This 100-Acre Village in Spain Costs Less Than a Single Home in Oakland

If US real estate prices (especially those within 100 miles of San Francisco) haven't already depressed you, this might just do the trick: you can buy an entire village in the Spanish countryside for less than the price of a one-bedroom house in Oakland, CA. According to NPR, abandoned villages in central Spain are fetching extremely low prices due to the area's severe climate and a widespread lack of interest in farming. One such village, O Penso, is currently listed at a cool $230,000 — a price that 7x7 notes is dramatically lower than any home available in San Francisco or Oakland. In fact, O Penso's negotiable asking price is lower than many San Francisco buyers need for a down payment!

This is no surprise, of course, given that expansive European castles have sold for less than the price of studios in SF. But it's still jarring to read NPR's description of the 100-acre real estate bundle and compare it to cramped, run-down homes in Oakland that come with higher price tags:

The village, near Ortigueira, comes with free well water and a bakery with a stone hearth. Six miles away, green cliffs drop off onto white sand beaches — and some of Europe's best surfing.

The biggest of the village houses has hardwood floors and five bedrooms overlooking an orchard with peaches, figs, walnuts, apples, and pears. At the bottom of the valley, there's a little river full of trout.

The asking price for the whole village: about $230,000 — negotiable. Smaller villages with less fertile land go for tens of thousands. Adkinson [the real estate agent] has one house for sale for $5,600.

Prospective buyers include British retirees, Adkinson says, and an Indian who has expressed interest in converting the hamlet into a yoga retreat center.

So if you're disenchanted with skyrocketing stateside home prices, consider heading to Europe . . . After all, you could house all of your loved ones with plenty of room to spare!