30-year-old woman takes out $587,000 in loans for two houses and expects to earn $160,000 annually

At 30 years old, Alice is always working on a new real estate project. Despite leading a busy and fast-paced life, she dreamed of moving somewhere more peaceful. After experiencing a sense of calm while visiting a lake during a van trip, she decided to look for a home in a similar setting. In 2024, she began searching real estate listings.

She eventually found a 7.4-acre property with a private lake in the French region of Lot-et-Garonne. Although the original asking price was €398,000, (roughly $454,000) Alice successfully negotiated the purchase in 2026 for €370,000 (around $422,000), excluding notary fees and other closing costs. The property includes two homes: a 750-square-foot house where she lives and a larger 1,400-square-foot home.

Financing the purchase with help from social media

To finance the purchase, Alice secured a €300,000 ($342,000) bank loan. She also contributed her personal savings and received financial support from her family to cover renovation costs. When that still was not enough, she launched a crowdfunding campaign.

She arranged five-year loans with a 4% interest rate and raised €215,000 (about $245,000) from 47 investors. Many were friends or acquaintances, while others discovered the project through LinkedIn and Instagram.

Because she is naturally outgoing, Alice worried that living in such a remote natural setting might feel too isolating. As a result, she decided to turn her new home into a place that would not only generate income but also create opportunities to live and work alongside other people.

Multiple revenue streams

Alice plans to convert the 1,400-square-foot house into a retreat for entrepreneurs and artists looking for short-term stays ranging from a few days to as long as three months. She also rents out two floating cabins on the lake to vacationers and plans to add several smaller prefabricated homes across the property.

In addition, she intends to renovate an old agricultural hangar into a coworking space and venue for corporate retreats and business events.

During its first year of operation, Alice expects the business to generate approximately €40,000 (over $45,600) in revenue. Her projections are far more ambitious for 2028. Once the entire property is fully developed, she expects annual revenue to reach approximately €140,000 (nearly $160,000) from the shared accommodations, floating cabins, event space, and the additional homes she plans to build on the property.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.