Did you know you can actually buy an entire town? Yep, it’s true—there are towns out there, complete with homes, streets, and even old-timey buildings, up for sale. Some are ghost towns with cool history, while others just need a bit of love and restoration. Imagine owning your own slice of land where you can create a dream getaway or even start a quirky little business. Prices can vary a lot, but it’s not as impossible as you might think. So, if you’ve ever wanted to be “mayor” of your own place, this might just be your chance! Credit:
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CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0:
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Pearce General Store: By Marine 69-71, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94033694
Ranch House: By Marine 69-71, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82172478
Animation is created by Bright Side.
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Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
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FunTranscript
00:00However crazy it might sound, you can actually buy an entire town.
00:05These places once had life in them.
00:07Over the years, they became abandoned.
00:10Forgotten towns are creepy, I admit, but they also look cool.
00:14There are thousands of ghost towns for sale in the US alone.
00:18Their condition varies.
00:19Some still have a few people living there, others have been deserted for decades.
00:24The idea of owning a town sounds great, especially after hearing the shockingly reasonable prices
00:30But in practice, it's not a piece of cake.
00:33As you can guess, buying a town is a little different than buying a house.
00:38Towns are considered unincorporated.
00:40That means they aren't part of a local government.
00:43So good luck getting a loan from a bank.
00:46To buy a regular house, you can get a mortgage.
00:49But for a $200,000 ghost town, banks won't decide in your favor.
00:53Still, the fact that you can buy a town is exciting.
00:58Let's say you have the money and you'll go for it.
01:01You should consider that many of these places lack amenities, like no running water, electricity,
01:06or other basic things.
01:08Plus, there's the safety issue.
01:10Many structures and ghost towns had been constructed before the times when safety codes were invented.
01:17For example, in Utah, a town is on sale for $199,000.
01:21Yes, the buildings in this ghost town aren't in good condition, but it has a future.
01:28The new owner can turn it into a tourist spot.
01:31What if the town was haunted and some paranormal activities occurred there, which made its
01:36inhabitants leave?
01:38There are many stories about ghost towns.
01:40Potential buyers have to keep looking for the best price.
01:43It can drop to as low as $70,000.
01:46A town named Swansea in California was sold for this price in 2013.
01:52Why are these towns for sale?
01:54The reasons vary.
01:56For example, companies in Canada would build places for their employees working in gold
02:01or silver mines and their families.
02:04Sometimes these types of mining towns had over 5,000 inhabitants.
02:08Eventually, natural resources would run out, and residents would move to other places.
02:14Years later, such towns would show up in real estate listings.
02:18Sweat in South Dakota is a famous ghost town for sale.
02:22The buyer will get not only the land and houses, but also a tavern, a gas station,
02:27and a local store.
02:29Let's take a closer look at these places that can spark your interest.
02:33Aretto is a village in Italy.
02:35Barbara Ferrisi's family began buying houses in this town around 30 years ago.
02:41Over time, they've united all 18 houses into one connected structure.
02:46It's a maze of bedrooms, kitchens, hidden stairways, and more.
02:51The structure is historical, so when they needed to renovate some parts, they used materials
02:56such as old stone and wood to preserve the historical nature of the complex.
03:01When they first started buying the place, only two elderly people were living in the
03:05area.
03:06Now, the whole village belongs to Ferrisi and her family.
03:10The houses have wells, old ceilings, and original floors from centuries ago.
03:15They've even converted an old wooden barn into a banquet hall and stone stables into
03:20a lounge.
03:21Here's a glimpse of what a ghost Spanish village on sale looks like.
03:26Scenic landscapes, some history, and development opportunities are mixed together in this rural
03:31town with a name I can't pronounce.
03:34This one has three historic rustic stone residences constructed a century ago.
03:40Unfortunately, they aren't in good shape, so a lot of work is needed to bring them back
03:45to their glorious days.
03:46Yet this effort will be worth it because they offer plenty of space.
03:51The biggest house is larger than 3,000 square feet, the second one is almost as big as the
03:56first one, and the last one is around half their size.
