Press & Media

One euro. One house. One plot. Nordhalben tries a new model

Following WORK.LAND.LIFE, Nordhalben is providing another boost in the fight against vacant property.

Nordhalben/Hof, 11 September 2026 – One euro for a house – with the plot included. What may sound like a joke at first is a genuine offer in Nordhalben, a municipality in Upper Franconia in northern Bavaria, Germany. The municipality is selling two vacant houses it owns for one euro each, including their plots.

Not a sell-off, but a strategy

Behind the unusual price is a new municipal approach to dealing with vacant property. By selling the houses, the municipality aims to bring vacant buildings back into permanent use and attract new residents to the town. It is looking for people who want to renovate, invest and stay. The offer is therefore aimed at applicants with a sound renovation, financing and use plan.

The purchase price of one euro is fixed. The municipality of Nordhalben alone decides on applications, viewings, the selection of buyers and the sale. The conditions for renovation and future use are agreed between the municipality and the future owners and set out in the contract. First Mayor Michael Wunder is personally involved in marketing the properties. The municipality is the direct point of contact for binding information. The houses are presented on 1-Euro-Haus.de.

There is more than one answer to vacancy

Nordhalben is not relying on a single measure. Not every building that has stood empty for years can be preserved at a reasonable cost. In the past, the municipality has demolished individual older houses and used the freed-up areas to open up the densely built town centre and create space for greenery. These open spaces improve the living environment, reduce sealed surfaces and help densely built areas heat up less during hot summers.

But demolition is only one answer. Where location, building fabric and development potential allow, older houses should now be given a new future. This is precisely where the €1-house model comes in.

Work where others go on holiday

Nordhalben brings living and working together. Nordwald Space offers modern coworking and coliving facilities with fibre-optic internet in the heart of the town. Workstations and meeting rooms provide suitable conditions for companies to operate in the Franconian Forest and allow self-employed people and freelancers to live and work there.

The WORK.LAND.LIFE – Landleben auf Probe project is aimed at people who would like to try living and working in a rural area for a limited period. Individuals can stay in apartments for several weeks, work at Nordwald Space and experience everyday life in Nordhalben. One former trial resident shows that this can lead to a long-term future: after his stay, he decided to move to Nordhalben permanently. Companies and teams can also book accommodation for one or more weeks and use their stay for collaborative work, workshops or team building.

A setting that supports families

Anyone considering a move to Nordhalben is choosing more than a house; they are choosing an entire living environment. The town has a primary school and kindergarten, both important facilities for families with children. Clubs, cultural activities and volunteering shape community life.

Nordwaldhalle is one of the region's largest sports and event venues. The natural swimming pool provides an additional leisure option during the summer months. The forests of the Franconian Forest and the Ködeltalsperre reservoir are right on the doorstep.

Nature as a municipal responsibility

Protecting biodiversity also plays a special role in Nordhalben. The municipality was one of ten Bavarian model municipalities in the “Marktplatz der biologischen Vielfalt” project and developed its own municipal biodiversity strategy. Nature, biodiversity and municipal development are considered together.

The model: many theme islands, one goal

Nordhalben brings the theme islands described above together into an overall concept. This combination of different approaches fits Nordhalben's established identity as a town with a long tradition of bobbin lacemaking: just as individual threads come together through their interaction to form a larger whole, housing, work, education, digital infrastructure, nature, leisure and community connect here. Step by step, they create a shared plan for the future.

“Nordhalben does not think in just one direction. It takes new paths and combines different approaches into a coherent overall concept. The €1-house model is another building block within it. We at 1-Euro-Haus.de hope that the two houses will find people who are ready to get involved, stay for the long term and help shape Nordhalben,” says Jürgen Klausmann, editorial lead for 1-Euro-Haus.de.

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Press contact

Jürgen Klausmann
Editorial lead for 1-Euro-Haus.de
TOGETHER GmbH
Albert-Einstein-Straße 1
95028 Hof, Germany
Phone: +49 9267 914 2990
Email: info@1-euro-haus.de
Website: https://1-euro-haus.de/en/

About Nordhalben

Nordhalben is located in the Upper Franconian district of Kronach in northern Bavaria, Germany. Set in the Franconian Forest, the municipality combines living close to nature with local facilities, extensive volunteering and modern options for working remotely.

