it's a good idea.
30:56And don't forget we have up here too.
30:58Yeah.
30:58So we don't just have a roof terrace.
31:01We have another room in there.
31:03I know technically there's two rooms, but really that main central room there could be
31:07a fantastic summer kitchen for you leading out onto this terrace.
31:11It could be a bedroom.
31:13You've got so many options.
31:14Just be open-minded about, I suppose, about what you can do with it.
31:17So if I told you that the apartment on the ground floor was a hundred thousand euro,
31:21what would you think the top two floors were?
31:24Let's go 115.
31:25Right.
31:26What's on the market for exactly the same price?
31:29Oh, wow.
31:29A hundred thousand.
31:30Oh, okay.
31:31That's a nice surprise.
31:33Yeah.
31:34We don't, we're getting a start to get a feel for what's good value around,
31:37but we're not quite sure.
31:38Yes.
31:38It's all good value.
31:40You're just not used to good value in property and you don't know what to do with it.
31:46It's been an action packed few days.
31:48We've seen some real bargains and gathered plenty of useful advice.
31:53Now it's time for us all to unwind back in Ostuni and try some of that world famous Italian
31:59cuisine, though not everyone is feeling adventurous.
32:03I see somebody doesn't have any food on his plate.
32:07I'm a bit picky.
32:08Are you?
32:09Let's put it mildly that I'm a bit picky.
32:11I'd struggle with a lot of what's on the table right now.
32:13I'd probably have a bit of bread.
32:15No.
32:15So what's a typical dinner?
32:16A typical dinner would be good Irish dinner.
32:18Good meat and two veg maybe.
32:20Okay.
32:20Or maybe even meat and one veg.
32:22And the veg will be potatoes.
32:25You're not going to get the most out of Italy at all, are you?
32:28No.
32:29Not with what's on this table.
32:30No.
32:31But you know, you never know.
32:32So I have an idea maybe for you to broaden your palate a little bit.
32:36Okay.
32:36Are you up for the challenge though of maybe broadening your palate?
32:39Definitely up for the challenge.
32:41Well, we start with this.
32:42Start with that.
32:43Yeah, manage.
32:44I think we might manage that one, James.
32:46A bit of mozzarella.
32:47Maybe a bit of mozzarella.
32:49Yeah, baby steps.
32:50Yeah, baby steps.
32:51And then octopus.
32:52That might be pushing it a bit too far, James, I think.
32:55Do we need to hide the octopus in the mozzarella?
32:58Maybe between the two slices of bread.
33:00In the spud.
33:01In the spud.
33:04The slagging will continue until tomorrow when we have to visit our last property.
33:09I'm not saying it's hideous, but maybe it's not to my taste.
33:13And maybe Niall will prove us all wrong.
33:19Myself and James are in Puglia in southern Italy, helping Todd Posius and Niall Sherry find
33:26their dream European home.
33:28They're looking for a two-bedroom house or apartment with authentic Italian charm and outdoor
33:34space or a terrace.
33:36They don't want to be too far from a town and will take on a renovation project.
33:41Their budget is €150,000 and so far we've seen three contenders.
33:48A rustic villa with potential but no indoor toilet.
33:52A small but impressive townhouse at an absolute steal of a price.
33:57And a second floor apartment with sea views.
34:02Before I show Todd and Niall our final property, I've come to the small tourist town of Albero
34:08to learn more about a building style we've often seen across the countryside since we arrived here.
34:15These are truly houses.
34:18Their distinctive beehive-shaped stone domes are a centuries-old architectural tradition
34:24of this part of southern Italy.
34:26And as a result, Albero Bello is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
34:33James is on a mission here to help Food Shy Niall discover the amazing culinary culture Puglia has to offer.
34:40But by happy coincidence, I've found a truly home nearby that's been lovingly restored by Sue and Michael Foley.
34:49When I see these truly houses dotted all over the countryside, they're either falling down like a pile of stones
34:56or they're magnificent.
34:58What was this one like when you came first?
35:00Well, it was an absolute complete ruin.
35:03It was encased in plant life.
35:05There was no outside paths, there's no driveway.
35:08You just had to kind of walk down here.
35:10How do you even think about making that into a functioning house?
35:14Well, it helps that he's a builder.
35:16We knew a lot about the true loves because we had seen a lot of them.
35:20And I have a lot of friends here who do it.
35:22And they are protected, I'm assuming.
35:24This one's a protected grade one listed building.
35:29So, yeah, it wasn't an easy process.
35:31OK.
35:32But if you've got the right people, it is and it helps.
35:35Are these tops typical?
35:37They can vary between towns or they might have a special meaning to the original family that lived there.
35:44Oh, lovely.
35:47So we're straight into our first cone.
