Aussie couple buy $90k house in Italy but hit two major roadblocks

An Australian couple chasing a mortgage-free life overseas have had their plans thrown into reverse by two unexpected blows outside their control. Sophie Bouali and her tradie husband, Adam, made headlines after revealing they bought a three-level home near Tuscany. The Italian property in the Lazio region cost just $90,000 (€55,000), less than the price of a ute. The Brisbane couple expected to quickly offload their Queensland home to fund the relocation. However, a sluggish local property market and a European bureaucracy backlog have forced a major change of tack. “The original plan was to move straight to Italy once I received my Italian citizenship, which we were expecting in August 2026,” Ms Bouali told nine.com.au. “As that still hasn’t come through, we’ve decided to sell our house and move in with family in Perth while we wait.” MORE: ‘Disaster’: 81yo loses home in $39k bill shock ‘It’s huge’: Tradie says if you hear this, panic ‘Tossers’: Aus tenant’s fury over lawn demand Sophie Bouali and her tradie husband, Adam, made headlines after they bought a three-level home near Tuscany for less than the cost of a ute. Picture: Supplied They bought the property in Tuscany’s Lazio...