Escape the High Costs: A Family's Ultimate Bargain - Their Dream Italian Home!

The increasing expense of living in America has taken a toll on households in recent years, as numerous struggle to manage their finances. One American family has grown so disheartened by this predicament that they have opted to relocate their lives to a town located in the southern region of Italy.

Cost of living impact

Chris and Jennifer Tidroski from Prescott, Arizona have become part of the increasing group of American citizens who have purchased a dilapidated property in a sparsely populated Italian village at an incredibly low price, all in pursuit of a more relaxed and unhurried lifestyle.

Chris and Jennifer Tidroski purchased a €26,000 home in a building in the village of Latronico, Italy after becoming frustrated with life in the US.

The Tidroskis bought a house in Latronico's historical district in Basilicata, Southern Italy, in 2021 for 26,000 euros (approximately $27,274). They have since invested an additional 50,000 euros ($52,450) in its renovation.

Chris Tidroski, a 49-year-old former osteopath who now teaches bowling, expresses his desire to relocate in the near future, once their house is prepared and they obtain their visa. Joined by their seven-year-old daughter, Lidia, the couple's primary motivation for this move is to secure a brighter future. According to them, the escalating cost of living, particularly in terms of healthcare expenses, has made it increasingly challenging to sustain their lifestyle in the US.

After inheriting a 900-year-old Italian castle, her family now resides in it. Let's take a closer look at what it's like to live there. Despite their experience in the industry, they have witnessed a significant increase in costs over the past decade and hold little optimism for future improvements.

Chris cites the political polarization in the US as a key reason for their choice to move to Italy, expressing their discontent with the current political climate and the absence of a moderate stance.

Being able to rediscover his Italian roots proved to be a catalyst for change in Chris's life. His great-grandfather had ventured to the United States in the late 1800s from a charming village close to Latronico.

Bargain property

The couple with their daughter Lidia, the town's deputy mayor Vincenzo Castellano, far right and his assistant Mariangela Tortorella.

In 2021, the Tidroski family embarked on a journey to Latronico, driven by their curiosity about the town's housing scheme. Intrigued by the online platform, Your House in Latronico, created by local authorities to connect sellers with potential buyers, they hoped to attract expats to this charming hilltop destination.

Jennifer, a 37-year-old osteopath, explains that they chose Latronico for their house purchase based on its advertisement. The concept of buying a property overseas had never crossed their minds before, but they were enticed by the program and pleasantly surprised by the affordable prices. After visiting several properties in the town, they ultimately decided on a 125-square-meter, two-bedroom house with a parcel of land, conveniently accessible by car through the old district.

The sale process had no unfortunate surprises and went very smoothly, says Chris, who flew to Italy to sign the paperwork later that year.

This American family opened a restaurant in Italy

After buying their Italian residence, the couple has improved the flooring and rejuvenated the kitchen, dining area, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Furthermore, they have installed new roof tiles, a heating system, air conditioning, modernized the plumbing, and repainted the exterior walls with a glossy yellow color.

The Tidroskis are stating that the renovation project has exceeded their initial expectations in terms of duration, primarily due to a scarcity of builders in Italy.

In the last three years, households in Italy have been granted government-approved tax credits of up to 110% for environmentally friendly improvements, resulting in a widespread surge of renovation activities throughout the country.

Renovation delay

They've spent around 50,000 euros on renovations to the two-bedroom home. But the work has taken longer to complete than they expected.

Chris Tidroski

Chris expressed his frustration, stating, "We were instructed to simply wait in line." Despite the costs exceeding their initial estimate, the Tidroskis acknowledged that acquiring a comparable house in the US would have been unaffordable.

The couple has decided against pursuing a license to practice as osteopaths due to the difficulty of getting accepted by the Italian board of physicians. However, Jennifer intends to establish a practice specializing in alternative medicine, specifically non-Western energy medicine. This field does not necessitate an Italian board exam, making her the pioneering practitioner in Latronico.

content: According to Deputy Mayor Vincenzo Castellano, Latronico is currently without an osteopath, making Jennifer's practice highly anticipated among the elderly residents.

After purchasing a budget-friendly property in Italy, they decided to acquire another one.

Jennifer expresses her fondness for the architecture and quaint ambiance of Latronico, expressing regret for not being able to spend more time there. The sight of people strolling to local establishments like the bakery and butcher, pausing for espresso, and engaging in conversations with one another on the streets is a charming experience absent from her own community in the United States.

The Tidroskis recently sold their home in Arizona and are currently residing in a condo as they make arrangements for their relocation to Latronico. However, this transition has been anything but smooth. Alongside the language barrier, the visa process has emerged as their primary challenge.

Chris says that obtaining an elective residency visa (ERV) has been difficult for them. The ERV is a long-stay permit for non-EU citizens, and it requires couples to have a passive income of 38,000 euros (approximately $39,850) annually. They have explored other options but none seem feasible.

"For instance, if you donate some 2 million euros to Italys artistic heritage it would make the cut."

New beginnings

The Tidroskis are temporarily living in a condo while they prepare to relocate to their newly-renovated Italian home.

Chris Tidroski

Hes recently embarked on a search to prove his Basilicata origins, with the help of Castellano, in order to apply for Italian citizenship by descent.

Chris has been gathering important documents about his ancestors. He has been tracing a trail of paperwork to locate the birth certificates of his great-great grandfather. These certificates are typically stored in regional register offices, and Chris is hoping to establish a connection to his great-great grandfather through his mother's birth certificate. Although Chris's mother was Italian, his father had Polish-Lithuanian heritage.

Historically, register offices were not available in the remote parts of Italy. Therefore, older birth certificates are typically found in parishes, monasteries, and convents.

"Luckily Castellano knows several places where I can get access to all this information," he says.

"The more my ancestry line dates back, higher are the chances of claiming my roots."

This family is moving to Italy because theyve had enough of the US

He admits that he wishes hed done more research into this process of obtaining residency in Italy earlier on.

Chris advises people who want to relocate to Italy to ensure that they have a clear understanding of the process of attaining citizenship and acquiring a visa, as this may be a potential obstacle.

"Prior to purchasing the house, it is advisable to have a well-thought-out plan and carefully explore different alternatives to prevent potential complications."

He explains that purchasing a house does not automatically confer residency rights. Remaining in Italy for more than 90 days out of 180 is prohibited without a visa. Despite the obstacles they have encountered, the couple expresses their complete admiration for Latronico and eagerly anticipate commencing their lives in the town, regardless of the timeframe required.

"We love the pace of living here… the afternoon siesta, the fresher, healthy veggies and fruits, and the delicious butcher shop close to our house," says Chris.