35:50Do you know, it's small, but it feels so spacious with the height of the ceiling.
35:54Most of this wasn't here when we found it.
35:57But Michael's restored it slowly, slowly.
36:00You know, you take pride in restoring something like this because it is so old.
36:05People used to work on the land in these trulees.
36:07They would have to pay tax.
36:09But then other people would come and try and take tax off them as well.
36:13So they have a keystone in the trulee.
36:16So when they knock it out, the roof collapses or part of the roof.
36:21So what they used to say was, well, nobody can live in here.
36:25What house?
36:26So they didn't have to pay their tax.
36:28And then they just build it up again.
36:30Yeah.
36:30You build it on the round.
36:32And so you just build it all the way up to the top and put the pinnacle on.
36:34They were masters of stone and they would build that up in maybe a day or two.
36:40That's true.
36:41And it's not like they're looking in and seeing a fitted kitchen and all in here.
36:43Exactly.
36:44Well, they're definitely living here.
36:48So in our second cone here, we have an amazing bathroom, I have to say.
36:54It's a real labour of love, I feel, that room was for you.
36:59OK, so we have a good big living space now back here.
37:02We tried to make sure that we used all local products and obviously a lot of recycled pieces,
37:09particularly even with the furniture.
37:11Is this sink that's locally made?
37:13So there's a local artisan stone, stone merchant really, isn't he?
37:17Yeah.
37:17In the worktop I made myself.
37:19So that's a Wexford worktop.
37:21That's a Wexford concrete worktop.
37:23It's absolutely gorgeous.
37:24So talk to me about this floor.
37:27This stone is particular to Puglia.
37:29OK.
37:29And it's called Kyanke.
37:31We tried to lay it in a particular way that seemed really ancient as well,
37:35as the house is probably a thousand years old.
37:38And it took him three times as long.
37:41Because I took pictures of other floors that I've seen,
37:45it gives you an idea of how to do it and what to do.
37:48I mean, it is really important to try and use everything locally,
37:51as many things as you can to recycle as well.
37:54Make it look old and keep within a budget as well,
37:58which is really important.
37:59Yeah.
38:01What a view.
38:03You have everything out here in this garden.
38:05Talk to me about your pool, because this is above ground.
38:08Have you limitations here?
38:09Yes.
38:10So this is an above ground pool, which is dismantleable at any time.
38:15So if somebody comes and wants to charge you a tax on your pool,
38:18you can just pull something out and the whole thing goes down.
38:21That's not a pool.
38:23I don't know.
38:24How much did you pay for the place?
38:26So it was 65,000 euros.
38:29Really?
38:29Yeah, it's amazing.
38:30Wow.
38:31That was in 2020, wasn't it?
38:34Yeah.
38:34Yeah.
38:35Mostly, Michael did everything himself, but obviously we did use a lot of local people
38:39as well that came in to help us.
38:41So if you add everything together, how much do you think you've spent doing the place up?
38:45Probably between 200 and 250,000.
38:49Okay.
38:49For the renovation.
38:50Yeah.
38:50Yeah.
38:50It's amazing.
38:51I can't believe it.
38:53Wow.
38:53I think that if you wanted to buy one of these Trulies and you got the local people
38:57to come and do it, you could obviously do it a lot quicker.
39:00Yeah.
39:00Yeah.
39:00What was your most expensive thing, do you think, that you did?
39:03Hmm.
39:05How much beer and wine would you like to do it?
39:11What I love about this renovation is that Sue and Michael reused so much stuff out
39:16of the rubble of these Trulies and in doing so, they've really honoured the old building.
39:23In Puglia, food is at the heart of everyday life.
39:27And if Niall and Todd want to settle here, understanding that culture could be key to fitting
39:32in.
39:32So, I'm in the centre of Albero Bello meeting local guide, Melina Panaro, who's going to help
39:39me, and hopefully Niall, understand why food matters so much to the people of Puglia.
39:45So, I have two guys with me.
39:47One is Niall, and he's a fussy eater, doesn't like a lot of different foods.
39:51We need to change that.
39:53OK.
39:53You're up for that.
39:54Yes, I can help you.
39:56Because in the south, it's all about food, isn't it?
39:58Yes.
39:58When people come here, we share everything with other people, especially in little towns
40:04like Albero Bello.
40:05OK, you sound perfect for this mission.
40:07Let's go feed Niall.
40:09OK.
40:10Grazie.
40:10Prego.
40:12Melina is taking myself, Todd, and a nervous Niall on a nonna culinary tour of Albero Bello,
40:19where we visit some of the few remaining residents of this unique village.
40:24I'm going to try to introduce them to some delicious meals prepared by the local experts.
40:30What are these?
40:31They're very pretty.
