A couple spends almost $160,000 on a house ‘sight unseen’ and couldn’t set foot in it until 3 years later

A Houston couple thought they had landed the perfect real-estate deal – a historic mansion in northern Italy for $160,000 – but it quickly unraveled into a costly, bureaucratic ordeal. The Liberty-style home from the 1930s had charmed them with its architecture, soaring ceilings and mountain views. They imagined it as a “second European residence” for weekend escapes. Yet on their first walk-through, they found major flaws: broken tiles, outdated utilities and a gas-powered water heater hanging off the kitchen wall, along with ancient plumbing hidden in a bedroom closet.

John Alan Ambrose and his wife, Vicky, told CNN Travel that the renovation quickly became a maze of hurdles. “First the language barrier, then the quotes that shifted like seasons,” she said, describing contractors who vanished and appointments that stretched into uncertainty. “Some held our money for nearly a year with excuses and delays.” What could have taken months in the US dragged on for nearly three years, forcing Vicky to make repeated trips to keep progress from stalling.

The challenges extended beyond construction. “Many Italian tradesmen did not give detailed bids,” John said, noting that despite their experience with real estate, “many suppliers in Biella wanted to overcharge.” Because the building sits in a historic center, even simple upgrades required official approval. As John explained, “We had to show the windows wouldn’t affect the façade and get the condo association’s blessing.”

After investing about $174,000, they ended up with an apartment of roughly 280 m² — more than 3,000 sq ft — with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It now works as a vacation home after adding air conditioning, refinishing floors, redoing kitchens and bathrooms, replacing wiring and plumbing and even turning an old plumbing closet into a guest shower.

Today the couple uses the home as a base for long European stays, ski trips and travel across the continent. Locals often ask why they chose Biella — a question Vicky anticipated. “On my first trip there, I really liked the vibe,” she said. “It felt safe, a small city close to airports, with beautiful surroundings at the gateway to the Alps.”

Adjusting to the Italian rhythm has been slower. “We find it hard to slow down or relax,” John admitted, noting the shorter shop hours and long midday closures. Still, they plan to visit several times a year, often during ski season or over Thanksgiving.

One option they dismissed early was a one-euro home. “Generally, you get what you pay for,” John said. “It likely is too good to be true.” Piedmont, calm and Alpine, matched their lifestyle far better. After years in Barbados and nearly two decades with a ski home in Canada, they realised how much they missed the mountains. As John put it, “Vicky can spend over 100 days a year on the slopes.”

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