If you’re one of the people who Googled “leaving the country” after the Nov. 5 U.S. election, you might want to look into an offer from Italy’s island of Sardinia, located in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ollolai, a commune nestled in mountains of Sardinia is offering Americans the chance to purchase a house for $1. According to the Live in Ollolai website, people worn out by global politics “looking to embrace a more balanced lifestyle” are welcome to move there.
“Nestled in pristine nature, surrounded by incredible cuisine, and immersed in a community with ancient traditions, in the rare Earth’s Blue Zone, Ollolai is the perfect destination to reconnect, recharge, and embrace a new way of life,” the site said, as of Nov. 20.
CNBC reported earlier this month that Google Trends showed searches related to “leaving the country” and “how to move to …” spiked after the election, which former President Donald Trump won against Vice President Kamala Harris. He ran on a platform that calls for a massive effort to deport illegal immigrants, tariffs on goods that don’t come from the U.S., potentially abolishing the Department of Education, and policies that would prevent transgender athletes from competing as the gender the identify with and more.
Additionally, CNBC said that searches for “how to move to Canada” peaked the day after the election, especially in Democratic like Vermont, Maine, Oregon and Washington. However, that searches might not mean that people actually intend to move.
A survey conducted this month by Casino.org found that 21% of all Americans would consider moving if their candidate didn’t win the election. It found that Canada was the top choice for those considering leaving the U.S., followed by the U.K., Japan, Australia and Italy.
CNBC noted that Japan launched a “Digital Nomad” visa earlier this year that allows for an up to six-month stay for employees of non-Japanese companies who make at least $65,330. Ollolai has also started up a digital nomad program. CNN reported that four Americans have been hosted in fully equipped dwellings “for a symbolic one euro,” and in return they had to create a project, such as art or a book.
Previously, CNN reported on Ollolai trying to beef up its population with $1 home offers going back to 2018. Per the outlet, Ollolai’s population has dwindled from 2,250 to 1,300 over the past century and only a handful of babies are born there every year. In recent years, the population has dropped even further – now it stands at 1,150 residents. Since 2018, just 10 $1 homes have been sold in the town and renovated.
“We just really want, and will focus on, Americans above all,” Ollolai Mayor Francesco Columbu told CNN Travel this week of the push to get people to move to the commune. “We can’t of course ban people from other countries to apply, but Americans will have a fast-track procedure. We are betting on them to help us revive the village, they are our winning card.”
Columbu said he loves the U.S. and thinks that Americans can turn around the commune’s economic fortunes. He also said that the village is offering three tiers of accommodation, including free temporary homes to “digital nomads,” one-euro homes in need of renovations. Americans from every demographic are encouraged to come.
In an article on $1 Italian homes published in The Independent last month, the outlet said: “You’re not buying a shiny new villa – houses selected for the scheme are often dilapidated and require major structural improvements.”
However, Ollolai’s recent offer includes ready-to-occupy houses for prices up to 105,000, CNN reported.
“Of course, we can’t specifically mention the name of one US president who just got elected, but we all know that he’s the one from whom many Americans want to get away from now and leave the country,” Columbo said, according to CNN.
To help people settle in, Columbu also said he set up a special team to guide interested buyers through the purchase process. This includes private tours of homes to help finding contractors and assistance with paperwork. Photos of available properties – there are around 100, according to Columbu – are soon expected to show up on the website.
“They’re picturesque old farmers’ and shepherds’ dwellings made from local granite rocks,” said CNN. “Some turnkey properties are even furbished and equipped with modern comforts.”
By this Tuesday, Ollolai had already received 38,000 requests for information about houses and most came from the U.S., said the mayor.
He added that the town hopes U.S. citizens can gather in Ollolai and work on projects.