40:32They are, this is a typical pastry here.
40:35OK, we are used to eat them in the morning for breakfast.
40:39And we drink coffee, our traditional coffee, mocha.
40:46And the little biscuit, we have to try.
40:48Very nice.
40:49It's all.
40:50It should represent, let's say, what we should eat.
40:54It should be the first choice.
40:56So, for her and for her family, the most important thing is to eat food of high quality.
41:03Buongiorno!
41:04Buongiorno!
41:06Buongiorno!
41:07How are you?
41:07How are you?
41:09What's your name?
41:11America!
41:12Oh, an actor.
41:14American actor.
41:15So, what is going on here?
41:17What's this?
41:17These are the fava beans, you know, and this is our typical dish.
41:21OK, I want to try.
41:23It's dangerous, but...
41:24OK, but be careful.
41:26Of course.
41:27OK, be careful.
41:28Oh, it's harsh.
41:29OK.
41:30Bravo!
41:31Bravo!
41:34Bravo!
41:35Bravo!
41:35Bravo!
41:38Truly!
41:39Truly!
41:39Truly!
41:40Truly!
41:41This region's cooking grew out of simple ingredients and a history of making the most of very little.
41:48But, over time, it's become one of the most distinctive food cultures in Italy.
41:53Meals here aren't just about eating.
41:55They're about hospitality, family, and community.
41:59These are the fava beans.
42:01Oh, OK.
42:02It's like mass.
42:03You know how old is she?
42:0650?
42:07No, 50.
42:09I am 56.
42:11Oh, my God.
42:12She's 80.
42:1380!
42:14Oh, wow, wow.
42:16It's the olive oil.
42:17Oh, yes.
42:19It's a good life.
42:22Me being a fussy eater now, it's kind of hard to eat.
42:24There's kind of a variety of food.
42:26But it's interesting.
42:27It's good.
42:27It's interesting, yes.
42:31Well, Niall might not be completely converted just yet, but he's at least starting to see
42:37that here in Puglia, understanding food is a big part of understanding your new neighbours.
42:45For our final property, we're back in the town of Caravino.
42:49We're looking at a central, spacious second-floor apartment that's ready to move straight into.
42:56It's relatively modern, currently laid out with two bedrooms, and the best terrace we've seen so far.
43:03It's on the market for 110,000 euro.
43:08It's very traditional Italian streets.
43:10Yeah.
43:10So the first impressions are nice.
43:12The apartment's a little bit more modern feel to it.
43:15I'm not saying it's hideous, but maybe it's not to my taste.
43:19I think it needs a little bit of work to bring it up to what we would like it to
43:22look like.
43:23I think so.
43:24It's quite funny with its little 1980s kind of cladding and stuff on it, but that can be removed.
43:29You could take off the stone, you could re-plaster it, and you could paint it to make it similar
43:34to the other buildings.
43:36That's good.
43:37That's good.
43:38Okay.
43:39Okay, we have the hallway.
43:41Quite narrow here.
43:42Very high space.
43:44And again, it's steep steps just on the street level.
43:47Yeah, yeah, yeah.
43:47And then to the right of the bedroom, so have a look in there, won't we?
43:50Yeah.
43:50Cool.
43:52Decent-sized room.
43:52And again, the floor is nice.
43:54It's a bit strange with those windows.
43:56They're very high up, aren't they?
43:57Prison cell kind of feel, isn't it?
44:00It's interesting that there's a bedroom leading off the bedroom.
44:03Yeah, which is not particularly practical.
44:05So you have to walk from one to another.
44:08Yeah, yeah, yeah.
44:09And from here, it looks even darker in there.
44:13Okay, that's the bathroom.
44:15At least it's not of the kitchen.
44:16Well, that's true.
44:17It's functioning.
44:18Yeah.
44:19Functioning bathroom.
44:21Okay, last but not least, this is a sitting room and kitchen, I think.
44:25Much more light in here.
44:26This is nice space.
44:27That's what I expected.
44:28It's a nice flow.
44:29It's a kitchen just there.
44:31Again, no doors.
44:32Just kind of this arch opening.
44:34Massive fireplace in the corner.
44:36That is a statement.
44:39And again, this is the same level of flow here.
44:42So it's a little bit maybe busy road here.
44:44It's taking up five streets.
44:46I think everything looks nicer in the sun.
44:48I think so.
44:49And it feels nicer in the sun for sure.
44:53So it's safe to say we've seen a lot of roof terraces.
44:56It's very open.
44:58Good size.
45:00Right in the sun.
45:01Okay, it needs a bit of upgrading.
45:03Did you see the kitchen?
45:04Yeah, wow.
45:05That was a bit of a surprise.
45:06That was a bit of a last thing.
