Couple Moves to Italy After Buying Five Properties
Charlie Steele and Ben Pearce relocated to Italy in October 2026 after selling their UK home and acquiring rural properties.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Budget Travel
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Following the sale of a UK houseboat for £115,000, Charlie Steele and Ben Pearce relocated to Italy in October 2026. The couple purchased five properties across Tavenna and Abruzzo to establish a new home and create rental opportunities.
Why it matters
The relocation aims to secure a lower cost of living while generating potential rental income through property renovations. This move highlights a strategy of leveraging asset sales from high-cost markets to acquire multiple real estate holdings abroad.
The couple acquired four properties in Tavenna for a combined £13,500 and an Abruzzo farmhouse for £44,000. These purchases were funded by the £115,000 sale of their UK houseboat and personal savings.
The players
Charlie Steele
An individual who relocated from the United Kingdom to Italy after selling a houseboat.
Ben Pearce
An aesthetics practitioner who continues to commute to the UK on a monthly basis for his professional work.
The details
Steele and Pearce used the real estate website Idealista to identify their portfolio, which includes a two-bedroom home and three additional properties. The pair is currently renovating these spaces with plans to launch an Airbnb rental in early 2027 and move into their primary farmhouse by March 2027.
Timeline
In 2024, the couple purchased their first Italian home for £12,500.
In September 2025, they acquired three additional properties in Tavenna for £1,000.
In August 2026, they sold their UK houseboat for £115,000 and bought an Abruzzo farmhouse.
In October 2026, the couple officially relocated to Italy.
In early 2027, the couple plans to list a one-bedroom rental property on Airbnb.
Travel Outlook
The couple's strategy follows the European rural real estate revitalization trend monitored by Idealista as international buyers seek affordable property in depopulating Italian villages. This movement reflects a shift toward seeking lower costs of living in historical European regions.
For those considering a similar relocation, using local listing portals like Idealista can help identify undervalued properties in rural regions. Potential buyers should account for the ongoing costs of international travel and local taxes when budgeting for property renovations abroad.
The takeaway
Relocating abroad requires balancing significant upfront property investment with the practicalities of maintaining a career in your home country. Successfully executing such a move often hinges on liquidating assets in high-cost areas to fund multi-property portfolios in lower-cost regions.
What happens next
The couple plans to move into their fully renovated farmhouse in March 2027 following the launch of their rental property in early 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about affordable destinations and international relocation in the Budget Travel section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dunmow Broadcast.
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