'You don't even get a car for $20k in California': Mom-of-three who bought three historic fixer-uppers in Sicily as part of the 'one euro home' scheme finally finishes developing her first home after four years

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A woman who bought three houses in Italy for just one euro each four years ago has finally finished work on one of her projects.

Rubia Daniels, 49, a solar consultant and business owner, flew out to Mussomeli, Sicily, within days of hearing about the 'one euro home' scheme - launched to help fill up abandoned properties - in 2019, making her one of the first to buy a house off the scheme.

She bought three run-down historic fixer-uppers - paying just three euros for them in total.

They are within 10 minutes' drive of each other, and needed 20,000 Euro ($22,000) worth of work each to restore them to their former glory.

She plans to turn the largest property into a wellness center, one into an art gallery, and live in the smallest with partner, Kenneth Pitts, 65, during their retirement.

A woman who bought three houses in Italy for just one euro each four years ago has finally finished work on one of her projects

She plans to turn the largest property into a wellness center, one into an art gallery, and live in the smallest with partner, Kenneth Pitts, 65, during their retirement

She plans to turn the largest property into a wellness center, one into an art gallery, and live in the smallest with partner, Kenneth Pitts, 65, during their retirement

Rubia Daniels, 49, a solar consultant and business owner, flew out to Mussomeli, Sicily, within days of hearing about the 'one euro home' scheme - launched to help fill up abandoned properties - in 2019, making her one of the first to buy a house off the scheme

Rubia Daniels, 49, a solar consultant and business owner, flew out to Mussomeli, Sicily, within days of hearing about the 'one euro home' scheme - launched to help fill up abandoned properties - in 2019, making her one of the first to buy a house off the scheme

She bought three run-down historic fixer-uppers - paying just three euros for them in total

Mussomeli in Sicily as seen on the world map

Rubia Daniels, a California resident, was one of the first people to buy a house in Mussomeli, Sicily, in spring 2019

The whole experience went so smoothly that the she ended up purchasing three houses: one for her, and the others for her kids

When she returned in the summer to start renovations, she traveled with her husband and brother-in-law, and on her third trip in December, she brought along a group of family and friends, some of whom promptly snapped up houses for themselves

Views of Mussomeli, Sicilia, Italy

Daniels hopes each house will be worth 30,000 Euro ($33,000) when renovated

Daniels hopes each house will be worth 30,000 Euro ($33,000) when renovated - but she she has no plans to sell what she considers is a 'very small investment' in her future.

Daniels, a project manager, from San Fransisco, California, US, but originally from Brazil, said: 'You get the property free basically and then it's expected you to spend 20,000 Euro ($22,000) to remodel the exterior.

'You don't even get a car for $20k in California - it's a very small investment.

'We have one mostly completed already when we go, and hopefully the second will be done by October.

'The third house, I haven't started yet, but that will be my biggest project. The roof is fully collapsed - but it will be so beautiful.

'I never felt overwhelmed or fearful about this project - it's a big task but a great opportunity.'

Italy's one Euro home scheme was launched in Sicily in 2019 as a way of helping to repopulate quiet areas where buildings have become disused and dilapidated.

The buildings are all fixer-uppers and require investment and hard work to bring them up to scratch.

When Daniels first got wind of the scheme the year it was launched, she was fascinated - and flew to Sicily to view properties just three days later.

By June 2019 she owned three neglected homes in Mussomeli, Sicily - a small town which reminded her of her own childhood growing up in Brazil.

She said: 'I packed all my tools, bought a generator and power washer ready to go - by then my partner was thinking 'this woman is nuts'.

'We went, and I flew my brother-in-law over from Brazil to help us with the renovation.'

They started on the smallest house first - which was in the best condition of the three and was in a liveable condition in no time.

For all the properties they plan to keep as much of the original features as possible, inside and out.

The pandemic ground things to a halt for two years - until Daniels finally managed to return to Sicily again in June 2022.

Since then, Daniels and her husband have flown over every few months to continue with renovations on the second property, which she hopes to turn into an art gallery.

Once done, she'll move onto the third property - which she said will be her biggest project.

Daniels, a mum-of-four, said: 'It's a four-floor corner building - it's so beautiful.

'It's all beautiful. When you go into the houses you feel the history, it's incredible - like going back in time.'

Daniels said partner Kenneth is 'very supportive' of the ambitious project.

She is able to jet to Sicily so frequently because her work is entirely remote.

Once fully furnished, Daniels plans to list the property on Airbnb for the months she is in the US - for some extra income.

She said: 'It was a fantastic new concept for me.

'I work in the environmental industry and to use what we already have where properties have been abandoned - it's a great opportunity.

'In Sicily the air is clean, the food is great - the place is just great.

'Mussomeli is a small town, but we still have hospitals, banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, bars, restaurants and a little area with boutiques.

'It's a small town but everything is in place, you don't have to go out of town for anything.

'It's only 40 minutes to the coast and there are plenty of archaeological sites to see as well.

'And in years to come I can pass the houses onto my children.

'All of this is possible because of the one euro programme.'