#5 How much did I pay for my Italian property, and other places I considered

In this video I'm talking a bit more about the process of buying the property and other places I looked at.

[bosigard]

I'm Italian and I'm proud to see a person that loves my country...enjoy your new house and your montain

[marrlena]

I also lived in Barcelona and decided to leave in October 2020 for a rural place. As a single woman I didn't want to be alone in a remote cabin. But I wanted as off grid as possible. I found a home with a mountain stream running underneath it. It's in one of the 'white pueblos' in the Andalucían mountains. I have a fireplace and use gas bottles for heat and cooking. I also bought a solar cooker and solar water showers. So I can live without being attached to the grid. The house also has a completely finished second home on the ground floor which I rent out. No major renovations needed. I paid €42, 000 including all costs. It's in the Almería province of Spain in the mountains an hour and a half from Granada. Congratulations on your home. It is wonderful to be free.

[joebruntonvideo]

He paid €21k - @12:42
It's worthwhile watching the whole video for the explanation, beautiful shots of the landscape and a great insight into bidding for lower end renovation properties in Europe

[daleedwards]

I find it strangely relaxing watching Martijn’s progress with my cup of coffee first thing in the morning. I’ve stopped watching the news as its so distressing and these video’s bring some relief and comfort. I can escape for a short time, so thank you for taking the time to make the video’s.

[stefanovepi]

I also bought a small piece of property, in a small village near the border with Austria. It was undeveloped. I built the cabin myself, and like you, being handy but not a builder, I welcomed the challenge to learn each skill as needed. The cabin is done and as I look around I see reflections of myself and memories of the journey.

[johangouws]

As a 67 year old bloke, I will be soon be departing the city to live on a 4 acre off the grid property. So good to see people wants to reconnect with nature…. I will keep watching your progress. Thank you.

[cathyphegley]

I love that you say it’s about the journey, learning the crafts. Building something yourself. I think our world has gotten so far beyond this concept and it affects our connection with the earth.💕

[magnumopus]

Being half dutch and half Italian, born and raised in Italy, and being lucky enough to have a family of travelers that brought me around the world but also all around Italy, this video really resonates with me.

I think that many Italians do not appreciate many aspects of our beautiful country and seek to go outside, but if you go around the world and see all the beautiful places in other countries, you will also appreciate your own country even more. Because it's unique and special.


The first time I've been on the dolomites as a kid and I still have memories of wonder. I remember looking at those mountains and valleys as if they were truly magical places.
And I still think they are.

Enjoy your new house on the Alps man, I'm genuinely happy for you.

[TheClutchSlippedISwear]

Its the first channel i find that shares all the process before buying; the thoughts, the economics, the difficulties, the regulations, everything. I really apreciate this and I also love your style of video documenting the "journey" of making your dream a reality. Keep it up for all of us who are still on the "dreaming" part. Best wishes.

[anne-miekeking]

hi Martijn, we also bought a barn in Italy a few years ago. We live there completely off the grid. a few tips that may help you: buy a pair of ski pants at a second-hand store. 1 to work with and 1 to take a walk to the neighbors in winter time. Therm underwear and a pair of wool sweaters. After a rat also liked our cabin and liked our food very much, we gave him or her a new place a few kilometers away. When we returned to the Netherlands, we bought a lot of large mason jars at the Action. Now when we arrive in winter, we can dress warmly and always have a supply of beans, rice, dried mushrooms, pasta, crackers and nuts etc. Dankjewel voor je prachtige inspirerende films!!! succes met alle klussen en mooie tijden op je berg.

[hippo_Thesis]

15 years ago have bought old country side house in the end of the village, similar price, rebuild it as a summer house, but fall in love with this place so we moved there permanently. Your videos brings me back to that times and refreshing that feeling of freedom and hapiness. Thank you for that, really appreciate your effort, looking forward to further sharings ;)

[defendero]

Van Gogh high up in the alps. Your carpenter skills, film footages, editing & story telling has artistic touch . May you success in your renovation, turn your dreams into reality.

[buffalo]

Matrijan, outstanding and unbelievable! I studied art in Northern Italy in 1970’s and saw beautiful areas such as yours. I agree with you, not to change a thing with the cabins just make them livable. We are living in the day of four car garages…not necessary. Good on you for following your dream.

[lucatintor]

We need nice people like you in Italia, that really appreciated the beauty that this country offers, which is unique in the world.

[Transmissions]

My family is from Italy (my dad was born there and moved to states when he was young) and we do visit - or did visit often, prior to covid. It’s truly amazing what you can buy for little money. Your video series is truly inspirational. You picked a beautiful spot. I wish you many years of happiness and good fortune!

[NoNopeAndNo]

Not many people would share such detailed information as you have. Wonderful video, beautiful view and information. Wells done 👍😁

[mrcraftsmann]

The roof will be a real headache. I`ve done 2 old barns recently. Best sequence to do:
1.Remove stone slabs, put them away in sequence. Remove rafters, check them, clean them.
2.Build proper wall crown - smooth, even, with needed openings. Good you have stones for that. Finish crown with bitumen.
3.Lay new rafters, waterproof and insectproof them.
4.Lay thick water insulating foil on rafters.
5.Lay the stone slabs properly.
6.Fill space between rafters with mineral wool, holes with foam.
7.Put anti-steam insulation, so that wool and rafters would be between water and steam insulation.
8.Add planking form bottom.
My head spins thinking how much needed work has to be done with the roof alone, but I keep my fingers crossed for you.

[tastenschlager]

Dieser Mensch ist mir sehr sympathisch. Ich wünsche ihm viel Erfolg und Freude in den schönen und geheimnisvollen italienischen Alpen, in die ich selber unwiderruflich verliebt bin.

[tanyanosek]

I'm enjoying your videos, and looking forward to watching your journey from afar. I keep thinking how wonderfully lucky you were in your new neighbor, Johannes as well. You will be creating a parallel hermitage, and a different kind of personal journey on the North side of the mountain. I'm very interested to witness the life you will create. Thank you for doing this creation publicly. This is my favorite genre of modern storytelling- the video autobiography.

[martinwelsford]

These videos are probably the most engaging I have seen on Utube. Courage, tenacity, the ability to acknowledge when things have gone wrong, the mere fact that its a different country and the end goal of having achieved something from which most of us would shrink - marvellous ! What you learn on the way and the very great pleasure of this superb location are things you cant express in monetary terms. Really really uplifting.