Life in a small Italian hamlet wasn’t the plan Jonna Helin-Lembo had for her life when she grew up in Helsinki, Finland. So what happened? First she fell in love with the Italian food, then an Italian man and consequently Italian culture, language and people.
Jonna and her husband Marco Lembo, moved back to Italy from Finland, where he lived for over 20 years, five years ago. Even though Marco is originally from Rome, their choice was clear. They never wanted the more stressful city life in Rome, instead, they wanted to set their feet on the beautiful Le Marche countryside where Marco’s family was originally from.
The couple started their first re-building project in 2004 and it was a success. They loved their new peaceful countryside life in picturesque surroundings and their new home that had found its new splendor after being abandoned all those years.
Where did they get their business idea from? It all started from a passion to restore, using local craftsman, houses in middle aged hamlets. Jonna and Marco found it sad that so many beautiful houses had been let empty and into ruins over the years and decided that restoration could turn into a great and gratifying business . Their strongest asset is their knowhow of the local area where Marco spent his childhood summers until the age of 18.
“The feedback we have received over the years from people that appreciated both our vision and the result of the restorations has been amazing. All the houses we restore have been on the principle that the main structure must be new and built according to regulations and high standards, but the old materials should be used as finishing touches in order to let the house to wear its soul again.” Jonna says.
“In our opinion Le Marche is ‘the’ place to invest right now. In the current global crises, investors are much more careful when it comes to buying a property overseas. Le Marche has been called the future Tuscany and the value for money is the best in North Central Italy.”
“As we are immigrants ourselves, we do understand the problems, doubts and lack of information a new buyer might have so we came to set up a “rent to buy” scheme.
Rent to buy
With the Domo Sum rent to buy scheme a potential buyer can let the house for a period of six months with the sale price of the property already set. Whatever is paid in rent during those 6 months, will then be deducted from the sale price if the sale takes place. This gives a potential purchaser the opportunity to try their new home and lifestyle in Le Marche and make the decision to buy easier and safer.”
Contact Domo Sum for more information here
