Entire deserted villages in Spain can be bought for less than the price of a London flat.
Xerdiz in Spain’s north westerly Galicia region is on the market for just £369,000, while El Mortorio in Asturias can be snapped up for £1.6m.
The villages are just two of the thousands to have succumbed to the ‘España vacía’ – or empty Spain – phenomenon, which has seen areas abandoned as young people leave in search of work in cities.
Such movement is also common in Italy, where it has led to homes being offered up for as little as 85p in a bid to entice people to move to the areas.
Entire deserted villages in Spain can be bought for less than the price of a London flat. Xerdiz (pictured) in Spain’s north westerly Galicia region is on the market for just £369,000
The charming hamlet lies near Spain’s northern coast, about four hours from the city of León
The five-hectare estate encompasses a main 1,700sqft building with three floors along with an old schoolhouse, which is being converted into homes, a barn, and other properties
The charming hamlet of Xerdiz lies near Spain’s northern coast, about four hours from the city of León.
The five-hectare estate encompasses a main 1,700sqft building with three floors along with an old schoolhouse, which is being converted into homes, a barn, and other properties.
Nestled in a quiet valley, the buildings offer stunning views of the nearby mountains and there is a beach 12 miles away.
Xerdiz is ideal for ‘a group of people who want to adopt a quiet and self-sufficient life, close to nature,’ the Galician Country Homes property website reads
Xerdiz is ideal for ‘a group of people who want to adopt a quiet and self-sufficient life, close to nature,’ the Galician Country Homes property website reads.
It added that the property could also function around a tourism, livestock or hospitality business.
Three hours east by car is the village of El Mortorio, which is also for sale.
The picturesque hamlet includes 12 buildings and more than 20 plots of buildable land with mountain views all around.
Many of the buildings are set up as holiday homes, with 48 bed spaces in total.
The price has also been slashed by more than 20 per cent, as the village first appeared on the market for £2m.
The picturesque hamlet of El Morterio in the northern Asturias region is on the market for £1.6m
The village includes 12 buildings and more than 20 plots of buildable land with mountain views all around
Many of the buildings are set up as holiday homes, with 48 bed spaces in total and two more buildings that could be renovated
Just 10km away from the market town of Infiesto and 20km from the coast, the village has the potential to be further developed into ‘a superior holiday experience,’ the Iberia North real estate website reads.
A ten-year high in house buying in the UK prompted a surge in prices during the pandemic.
The average price of a house in the UK is now £513,997, according to government figures from November which put the cost of buying a flat in London at £442,304.
El Morterio’s price has been slashed by more than 20 per cent, as the village first appeared on the market for £2m
The village is located just 10km away from the market town of Infiesto and 20km from the coast
El Morterio has the potential to be further developed into ‘a superior holiday experience,’ the Iberia North real estate website reads
As with some of the homes selling for 85p in Italy, a number of the properties in Xerdiz and El Montorio require some renovations to be carried out by any prospective owner.
Some of the homes on sale in Italy include caveats such as mandatory building deposits and deadlines for restoration to be completed.
It is not clear if this is also the case for the Spanish hamlets.