American couple bought a house in Italy for $13,150 and spent around $18,000 renovating it

February 18, 2026

American couple bought a house in Italy for $13,150 and spent around $18,000 renovating it—take a look inside

TL;DR

Cassandra Tresl and Alex Ninman moved to Italy after finding the cost of housing and childcare in the U.S. too high.
They purchased a two-floor house in Abruzzo, Italy, for 11,500 euros (approximately $13,150) in February 2022.
The couple estimated renovation costs between 12,000 and 15,000 euros (approximately $14,207 to $17,758), with Alex Ninman performing much of the work himself.
They have since acquired a second property in Italy for 17,000 euros (approximately $20,083) which they rent out on Airbnb.
Tresl stated they chose Italy for their daughter's upbringing, believing it offers a more wholesome childhood experience.
Annual expenses for their primary residence include internet, property taxes, water, electricity, and garbage, with additional heating costs in winter.

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