From NYC to Abruzzo: A cash-built home and a life of community in Italy

An American couple leaves New York City for a small Abruzzo town, buying a cash-priced two-bedroom home (with renovations) for about €11,500 and relocating their family. The move enables a slower, more connected lifestyle with affordable living, flexible work, and a strong sense of community—despite bureaucratic quirks and living away from family. Their daughter will begin primary school in Italy this fall, and the family has embraced a life focused on relationships, local culture, and daily moments over material speed.