This American woman purchased one of Italy’s dollar deal houses, but the property would eventually cost her far more.

After learning about Italy’s “one euro” homes, 45-year-old Meredith Tabbone decided to bid on one herself. Though bids started at a single euro, she decided to offer £4,400, which is about $5,592.

The nation’s bargain-priced homes are part of varyingly successful local programs to help reinvigorate dilapidated houses — and economies — in less populated corners of the country.

After learning her bid had been accepted that May, she quickly got to work fixing up the building, a disused address in the Sicilian commune of Sambuca di Sicilia.

“The house was in very bad condition — but in many ways, it was everything I expected it to be and more,” said Tabbone, a Chicago-based financial advisor, listing its charm, architectural details and history among the highlights.

“When we first saw the house, it was 750 square feet, it had no electricity, running water or windows, and it was thick with asbestos,” she continued, according to SWNS.

Initially, she planned to transform it into “a small getaway house,” but then, in August 2020, she decided to purchase the neighboring property for £27,000 ($34,311) and create a proper 3,000-square-foot four-bedroom, five-bathroom abode on their combined plot.

Over the course of the next five years, Tabbone would spend a total of £384,000 ($487,985) renovating the residence to create her “dream home,” complete with an outdoor kitchen, party room, spa and wine cellar.

She’s additionally bought two other houses in the commune for a total of £28,000 ($35,582) — unlike the first two properties, those only require minor repairs — and spent £58,000 ($73,708) on a disused building she’s turning into an art gallery and artists’ apartments.

The process has been “very slow and tedious” but Tabbone finally completed her dream house in April 2024 and now spends four months a year in Italy.

“I went all in,” she said, recommending others do as well: “If you can gather the strength it is worth it.”