After visiting many of the $1 houses in person, I can honestly still say that despite the garbage, graffiti, and pigeons, most still seemed like a good bargain.
They may have been derelict, and in need of thousands of dollars in renovations, but the properties I visited had bags of historic charm.
Furthermore, all three of the towns I visited were delightful. The people were friendly, the food was delicious, and the weather was incredible — I barely saw a single cloud. The only criticism you could levy at them was just how quiet they are, but that is, after all, why these schemes are being tried in the first place.
However, I was told that in Sambuca, some residents were already learning English to begin operating walking tours, open gift shops, and run B&Bs.
With the media storm surrounding Italy's $1 homes, it won't be long before the towns will be full of Americans, Brits, Russians, and more. Some aren't far off already.
I sensed there was, probably for the first time in decades, a hum of optimism in Italy's ghost towns.