Couple bought a four-storey house in Italy for the price of a Mars Bar

For most people, the prospect of owning their own home is somewhere between zero and never.

So, when Jeffrey Pfefferle and his partner Leon McNaught heard about there was a €1 property on the market in Italy, they thought it would be perfect for them.

After reading about the bargain deal back in 2019, the couple jumped at the chance to buy a place together.

Jeffrey Pfefferle

And two years later, they ended up buying not one but two homes in Mussomeli, Sicily, for a combined price of just €32,000 (£27,651).

Speaking to CNN Travel about their gamble, Jeffrey said it wasn't without its troubles.

"We really fought for it from the start, and it changed everything in our lives," he said.

"At Rome Airport, I went into panic mode when we missed the gate for the Palermo flight – luckily we were able to catch another plane later that same day."

But when they finally arrived in Mussomeli, he and Leon were blown away and snapped up a fully-furnished house, which came with antique furniture and glass chandeliers, and set them back just €30,000 (£27,650).

Not content with just that, though, they then bought another property in the centre of the town for the price of a Mars bar.

Jeffrey added: "It’s been gutted [by the previous owners] and our architect says it’s an easy fix, a blank canvas.

"The electrics are fine, and the plumbing is done."

And as well as the cheap housing, living in the Mediterranean can't hurt either.

"It’s a place that offers a quality of life that predominantly values people above money," Jeffrey said.

Jeffrey Pfefferle

"A place that embraces a slower pace, giving more priority to the important things.

“We are surrounded by a community that have shown us extreme caring and kindness.

"It’s a place that has taught us that time is our utmost prized possession and that time is meant for living, and living it to the fullest with those we love and care about.”

The couple have had to acclimatise to the Italian way of life, though, which is a touch different to what they're used to.

“Everything is slower compared to the US timeline," Jeffrey said.

"Don’t expect a repair overnight, it takes longer but if something really is not working, and is crucial like heating, then locals are super-fast and extremely available."

But he says it's a very tight-knit community.

Adding: "Neighbors also help each other in the US but in Mussomeli there’s a different way to look out for others – like it used to be in the past.”