03:59I feel like this town has some potential to turn into boutique holiday home rentals.
04:04I mean, the place has character.
04:06It has two century-old greeneries, a fountain, and a stone oven.
04:11The area is surrounded by rolling fields, lush woodlands, and flat plains.
04:16Plus, the village is around 15 miles away from mesmerizing coastal towns and famous
04:21attractions.
04:22Now, do I sound like I'm promoting the place?
04:24Nah, I just like it.
04:27Maybe you want to buy a town so you can be a mayor.
04:30I respect that too.
04:31Would you prefer this one that looks frozen in time?
04:35Pierce is in Arizona.
04:37It was built by a man named John James Pierce.
04:40He arrived there and mined gold nearby.
04:42It was so casual.
04:44Imagine tending your cattle, lifting up rocks from the ground, and finding gold.
04:49This is what happened to him.
04:50His life changed overnight.
04:52The news about the gold spread at the speed of light.
04:56Almost.
04:57This led to the construction of the town.
04:59When the calendar showed 1895, the town was officially founded.
05:04In no time, Pierce became one of the richest gold mines in Arizona.
05:08Naturally, the town flourished and grew to accommodate the newcomers.
05:13There was a blacksmith, restaurants, and a butcher.
05:16You could also find a livery, hotels, saloons, and even an attorney's office there.
05:21All of these are included in the sales price.
05:24You can also get what's inside the general store, which is now over 125 years old.
05:30You will probably manage to sell the antiquities you'll find there and cover some of the fees.
05:35So how did this town turn into an abandoned place?
05:38By 1927, mining at Pierce had lost its popularity.
05:43Then the mine was finally closed down in the 1940s.
05:46Today, the site is looking for its new owner.
05:50Next up, we have Wild West Town.
05:53And yes, this is its real name.
05:55It's in Colorado, and as the name suggested, it offers a unique Wild West setup.
06:01It's not just the amenities and the vibe that makes this town special.
06:05This town was actually in use on and off for years.
06:09Since it wasn't abandoned for many years, the conditions there are pretty good compared
06:13to other towns on my list.
06:15Now it's on sale again, hoping to find the next owner.
06:19This property is located on Blair Street at the base of the San Juan Mountains.
06:24In the past, this area was frequented by miners looking for late-night refreshments and activities.
06:30The square used to have a saloon, hotel, general store, post office, and jail.
06:36Today, well-preserved historic buildings house various artists and businesses.
06:40The property includes two operating commercial buildings, three rental spaces, and one storage
06:46building.
06:47One of the buildings now operates as an old-school photography studio.
06:50There's also a two-bedroom residential unit above the Emporium gift shop, built in 2005,
06:56which is currently used as a vacation rental.
06:59The property also features the original 1875 San Juan County Courthouse and the Suanese
07:05old mine sluice, where tourists can try their luck at panning for gold and gems.
07:10Ah, there are so many examples to mention, like this small medieval hamlet named Ceraval.
07:16It's located between two Italian cities, Modena and Bologna.
07:20The village is from the 9th century.
07:22You get a castle there.
07:24Literally, a 3-story 18th-century stately home.
07:27What else?
07:28Hmm, a woodshed, a 4-floor lookout tower that was built in the 1220s, and a majestic park.
07:35I should mention that there are even deals on websites like Craigslist or eBay for potential
07:41town buyers.
07:42There's an important point here that you should pay attention to – you should check
07:46the fine print before you make the purchase.
07:49Sometimes a village or town needs an influx of cash.
07:52In this case, the deal and the ownership you will get will be purely ceremonial.
07:58Think of it like receiving the key to the city.
08:00The best you will get out of this deal can be a nice plaque or a monument in the town
08:04square as a thank-you gift.
08:07Kinda interesting, huh?
08:08Maybe your new pastime activity will be looking for ghost towns for sale, even though you're
08:13not going to buy one.
08:14That's it for today, so hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like
08:19and share it with your friends!
08:21Or if you want more, just click on these videos and stay on the Bright Side!