Key facts
- A couple bought a house in Sicily sight unseen about five years ago.
- The house was purchased for 57,000 euros, equivalent to about $65,000 USD.
- The property is a two-bedroom house in Melilli's historic center.
- The house required a new kitchen, which cost less than $1,500 to install.
- The couple relocated to Sicily full-time after their initial stay.
- The author now works part-time as a consultant.
Camellia Phillips and her husband purchased a two-bedroom house in Melilli, Sicily, about five years ago for 57,000 euros (approximately $65,000 USD) without seeing it in person. The decision was driven by Phillips' chronic migraines, which made air travel difficult, and their desire for an affordable way to visit Italy frequently. They found the house in Melilli's historic center, which was habitable but unfurnished, requiring a new kitchen installation for under $1,500. After an initial two-month stay, they found the house to be their true home, prompting them to plan a full-time move from their New York City apartment. Phillips left her 20-year nonprofit fundraising career to establish a part-time consulting business, leveraging Italy's national health system and freelancer tax incentives. The purchase, initially seen as risky due to potential resale challenges, proved to be a financially sound decision that allowed them to live in Italy more than they had dreamed.