This American bought a $1 home in Italy and spent $35,000 renovating it: 'It's much easier to be happier here'

When Rubia Daniels heard a town in Italy was selling off abandoned homes for 1 euro each (or roughly $1.05), she had to take a look herself.

The Berkeley, Calif., resident booked her first flight to Mussomeli, Sicily, in 2019 and quickly ended up buying not one, not two, but three crumbling properties at a bargain price.

Daniels, 50, has a construction background and envisioned three dream projects: a vacation home, a restaurant and a wellness center. So far, she's spent about $35,000 working with a local crew on her vacation home.

Despite the stress of renovating a home across the world through the pandemic, Daniels says the Mussomeli lifestyle has brought more happiness into her life.

One of the biggest reasons why Daniels decided to buy in Mussomeli was how welcome she felt when she visited.

The real estate agent who sold her the houses, Nathalie Milazzo, took Daniels around to restaurants, cafes and other parts of Mussomeli to really get a sense of what it's like to live in the town. Daniels now considers her "like a sister."

Mussomeli is tiny, with just about 9,900 residents, but Daniels says many people have strong bonds.

"It's much easier to make friends in Sicily than it is to make friends back in California," Daniels says. "In Sicily, the social life is very important. Everybody has time to talk to you, to know you, or to share a cup of coffee."

Daniels became fast friends with Katerina Montagnino, a local, who has become like family. Daniels hosted Montagnino and her husband during a recent trip to California, and she's even godmother to their 2-year-old son, Leo.

That's not to say that Daniels' California neighbors aren't friendly, but the pace of living is different. "Typically back home, people are always in a rush"