About 1-Euro-Haus.de

1-Euro-Haus.de is an independent information portal run by TOGETHER GmbH in Hof, Germany. The portal covers municipal €1-house projects, participating municipalities and available buildings. It is neither an estate agent nor a seller. All binding property information, viewings, application procedures and sales are the responsibility of the relevant municipality.

Further information

• Municipality of Nordhalben
• WORK.LAND.LIFE – Landleben auf Probe
• Nordwald Space
• 1-Euro-Haus.de

One euro for a house and its plot

Nordhalben in Bavaria is offering two vacant houses for a symbolic purchase price – 1-Euro-Haus.de presents the project.

Nordhalben/Hof, 11 September 2026 – A house with its own plot for one euro: what may seem hard to imagine is becoming a reality in Nordhalben, an Upper Franconian municipality in northern Bavaria, Germany. The municipality is offering two vacant houses in the town centre for a symbolic purchase price of one euro each. The information portal 1-Euro-Haus.de provides detailed information about Nordhalben, the two houses and the background to the project.

Nordhalben focuses on revival rather than vacancy

Vacant buildings that are increasingly falling into disrepair present major challenges for many rural municipalities. They harm the townscape, affect neighbouring properties and can lead to high costs in the long term. At the same time, older houses often contain valuable building fabric and are a visible part of local history.

Nordhalben is located in the Kronach district of northern Bavaria and is part of the Franconian Forest region. The municipality has been working for years to revitalise its town centre and find new uses for vacant buildings. By offering these two houses, it is now taking another unusual step in tackling vacancy.

Two houses – one symbolic purchase price

Nordhalben is the first municipality to be featured on 1-Euro-Haus.de with two vacant houses owned by the municipality:

1. A historic semi-detached house with around 110 square metres of living space and a plot of approximately 140 square metres. The building requires extensive renovation.
2. Another historic semi-detached house with a comparable living area and a plot of around 200 square metres. The renovation requirements are particularly extensive.

The symbolic purchase price can help draw attention to buildings that would struggle to find new owners on the conventional property market. For the municipality, this creates an opportunity to bring vacant houses back into permanent use. In return, prospective buyers have the chance to acquire a house and plot and redesign it according to their means.

The one euro is only the beginning

The purchase price of one euro is genuine, but it represents only a very small part of the actual cost. Additional expenses include notary and land register fees, planning, expert assessments and the building work itself. Both buildings require extensive renovation.

The houses are therefore not aimed at people looking for a home they can move into immediately. They are intended for applicants who are willing and able to take a long-term approach to an older building, its renovation requirements and its possible future use.

“The one euro naturally attracts attention, but what matters is the project as a whole. Interested people should first consider whether the building, the town and the work involved in renovating it fit their current and future lives. The house should then be examined with professional support, and a realistic renovation and financing plan should be prepared on that basis. Carrying out some of the work yourself can certainly reduce costs, but it requires practical skills and a great deal of time. Not every task may be carried out without qualified professionals. Depending on the building, its location, the planned work and the applicant's personal circumstances, funding programmes may be available. These options must be checked early and on a case-by-case basis,” explains Jürgen Klausmann, editorial lead for 1-Euro-Haus.de.

The decision rests with the municipality

The municipality of Nordhalben owns and sells the two houses. It decides on viewings, applications, the selection of buyers, renovation and use requirements, and the conclusion and terms of the purchase contract. Prospective buyers receive all binding information about availability, requirements and purchase conditions directly from the municipality.

1-Euro-Haus.de presents the project and the property information supplied by the municipality. The portal does not broker property and is neither an estate agent nor the seller of the houses.

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Press contact

Jürgen Klausmann
Editorial lead for 1-Euro-Haus.de
TOGETHER GmbH
Albert-Einstein-Straße 1
95028 Hof, Germany
Phone: +49 9267 914 2990
Email: info@1-euro-haus.de
Website: https://1-euro-haus.de/en/

About Nordhalben

Nordhalben is located in the Upper Franconian district of Kronach in northern Bavaria, Germany, and is part of the Franconian Forest region. The municipality has been addressing the consequences of vacant property for years and is pursuing different approaches to revitalise its town centre and bring empty buildings back into use.