45:07But one thing we've learned probably over the last few days is
45:09the Italians don't like to be too far from the kitchen.
45:11No.
45:12You do have those options either to keep living kitchen downstairs,
45:16make a bedroom at this level,
45:18or keep your kitchen up here for your outdoor dining on the terrace
45:21and use below as a guest bedroom, an extra bedroom when you need to.
45:25I was surprised when we came up now that that extra room,
45:28that opens up all the options I think in this property for sure.
45:30So was the flow a little bit better than yesterday's house?
45:33A little bit better, but there was one kind of negative point downstairs.
45:36The two back rooms were a bit darker,
45:39and the fact that one bedroom leads off another
45:41is not particularly practical for what we'd be looking for.
45:44The first room you can manage.
45:46The one behind it, it's more about just changing your outlook on that room.
45:50If that was a walk-in closet, an en suite,
45:54they're more prone to not having big floods of natural light in them anyway.
45:58You could just do a really, really nice lighting design in the room.
46:01Now, Maggie, you're definitely messing with our minds this time, I think.
46:04I think it's this thing about Italy though.
46:07The houses have weird layouts sometimes,
46:10and you have to really just get your head around them.
46:12And if you can figure them out, you will get a bargain.
46:15So let's have a chat about this price.
46:17Oh, here we go.
46:18It's on the market for $110,000.
46:20Okay.
46:21That's probably a little bit more than we expected.
46:25We thought there would be less than the house number three yesterday.
46:29Really?
46:29Yeah, because the amount of space yesterday.
46:31You wouldn't have to spend much to move in.
46:33No.
46:34Yesterday, there were things to deal with before that.
46:36We thought this would be just a definite no-no,
46:38but I think, no, that's not the case now.
46:40Okay, so you go figure all that out,
46:42and then come find me when you've made your decision.
46:45That's good.
46:45Talk later.
46:49I think Niall and Todd are happy with the selection of properties
46:52I've shown them over the last few days here in Puglia.
46:55First, there was the rustic countryside villa.
46:59Then, we travelled to the town of Muroleceze
47:02to see a compact one-bedroom townhouse.
47:05Next, it was Caravigno,
47:07where we visited a light-filled, spacious, second-floor apartment.
47:11And again in Caravigno, our last property
47:14was another large, second-floor apartment.
47:17My final task in Puglia is to find out
47:21if the guys are any closer to their dream European home.
47:25So, I'm assuming you have some sort of a decision,
47:27or at least one kind of is floating towards the top, is it?
47:30I think we are a little bit torn...
47:31Okay.
47:32...between the first and second property.
47:34They're very different, but each of them had something
47:37that we ultimately asked for.
47:39But we ultimately, I think, are going for number two, are we?
47:43Are we going for number two?
47:44Oh, I wanted that one!
47:46That's not fair!
47:46Oh, sorry, Maggie!
47:48That's a good house.
47:49We think so.
47:50We think it's a good starter for us here in the region
47:52and this country.
47:54It's pretty much walk-in condition.
47:56We can put out a stamp on it,
47:58maybe a little bit renovation.
48:00It would be a very nice base in a very nice town.
48:02It was a great price too, wasn't it?
48:04And a good bargain.
48:04What's the plan then?
48:05What are we doing?
48:06Probably get in touch with the agent on this one,
48:08because I think we're close to looking at maybe
48:10putting an offer on it, so we're really interested in it.
48:12Yes!
48:13We really did fall in love with it,
48:14so I think we really need to see it again,
48:17get a proper feel when there's no cameras around,
48:19so we know what's going on,
48:20and get a proper feel for the local vibe.
48:23So I think that would be really what we want to do.
48:25Well, best of luck.
48:26Thanks for all your help.
48:27It was a great time.
48:30I really love Todd and Niall's way of thinking about this house.
48:33Staying back another couple of days,
48:34having another look at it,
48:36because that's the thing.
48:37If you see a house out here,
48:39and you get a good feeling about it,
48:41you just have to go for it,
48:43or you might never do it.
48:47I love the Italian way of life.
48:48I want to live here.
48:49The connection between family, friends, food, gathering,
48:54I think it's just so gorgeous.
48:55It is, it is.
48:56It kind of hooks you in, doesn't it?
48:58I think you do need flexibility, though.
49:01Big time.
49:01And patience.
49:02But I think if you have that,
49:04and you're willing to just go with this Italian pace,
49:07I think you can really get a bargain here.
49:09Yeah, well the payoff is this,
49:12which is fab.
49:41Trying to check.
49:45Congratulations.
49:45they are, you?
49:55And this friend their friend,
49:57not is the one.
49:57You should know if someone,
49:57I love your friend and I know for its reason,
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