Moving to Sardinia was a classic case of impulsive decision-making – a leap of faith fueled more by gut feeling than meticulous planning. My gut’s usually pretty reliable, but this time, I surprised even myself by embracing a slightly more methodical approach. Instead of packing my bags on a whim, I spent almost a year meticulously planning my move.

Setting the Stage (and the Criteria!)

Renting in Sardinia? Forget it! The prices are astronomical. Buying was the only way to go, but I wasn’t about to go into crippling debt. My search had to be smart, focusing on affordability without sacrificing livability. Cagliari, with its sky-high property prices, was immediately out. The coastal towns? Stunning, but equally expensive (those sun-drenched beaches are a major draw, after all!). That meant venturing inland.

A friend mentioned a friend’s amazing deal: a big traditional townhouse for a steal – €6000! It sounded too good to be true, and honestly, it was. While the prices in that area were incredibly low, a quick Google Street View tour revealed the catch: it was nestled high in the mountains in the center of Sardinia, promising snowy winters. That was a hard no. I was escaping winter, not embracing it!

So, I created my “dream home” checklist: affordable, reasonably close to the coast, and within a reasonable driving distance of Cagliari (airport access and other personal reasons). I drew a circle on a map, a 1.5-hour radius from Cagliari, and started my search.

Finding the “Casa Mia”

Several towns fit my criteria. More Google Street View reconnaissance (thank you, Google!) narrowed it down to two charming villages, both a short drive from the gorgeous beaches of Costa Rei and thankfully, not perched high on a mountaintop. A call to a real estate agency, a few viewing appointments, and boom! I fell head-over-heels for a quaint little house in one of those villages. An offer, some paperwork, and three months later, I was signing the papers at a Cagliari notary, officially the proud owner of my Sardinian sanctuary.