About 1-Euro-Haus.de

1-Euro-Haus.de is an independent information portal run by TOGETHER GmbH. It covers municipal €1-house projects, participating municipalities, available buildings, and the opportunities and challenges of renovation. The portal is neither an estate agent nor the seller of the properties presented. Advice, viewings, application procedures and sales are handled by the relevant municipality.

Municipalities that offer vacant buildings for a symbolic price, or are considering such an approach, are welcome to contact 1-Euro-Haus.de.

Further information

• Municipality of Nordhalben
• 1-Euro-Haus.de

One euro. One house. One plot. Nordhalben tries a new approach

After WORK.LAND.LIFE, Nordhalben takes another unexpected step

Nordhalben/Hof, 11 September 2026 – One euro for a house, with the land included. It may sound like a joke at first, but the offer in Nordhalben, Bavaria, Germany, is serious. The municipality in the Upper Franconian district of Kronach is selling two vacant houses it owns for one euro each, including their plots.

Not a sell-off, but a strategy

The unusual price is part of a new municipal approach to vacant buildings. Nordhalben does not simply want to get rid of the houses. It wants to attract people who will renovate, invest and stay. The offer is therefore aimed at applicants with a viable renovation, financing and use plan, not at the highest bidder.

The municipality of Nordhalben alone decides on applications, viewings, selection and sales. The municipality and future owners also agree on renovation and future-use conditions, which are set out in the contract. First Mayor Michael Wunder is personally involved in marketing the properties. For binding information, the municipality is the direct point of contact. The houses are presented on 1-Euro-Haus.de.

There is more than one answer to vacancy

Nordhalben is not relying on a single measure. Not every building that has stood empty for years can be saved at a reasonable cost. In the past, the municipality has demolished individual older houses and used the freed-up space to open up its tightly built town centre and create room for greenery. Such open spaces improve the living environment, reduce sealed ground and help densely built areas heat up less during hot summers.

But demolition is only one option. Where a building's location, structure and potential make it worthwhile, older houses should have a new future. That is where the €1-house model comes in.

Work where others go on holiday

Nordhalben sees living and working as connected. Nordwald Space offers modern coworking and coliving facilities in the heart of the town. Workstations, meeting rooms and apartments give self-employed people, freelancers and others who can work remotely a chance to get to know life and work in the Franconian Forest.

WORK.LAND.LIFE – Landleben auf Probe (“Try rural life”) is aimed at people whose work does not tie them permanently to a big city. Selected participants can live and work at Nordwald Space for several weeks and experience everyday life in a rural community with a fibre-optic connection.

A setting that works for families

Anyone considering a move to Nordhalben is choosing more than a house: they are choosing a place to live. The town has a primary school and a kindergarten, both important for families with children. Clubs, cultural activities and volunteering shape local community life.

Nordwaldhalle is one of the region's largest sports and event venues. The natural swimming pool offers another leisure option in summer. The forests of the Franconian Forest and the Ködeltalsperre reservoir are on the doorstep.

Nature as a municipal responsibility

Protecting biodiversity is also important in Nordhalben. The municipality was one of ten Bavarian model municipalities in the “Marktplatz der biologischen Vielfalt” project and developed its own local biodiversity strategy. Nature, species diversity and municipal development are considered together.

Many parts, one overall approach

Nordhalben does not pursue just one idea; it connects different strands into an overall approach. Nordwald Space creates opportunities for people who work remotely. WORK.LAND.LIFE lets people try living in the town. Fibre-optic internet, schools, the kindergarten, clubs and leisure facilities provide a foundation for staying long term. The €1 houses offer interested people a route to ownership and give vacant buildings a new perspective. Demolishing houses that cannot be preserved creates green spaces and improves the living environment.

Step by step, the result is an approach that does more than address individual problems: it develops the town as a whole, as a lively community in the Franconian Forest that brings together housing, work, nature and community life.

“Nordhalben shows that a municipality does not have to look at vacancy in isolation. Demolishing buildings that cannot be preserved, creating new green spaces, retaining houses that can be renovated, coworking, fibre-optic internet, commercial development and protecting biodiversity can all be part of one strategy,” says Jürgen Klausmann, editorial lead for 1-Euro-Haus.de.

