HOUSE ABOUT IT
We bought a house in a gorgeous town in sunny Italy for £19.5k – we’re doing it up with items from the dump
Watch the video above for a tour of the couple's new home
A COUPLE have revealed how they're doing up an abandoned house in Italy which they bought for just £19,500.
Kristina Knighten, 38, and Paul Cordier, 46, have been sourcing items from the local dump to renovate and furnish their new home.
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The pair said they never expected to settle down in one place but fell in love with the area by Lake Iseo in northern Italy after holidaying there six years ago.
They were shocked by the affordable housing market and went back a year later to buy a two-bed "fixer-up" for £19,500.
Kristina and Paul hired a contractor for around £59,000 to replace the roof and flooring.
However, Paul will be finishing the remainder of the make-over by himself to save money.
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The Londoner has also been able to find some gems from the local dump, including a sink, some butchers blocks to use as tables, and materials to build a kitchen.
Kristina said: "He started making regular trips to the dump, he started dropping things off and coming back with other things.
"He came back with a sink in perfect condition, it was a style we really like - for free."
However, not every dump trip led to jackpot finds.
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"He also came back with a toilet and bidet. I'm not a huge fan of that one," Kristina said.
Paul also built a kitchen worktop from repurposed wood, which Kristina described as "sturdy and lovely".
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The pair said they are trying to stick to a budget of £85,000 to £93,000.
To do so, they plan to use what they can from the existing home, including the previous owners' bed frame.
"We want to keep a rustic look to the place," said Kristina, who is originally from Chicago.
"We'll have traditional lime wash plaster and exposed wood beams and salvaged things hodgepodge together, I hope it comes to life."
Rules on buying in Europe as a Brit
Finance Director Ross Irvine shared some of the steps to keep in mind if you're looking to invest in a home in Europe.
- Apply for an 'overseas mortgage' or 'international mortgage.'
- Applying for citizenship can help increase your chances of obtaining a mortgage.
- Before signing paperwork, get a bank guarantee, read everything carefully, and keep receipts of all transfers.
- Some countries may require you to have your will drawn up before buying property.
Source: William Russell
Kristina and Paul, both teachers, met in late 2013 while working in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
They started dating in 2014 and led a "nomadic lifestyle" visiting over 30 countries together.
The pair had been cobbling a deposit together for an investment property in Chicago.
But during a trip to Italy in 2018 they stumbled across Lake Iseo.
"It was super dramatic, it took our breath away," recalled Kristina.
After having a look at the housing prices, just to be inquisitive, they couldn't believe how cheap it was.
They could afford to use their $40,000 - equivalent to £30,500 - to buy in cash.
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The couple went back the following summer and found an abandoned house which "needed a lot of work".
They closed on their purchase in summer 2020 and were left with $10,000 - equivalent to £7,500 - after all the legal costs.
Then living in the United Arab Emirates, they decided to wait and save some more money before starting renovations.
When they moved to Italy in summer 2023, the pair initially rented an apartment while work on the property started in March.
"The roof is done, the sub flooring is done," Kristina said.
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The couple are now living with Paul's sister's Izabella, 44, who bought a place in the idyllic spot after visiting for their wedding in April.
Her house also needs a full renovation but is currently habitable.
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