I've moved from LA to Italy to renovate a £23,000 crumbling medieval house with 17 rooms - it was the only way to get on the property ladder
Kiki Leigh was stunned by the local property market when she came across a tiny Italian town called Mussomeli, where historic homes were going for 'the price of a handbag'.
The 28-year-old snapped up a 17-room pad for just £22,800 (€27,000) - a fraction of the estimated £367,000 the property would have cost in Los Angeles, where Kiki has been living.
Although the move across the world is daunting, Kiki is embracing the challenge and throwing herself into renovations.
Kiki, originally from Winnipeg, Canada, said: 'It started as a bit of a wild idea. I had always seen news stories about cheap homes, but never seriously considered it.
'I'd been living in the city for years, surrounded by constant pressure to chase a version of success that didn't actually fit me. Life felt expensive, overstimulating and a little soulless.
'I experienced a lot of loss and pain and, when I finally picked my head up and really looked around, I realised I wasn't living in a way that felt true to me and I wasn't even sure why.'
Kiki said that when she stumbled upon the property, she took the opportunity based on a 'gut feeling' - in search of a 'more grounded way to live'.
Having looked for a home before, Kiki called the real estate prices in LA 'laughable', and said even in her home country Canada the prices had 'skyrocketed'.
She said: 'I was working hard, doing well, but owning a home, let alone a dream home, always felt out of reach.
'I couldn't justify spending half a million dollars on something that didn't feel special. Then I realised that, for a fraction of that, I could own a literal piece of history. The maths just started to make sense in a way that North America never did.'
At some points, Kiki was paying the equivalent of £1,830 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.
She said, 'That didn't include parking or peace of mind, let alone castle views and cobblestone charm. Rent felt like a monthly punishment for staying somewhere I wasn't thriving. It wasn't sustainable long-term, financially or emotionally.'
The bustling lifestyle of LA, where influencers and celebrities flock in swathes, was another reason Kiki wanted to leave.
While living in the US and Canada, Kiki was at points paying the equivalent of £1,830 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. Pictured: The renovation of Kiki's 600-year-old home
'In LA, everything felt like a rush - fast food, fast fashion, fast success,' she said. 'In Mussomeli, time feels expansive.
'I'll be cooking more, walking more, talking to neighbours, hosting dinners instead of scrolling. My daily life will be rooted in connection, creativity and calm.
'I'll still be working and creating, but from a place that nourishes me. It's not about slowing down completely, it's about being intentional.'
So far, Kiki has spent £42,185 on renovations to the 600-year-old pad. She said: 'This is a historic home, the kind of place that reveals new surprises behind every wall.
'To me, this isn't just a house, it's an experience, an art project, a home base for my future and a way to live life a little differently. So, I'm more than happy with the investment.'
With the money she's saving, Kiki plans to build a spa with a jacuzzi and sauna and a full bar, because she wants it to be 'a little magical'.
Kiki estimates the total cost will land somewhere around £101,250 -£118,140.
'I want it to feel like the ultimate home for peace and tranquility,' Kiki continued. 'A place where I can bring all my loved ones together and experience something special and rare.'
To add to the quirkiness, Kiki is building a library as a homage to the home's previous owner, a Sicilian scholar and professor.
'It felt only right to preserve that legacy and create a space where books, ideas and conversation are front and centre,' she said.
The new homeowner now splits her time between Sicily, LA and Canada while renovations continue, but she is almost ready to move in full-time.
Once the remodel is finished, she estimates she'll save £2,200 on outgoings each month.
Kiki explained: 'Rent alone is already eliminated,' said Kiki. 'Groceries, utilities, dining out - everything is more affordable here.
'And I don't need to pay to escape chaos, I just step outside and I'm in a 14th-century fairytale.
'This house felt like a chance to take something forgotten and make it beautiful again. There's a kind of romance to that.'
Kiki urged others to take a leap of faith in similar situations, arguing that 'life doesn't have to follow the script'.
She said: 'You don't need a five-year plan, a perfect timeline or anyone's permission to build a life that feels good.
'I bought an old, crumbling house in a tiny Sicilian town with no real plan beyond "this feels right" and it's led to more freedom, joy and community than I could have imagined. The life I've built here feels amazing.'
For work, she is continuing her career in fashion PR, but she added: 'Once my home is completed, I plan to start a business here.
'What business exactly, I'm not entirely sure, but I have a few ideas that I'm working on. I'm just healthier mentally, physically and spiritually than I ever was in North America.
'It's truly remarkable what this town has given me, and the version of myself I've been able to return to because of this journey.'
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