When a free-lance reporter from the NY Times emailed me last month and said she wanted to do a piece on the place we restored in Casperia, I was a bit doubious, even after checking out her bona fides. We ended up consenting to the interview, but it wasn't until they sent a photographer up from Rome when we were there last week that we began to realize they were really serious. Anyway, it's sort of cool:
Other than the "Roman" street we uncovered (is was a medieval street) and the bit about our retiring in 4-5 years (we will be working longer than that to be able to pay for the place) the article is pretty accurate. Especially about how beautiful the Sabina area north of Rome is. I only wish we could spend more time there than we do.
It ain't sort of cool, Chris, it's awesome!! Good for you guys!!
I think that in the prices they are referring to price per square meter, would that be correct? They don't spell it out, and some people might come there thinking they can get a place for a couple of thousand Euros (unless I am reading something incorrectly).
Wow - it really does seem like a beautiful dream! I'm definitely not showing this to my husband, because this is something he would definitely do in 10 years! Then again, maybe I will!
Bill, we may be going late July/early August next year. Maybe our paths will cross then and we can tip a few at Johnny Madge's place or Maureen's son's new wine bar.
Pauline, I did not ask if they'd print our URL because (i) seemed not the thing to do and (ii) while we rent our place out, I'm not sure we'd want to renit it out as much as might be generated by such an article. One reason we love listing it in Slow Trav--attracts the "right" kind of people.
Sophia1 - Go for it, now or later; whenever you are in a position to justify it to yourselves (not to others). We had to wait until our four kids graduated from college and we weren't acumulating more debt on their behalf, and we will have to work a few more years before we can retire, but I kept reading of people my age (59) or younger dropping dead for this or that reason and decided my obit wasn't going to list the things I talked about doing but never did.
The article says, "He estimates that, per square foot, a renovated space would sell for 2,000 euros to 2,500 euros, or $2,620 to $3,275, and a “fixer-upper” for 800 euros to 1,200 euros, or $1,050 to $1,570." Yikes!
Posts: 162 | Location: Campbell, California | Registered: 18 January 2005
WRONG! The editor screwed it up, according to the reporter, who says they are going to correct the error. It's per square meter (about 10.56 square feet, or thereabouts).
While I'd like to believe the quote from our realtor, I think the current prices he is quoted on are a bit high. Shop around and you'd be surprised at what may be available. Find the right builder and save even more.
That makes much more sense, and from the perspective of the hyper-inflated real estate prices of the San Francisco Bay Area, it practically seems like a bargain! Hmmmm, maybe I can afford to move to Italy...
Posts: 162 | Location: Campbell, California | Registered: 18 January 2005
That is a very cool story, Chris. And what a dream come true!
I was intrigued by the mention of the privately published book, Restoring Il Sogno. Did you write that, or was it the work of someone in the community?
The "privately published book" sounds hi-falutin' but it was nothing more than artistic license on the part of the reporter. The reality: a $35.00 photo-text book via Shutterfly.com.The only copy made is for guests staying in il Sogno so they can see what the place was like in its "before" state. Fun to do and share, but nothing like it sounded in the article.
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