Property Description

Two-bedroom Property to Renovate in Collesano, with Panoramic Balconies and Incredible Potential

The majority of the real estate available in the lovely hillside town of Collesano is in the newer area of the town, a long strip of mostly parallel roads following the line of the nearby hill. However, at the top of the town is a fascinating little old town, surrounding the castle which was the first large scale construction in this area, back in the twelfth century.

Right on the edge of this historic nucleus of Collesano is Casetta Lucia, built on the last road of the town. The views from its twin balconies are pure natural beauty, with a long flat valley extending out to the west, and sliding slowly downhill to the Tyrrhenian coast at Campofelice. The sea itself is visible in the distance, 10km away and around 500m downhill. At your back are the hills of the fabulous Madonie Natural Park.

There is some renovation work to be done to return the two bedroom house to its best condition. However, for a total spend of around €100,000, the successful purchaser will be able to savour a heavenly view from a quiet corner of one of the friendliest and most unexpectedly international communities in Sicily.

With golden sandy beaches twenty minutes’ drive in one direction and snow-capped mountains just up the road in the other, the location is a dream come true for lovers of the outdoor life. And of course, the legendary Sicilian dolce vita mentality is on full display everywhere you look – good food, good friends and a healthy work-life balance the cornerstones of the rich, beguiling culture.

Let’s take a closer look at one of the best-value examples of a property to renovate in Collesano.

The Property

The main entrance of Casetta Lucia is on Via Guggino, with a facade finished in characteristic sandy-coloured plaster. A side entrance leads directly into the kitchen to the right hand side. There is some discolouration to the plaster in patches, and you can see that the roof will need some careful attention, but overall the facade is in good condition for a Sicilian house of its age.

Through the front door, a long entrance hallway is finished with marble tiles. Off this open three rooms, a master bedroom, a guest bedroom and a dining room. Turning right into the last of these we are in a smallish room with the same floor, although the ceiling is now wooden rather than the white plaster of the hallway. You can pass through into the kitchen, large enough to prepare any meals you need in comfort. The fittings are rather dated, but can of course be replaced

On the other side of the dining room, the lounge is designed around the roomy balcony, and with excellent reason. From this vantage point you have an uninterrupted view of tens of kilometres of hillside pastures flecked with olive trees and other sub-tropical foliage. As the land in front of you has been covenanted for green-field use, you can buy in the absolute certainty that this view will be protected for as long as Casetta Lucia is in your family.

The master bedroom next door has an identical balcony, guaranteeing you a quietly exhilarating start to any day. Even the bathroom has a window onto the same beautiful landscape.

Back at the front of the house, off the hallway to the left and with a window onto the street, is a room which is currently used as a storeroom. This could make a practical office space, or a cosy den.

Upstairs, the second bathroom is a longish, narrow space with a bathtub, reached through a tiled utility room with a big sink in the corner. On the other side of the house, a second bedroom is also being under-used at present for miscellaneous storage. It has the spectacular valley view, giving it great potential if nicely redecorated and furnished.

In the basement, accessed from the street behind the house, there is a large, high-ceilinged storeroom in a triangular shape, and a smaller one off this.

The house is served by the municipal connections for water, electricity and sewage. Heating comes from methane cylinders which need to be purchased and changed manually. We will talk in a moment about the work which a prospective buyer should be prepared to take on, but for now we can note that the floors are in good condition throughout, the external doors are sturdy and the windows have wooden frames, although at present only single glazing. Shutters are present throughout and in good condition.

Surroundings

Collesano is a beautiful little town with around five thousand inhabitants, twenty minutes’ drive from the sandy beaches of Lascari and Campofelice, and half an hour from the fabulous sea front of Cefalù.

Founded around a twelfth century castle, which is just around the corner from Casetta Lucia, he town boomed at the turn of the twentieth century, as a noted centre for the production of the highest quality ceramics, especially majolica tiles. This industry faded over the following decades, but some enterprising young workshops have been rediscovering the historic craft, using original production methods and producing some outstanding products.

It is also noteworthy as the home of the Targa Florio motor race, the very first car rally in the world. Since 1906, racing vehicles have made their way around the town and its surrounding hills, making the region a pilgrimage for lovers of motor sport history, and giving rise to a museum in the centre of Collesano.

The town is surprisingly international, despite a high proportion of its residents having lived here for their entire lives. Falling house prices over the past ten years, plus a location which is both rural and peaceful but conveniently close to Cefalù and Palermo, have brought buyers from, amongst other places, the UK, USA, France, Germany and Switzerland. These new residents, although far from isolated from the local population, have formed an active and semi-organised band of international friends, regularly holding dinner events, organising excursions and often to be found meeting for a casual coffee in one of the towns bars or piazzas.

Casetta Lucia stands just 20 metres away from the beautiful church of San Giacomo and right on the boundary of the medieval part of the village. The twelfth century castle of the Ventimiglia family is currently being renovated, with huge public investment already committed to the neighbourhood over the next few years. Real estate here will almost certainly appreciate in value.

Potential

Casetta Lucia is in a fair condition overall, but there are certainly some elements of this property to renovate. In Collesano this is typical, but the potential of the finished property is above average, thanks to the position in the old town and the incredible view.

Our survey identified a structural weakness which runs from the roof to the foundation. This will require taking the roof off the property, and putting a belt around the walls, with a bonding girder in place to strengthen the walls. Obviously this will require a good deal of time, but the cost, considering the dramatic nature of the project, will not be impossible. Our surveyor estimates the total cost at around €25,000.

You will need to spend around €10,000 to correctly refresh the electrical water and heating installations. Adding double glazing would give a far more insulation, saving you money in the long run. It should be possible, if you move quickly, to take advantage of the final year of the ‘EcoBonus’ subsidy for green home improvements to reduce the cost of this step.

This idea is of course optional, but if we were buying the house and knew that we had to remake the roof, we would take advantage of that gorgeous panorama to the fullest possible extent, and build a roof terrace. It’s lovely to have that view from the living room and bedroom, but the temptation to create a spot where the sun shines all day long and there is space to eat al fresco meals with the backdrop of your dreams.

Our final suggestion would be to knock through the walls from the kitchen into the dining room and from the dining room into the living room. Not only would this create a larger, more organic space in which to congregate, light coming in from the balcony and the window in the dining room would travel down to the kitchen, which currently only gets natural light when the side door is  open.

In the hands of a capable architect, a complete renovation of Casetta Lucia could be realised for about €70-100,000. We are very well-placed to offer support to this project, with many glowing testimonials available from former clients whom we have continued to assist well after the ink has dried on their purchase contract.

Our unique range of after-sale services includes project management on any scale, but also more personalised touches like notarised translation, help registering your residency, getting utility bills in your name and even finding a reliable mobile phone provider.