“A €1 house alone will not solve a municipality's structural challenges. But it can be another useful part of the picture. We would be delighted if the two houses reached people who are not just looking for a property, but are ready to think about the town, the building and a long-term future in Nordhalben.”

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About Nordhalben

Nordhalben is in the Upper Franconian district of Kronach in northern Bavaria, Germany. Located in the Franconian Forest, the municipality combines living close to nature with local facilities, a wide range of volunteering and modern options for working remotely.

About 1-Euro-Haus.de

1-Euro-Haus.de is an independent information portal run by TOGETHER GmbH, based in Hof. It covers municipal €1-house projects, participating municipalities and available buildings. It is neither an estate agent nor a seller. Binding property information, viewings, application procedures and sales are the responsibility of the relevant municipality.

New prospects for vacant houses and rural communities

The €1-house model could give municipalities another way to tackle vacancy while making it easier for families to find a home of their own.

Hof, 11 September 2026 – Housing is scarce and expensive in many cities, while numerous older houses in rural areas stand empty. At the same time, young families in particular often struggle to save enough for a deposit on a home. A municipal €1-house model could connect these two challenges in a practical way.

The idea is for municipalities to offer selected vacant houses for a symbolic purchase price of €1, with renovation and use conditions written into the contract. This would give municipalities a way to take an active role in local planning and prevent properties bought for speculation from standing empty for years.

Buyers would have the opportunity to take on an existing building and gradually make it their own home. The savings they have already built up could go straight into planning, additional purchase costs and renovation.

Vacancy affects the whole town

Long-term vacancy is more than a problem for individual owners. Empty houses can harm the appearance of a town, affect neighbouring properties and lead to high costs for securing or demolishing buildings over time. Town centres also lose some of their vitality when homes, shops and meeting places are no longer used.

When a suitable building becomes a home again, the surrounding area can benefit too. New residents use local facilities, may get involved in clubs and neighbourhood life, and can help keep existing services going. In a smaller municipality, even one house put back into lasting use can make a difference.

An opportunity for families – but not a cost-free home

The symbolic price can lower the first financial hurdle. It does not replace savings or a sound financing plan. Before applying, prospective buyers need expert help to assess the building's condition, renovation needs, legal requirements and all the costs that follow.

Doing some work yourself can reduce part of the bill, but it takes practical skills, time and extra money for materials and equipment. Some jobs must be done by qualified professionals.

Funding programmes differ by German federal state and municipality, and may be available at state, local or federal level. Not every applicant will qualify for every programme; the conditions depend on the scheme and the individual case. It is still worth asking specifically about funding before work begins.

Consider your surroundings and your future plans

A cheap house on its own does not necessarily make the right place to live. Families should look just as carefully at whether childcare, schools, healthcare, shopping, transport links, internet access and job prospects fit their lives now and in the future.

The €1-house model makes most sense when interest in a building comes with a genuine interest in the town. The aim should not be to buy the cheapest possible property for a quick gain, but to put it to realistic, long-term use.

Nordhalben is the first to feature

The municipality of Nordhalben, in the Kronach district of Bavaria, Germany, is the first to present two vacant houses on 1-Euro-Haus.de. Both are owned by the municipality and offered for a symbolic purchase price of €1 each. Both need extensive renovation.

Nordhalben decides which applicants to select, how the houses may be used and what renovation deadlines apply. The new information portal 1-Euro-Haus.de presents the project and the properties but does not broker property sales.

“We hope the €1-house model gives municipalities another option and reaches people who dream of a home of their own. But the one euro must never hide the real work involved. What matters is a suitable building, realistic financing and a willingness to become part of the town for the long term,” says Jürgen Klausmann, editorial lead for 1-Euro-Haus.de.

Another option for interested municipalities

1-Euro-Haus.de invites other towns and municipalities that want to try this approach and seek new solutions for suitable vacant buildings to get in touch.

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About 1-Euro-Haus.de

1-Euro-Haus.de is an independent information portal run by TOGETHER GmbH, based in Hof. It gives an overview of participating municipalities and the properties they report. Only the relevant municipality is responsible for binding information, viewings, applications, selection decisions and sales.

