American couple left New York City and bought a house in Italy for $13,000: 'We found a different way of life'

TL;DR

Cassandra Tresl and Alex Ninman moved from New York City to a small town in Italy's Abruzzo region.
They bought a two-bedroom house for 11,500 euros (about $13,100) and invested an additional 15,000 euros (about $17,100) in renovations.
The couple sought a slower pace of life, more flexibility, and a stronger sense of community than they experienced in the U.S.
They found Italian life to be more affordable, allowing them to focus less on earning money and more on relationships and personal projects.
The sense of community in their Italian town is strong, with neighbors engaging frequently and a lively social life centered around the piazza, especially in summer.
Their daughter, born in the Czech Republic, is fully immersed in Italian culture and will start primary school alongside local children.
Challenges include Italian bureaucracy and missing family, but the benefits of a more connected and less materially focused life outweigh these drawbacks for the family.
Tresl emphasizes that their decision was driven by a desire to build a future in a welcoming community rather than seeking a temporary experience.

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