A couple who bought a 'one euro' home in Italy have spent €400k transforming it into their dream home.
Massoud Ahmadi, 71, and his wife, Shelley, 61, bought an abandoned 18th century townhouse which was advertised for sale for one euro.
The property went to auction and the couple ended up paying just $10,500 (£8,400) for the two-bedroom property in January 2019.
The internal walls were crumbling and the rooms were packed full of old junk - including a retro pram.
Since purchasing the home, the couple have spent €400k on the project.
The townhouse is now double the size of the property when they bought it and features multiple terraces and views of the mountains.
Massoud, a semi-retired economist, from Montgomery County, Maryland, US, said: “Adding to the property means we had 250 square metres of space, and now we have 500, with multiple terraces and views of the mountains.
“I now have more bedrooms and bathrooms and terraces.
“I also have a garage which I desperately needed.
“The entire project so far has a combined cost of around €400,000 which includes lighting and furniture."
When Massoud and his wife bought the property back in January 2019 it was crumbing and described as "uninhabitable" three storey-property.
He “couldn’t fathom” renovating the property within a three year deadline imposed by the council - but pulled it off thanks to the help of local architects and artisans.
Massoud said: “The house was uninhabitable and I couldn’t really fathom handling the project because it was beyond my pay grade.
“I look at before and after photos and it’s incredible.
“My architect did a fantastic job and when I walked in for the first time I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“It takes a lot of patience but the end result is something I’ll enjoy for years. It’s a Renaissance house.
“We re-designed practically everything but we decided to retain and maintain the historic elements."
The recent extension on the home cost Masoud €40,000 and took almost a year to complete with renovations finishing in May 2024
Massoud and his wife are using the property as a "second home" and have been splitting their time between Sambuca di Sicilia and their home in Montgomery County, US.
Massoud said: “It is a legacy project which will stay in the family.
“It is a perfect hub for my family to rest and explore the rest of Europe.
“My children - one of them has kids and the other is single - so it is perfect for them to come here.”
Massoud is not looking to stop and enjoy the sunshine anytime soon.
He has plans for another expansion and he is interested in buying more property in the area.
Massoud said: “I am now looking to have my own orchard or vineyard.
“My friends are currently helping me with this, and I hope to have this acquired soon.
“We are hoping to acquire a minimum of five hectares (around 12.4 acres) to grow grapes, olives and fruits.”
Massoud says that the “natural beauty of the island” is one of the things he loves about Sicily.
Massoud Ahmadi, 71, and his wife, Shelley, 61, bought an abandoned 18th century townhouse which was advertised for sale for one euro.
The property went to auction and the couple ended up paying just $10,500 (£8,400) for the two-bedroom property in January 2019.
The internal walls were crumbling and the rooms were packed full of old junk - including a retro pram.
Since purchasing the home, the couple have spent €400k on the project.
The townhouse is now double the size of the property when they bought it and features multiple terraces and views of the mountains.
Massoud, a semi-retired economist, from Montgomery County, Maryland, US, said: “Adding to the property means we had 250 square metres of space, and now we have 500, with multiple terraces and views of the mountains.
“I now have more bedrooms and bathrooms and terraces.
“I also have a garage which I desperately needed.
“The entire project so far has a combined cost of around €400,000 which includes lighting and furniture."
When Massoud and his wife bought the property back in January 2019 it was crumbing and described as "uninhabitable" three storey-property.
He “couldn’t fathom” renovating the property within a three year deadline imposed by the council - but pulled it off thanks to the help of local architects and artisans.
Massoud said: “The house was uninhabitable and I couldn’t really fathom handling the project because it was beyond my pay grade.
“I look at before and after photos and it’s incredible.
“My architect did a fantastic job and when I walked in for the first time I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“It takes a lot of patience but the end result is something I’ll enjoy for years. It’s a Renaissance house.
“We re-designed practically everything but we decided to retain and maintain the historic elements."
The recent extension on the home cost Masoud €40,000 and took almost a year to complete with renovations finishing in May 2024
Massoud and his wife are using the property as a "second home" and have been splitting their time between Sambuca di Sicilia and their home in Montgomery County, US.
Massoud said: “It is a legacy project which will stay in the family.
“It is a perfect hub for my family to rest and explore the rest of Europe.
“My children - one of them has kids and the other is single - so it is perfect for them to come here.”
Massoud is not looking to stop and enjoy the sunshine anytime soon.
He has plans for another expansion and he is interested in buying more property in the area.
Massoud said: “I am now looking to have my own orchard or vineyard.
“My friends are currently helping me with this, and I hope to have this acquired soon.
“We are hoping to acquire a minimum of five hectares (around 12.4 acres) to grow grapes, olives and fruits.”
Massoud says that the “natural beauty of the island” is one of the things he loves about Sicily.
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FunTranscript
00:00The new and improved Shelby's house.
00:24Here is the light well, the brand new glass.
00:52The bathroom.
00:59One bedroom.
01:12Shelby's office.
01:32This is the cortile with the stonework around here and by the
02:02way, the main door.
02:09I think that's about it for now until we return in January and see the final product.
02:27Work in progress, everything is looking good.
02:34Much improved.
02:35It's not a natural stone, it's artificial.
02:55That's the first floor, so we're thinking this will be open, the stairway and that will
03:22be like a sitting area and then there will be a bedroom in the back and then we go up
03:29here.
03:30The master bedroom.
03:31We have to keep this which is the stairway but maybe as a closet and then this is a nice
03:42balcony.
03:43This light, there's a little nest up there or something.
03:44So this is floor number two.
03:45And then we go up another set of stairs.
03:46We're thinking this will curve around.
03:47Bathroom.
03:48This would be the kitchen.
03:49So this narrow spot here.
03:50This would be the kitchen.
03:51This would be the kitchen.
03:52This would be the kitchen.
03:53This would be the kitchen.
03:54This would be the kitchen.
03:55This would be the kitchen.
03:56This would be the kitchen.
03:57This would be the kitchen.
03:58This would be the kitchen.
03:59This would be the kitchen.
04:00This would be the kitchen.
04:01This would be the kitchen.
04:02This would be the kitchen.
04:03This would be the kitchen.
04:04This would be the kitchen.
04:05This would be the kitchen.
04:06This would be the kitchen.
04:07This would be the kitchen.
04:08This would be the kitchen.
04:09So this narrow spot here.
04:10So this narrow spot here.
04:11So this narrow spot here.
04:12So this narrow spot here.
04:13So this narrow spot here.
04:14So this narrow spot here.
04:15So this narrow spot here.
04:16So this narrow spot here.
04:17So this narrow spot here.
04:18So this narrow spot here.
04:19So this narrow spot here.
04:20So this narrow spot here.
04:21So this narrow spot here.
04:22So this narrow spot here.
04:23So this narrow spot here.
04:24So this narrow spot here.
04:25So this narrow spot here.
04:26So this narrow spot here.
04:27So this narrow spot here.
04:28So this narrow spot here.
04:29So this narrow spot here.
04:30So this narrow spot here.
04:31So this narrow spot here.
04:32So this narrow spot here.
04:33So this narrow spot here.
04:34So this narrow spot here.
04:35So this narrow spot here.
04:36And I'm gonna jump up and show you.
04:41Okay.
04:42And this would be the view from the terrace.
04:46So you'd see the lake.
04:49And you'd see the hills and the wind turbines.
04:54And then this would be removed.
04:57And so would be the terrace area.
05:00So,
05:02design the way, Tala.
05:03Bye!