One euro for a house and its plot

Nordhalben, a municipality in Bavaria, Germany, is taking an unusual approach to vacancy with two municipally owned, empty houses. The new information portal 1-Euro-Haus.de presents the project.

Nordhalben/Hof, 11 September 2026 – A house with its own plot for one euro: it may seem hard to believe, but it is happening in the Upper Franconian municipality of Nordhalben in Bavaria. The municipality is offering two vacant buildings in the town centre for a symbolic purchase price of €1 each. The new information portal 1-Euro-Haus.de provides details of the municipality, the two houses and the background to the project.

The €1 purchase price is genuine, but it accounts for only a very small part of the total cost. Buyers also face costs for the notary, land register, planning, expert assessments and the building work itself: both houses need extensive renovation.

These houses are therefore not for anyone looking for a home they can move into straight away. They are for people willing and able to take a long-term view of an old building, its renovation needs and how it might be used in the future.

An unusual way to tackle vacant property

Vacant buildings that are falling into disrepair present major challenges for many rural municipalities. They can damage the townscape, affect neighbouring properties and generate high long-term costs for local authorities. At the same time, older houses often contain valuable building fabric and are a visible part of local history.

A symbolic purchase price can draw attention to buildings that might struggle to find a new owner on the conventional property market. The key, though, is not the one euro but a buyer's willingness to invest time, perhaps some work of their own, and money in restoring the house.

For the municipality, the model offers a chance to bring vacant buildings back into lasting use. Prospective buyers, in turn, get the opportunity to buy a house and plot at a symbolic price and redesign it within their means.

Only the relevant municipality decides whether a sale takes place and on what terms. These may include requirements for the renovation plan, intended use and timetable. The terms negotiated between buyer and seller are recorded in the purchase contract.

Nordhalben leads the way

Nordhalben is in the Kronach district of northern Bavaria and part of the Franconian Forest region. The municipality has worked for years on revitalising its town centre and finding new uses for empty buildings.

It is the first municipality featured on 1-Euro-Haus.de, with two vacant residential houses that it owns:

1. A historic semi-detached house with around 110 square metres of living space and a plot of about 140 square metres. The building needs major renovation.
2. Another historic semi-detached house with a similar living area but a plot of around 200 square metres. Renovation needs are particularly extensive here.

Honest information, not a bargain-house promise

“The one euro naturally attracts attention. But what matters is the project as a whole. Interested people should first ask whether the building, the town and the work involved fit their lives now and in the future. They should then have the house assessed by qualified experts and use those findings to prepare a realistic renovation and financing plan. Doing some work yourself can certainly reduce costs, but it takes practical skills and a great deal of time. Not every job can be done without qualified professionals. Funding programmes may be available depending on the building, its location, the planned work and a person's circumstances. These options need to be checked early and on a case-by-case basis,” says Jürgen Klausmann, editorial lead for 1-Euro-Haus.de.

1-Euro-Haus.de only provides an overview of participating municipalities and the properties they report; it does not broker sales. The relevant municipality alone decides which buildings to offer, who may apply, how viewings and selection work, and whether a sale takes place and on what terms. Property details come from the municipalities; interested people can obtain binding information directly from the responsible local authority – in this case, Nordhalben.

An invitation to other municipalities

Municipalities that also want to offer vacant buildings for a symbolic price and try a new approach are welcome to contact 1-Euro-Haus.de.

“Many towns face similar challenges. We want to help give old houses a future while being honest with interested people about the opportunities, risks and real work involved. The €1-house model is not a cure-all for vacancy and structural change. But we would be pleased if, in individual cases, it helped renovate an empty house and bring it back into lasting use, revitalise a town centre and give people a home of their own,” Klausmann says.

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About 1-Euro-Haus.de

1-Euro-Haus.de is an independent information portal run by TOGETHER GmbH, based in Hof. It covers municipal €1-house projects, participating municipalities, available buildings, and the opportunities and challenges of renovation.

1-Euro-Haus.de is neither an estate agent nor the seller of the houses shown. Property details are provided by the municipalities. Only the relevant municipality is responsible for binding information, advice, viewings, application procedures and sales.