A house for
€1
Sounds too good to be true?
The first municipalities in Germany are offering vacant
houses with land for a symbolic
€1.
This website presents current €1 houses, including property
details and direct contact information.
What are €1 houses?
A concept being implemented by some rural municipalities – and now attracting interest in Germany as well.
🤔 The principle is simple
Municipalities in rural areas sell vacant houses for the symbolic price of €1. The aim is to attract new residents, revitalise town centres and counter population decline.
The buyer commits to renovating the house within the period agreed with the municipality. Depending on the individual project, additional requirements concerning future use or owner-occupation may apply.
The required renovation work is discussed with the buyer in advance, recorded in the purchase contract and legally binding. Renovations can quickly become expensive, so the final cost of the house is not just €1. However, grants, personal labour and careful planning can help keep the project financially manageable.
Similar schemes have already been implemented successfully in other countries. Germany is now seeing its first projects in individual municipalities.
Benefits and drawbacks
For €1, you will not receive a house that is ready to move into. Considerable time and money may be needed to make it habitable. For the right people, however, it can be the beginning of a new life.
✅ The benefits
- Exceptionally low purchase price of just €1
- The purchase includes both the house and its plot of land
- Distinctive properties with character and history
- No estate agent’s commission is payable, as the sale is handled directly by the relevant municipality
- Direct contact with the municipal authority selling the property
- Potential eligibility for grants or other funding
- Living in attractive natural surroundings
- A strong community and welcoming local culture
- Opportunity to build equity through your own work
- Sustainable: preserving an existing building instead of constructing a new one
⚠️ The drawbacks
- Renovation costs can be high, depending on the property, its condition and your plans
- Renovation may take a long time, particularly if you carry out part of the work yourself
- All applicable planning, building and safety regulations must still be observed
- Buyers should inspect the property thoroughly, but additional defects may only become apparent after purchase
- The contract may require the buyer to occupy the property for several years
- Rural locations may have more limited infrastructure and transport connections
- If all work is carried out by contractors, the finished market value may be lower than the total amount invested
Which municipalities offer €1 houses?
Here you can find German municipalities currently offering €1 houses.
What you need to know
Honest answers to the most important questions about the €1-house model.
Does the house really cost only €1?
Yes, the purchase price is genuinely only €1. However, you should expect substantial renovation costs. The €1 purchase price is therefore symbolic.
Who can apply?
In principle, interested buyers can apply. The relevant municipality sets the exact requirements. Applicants usually need to submit a renovation plan and commit to renovating and occupying the property within the agreed period. Young families and skilled tradespeople may be particularly well suited to projects of this kind.
How long does the renovation take?
This depends on the property and the municipality's requirements. The completion timeframe is agreed with the municipality and then recorded in the purchase contract. Allow sufficient time and a financial contingency for unexpected problems.
Are grants or subsidies available?
Please investigate this before starting work: funding programmes differ between federal states, municipalities and national schemes. Not every programme is available to every applicant, and eligibility depends on the programme and individual circumstances. It is nevertheless worth asking specifically about possible funding.
What is the role of 1-Euro-Haus.de?
We are an independent information portal – not an estate agent or property seller. Our aim is to raise awareness of the €1-house model in Germany and present relevant properties. The information about the properties shown has been supplied by the respective municipalities and is non-binding. If you are interested, please contact the municipality named in the property description directly.
Is the website free to use?
Yes. You can visit our website and view current properties at any time. No registration or subscription is required. Municipalities are not charged either. We finance the service through clearly labelled advertising and sales of our independent guide.
Is there anything else?
We would be delighted to help people find a home, reduce vacant property and strengthen local communities.
The ultimate
€1-house guide
Our own independent guide: your compass for a fresh start.
The complete digital guide
Not only for Nordhalben, but for €1-house projects throughout Germany and Europe.
Total price including statutory VAT. No shipping or freight charges apply.
- Approximately 100 pages with explanations and clearly structured tables
- Step-by-step guidance on making contact and applying
- Checklist for property viewings
- Information about financing and possible funding
- Guidance on assessing a property realistically
- Overview of possible obligations for buyers
- Digital edition supplied as a PDF in A5 format
- Available in German or English
- Payment by PayPal or bank transfer
- Delivery of the English edition by email after payment has been confirmed, not before 15 October 2026
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The contract is concluded only when we send our order confirmation. You will then receive the payment information by email.
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Ready for a
fresh start?
Your €1 house could be waiting for you. Start exploring now.