The Rise of “Workcation Homes”: Buying a Cheap Fixer-Upper in a Dream Destination

Remote work has reshaped travel more radically than budget airlines ever did.

For decades, people dreamed of working from a tropical beach, a quiet vineyard, or a cobblestone town square somewhere in Europe. Today, that dream has become surprisingly realistic.

A new trend is emerging among long-term travelers, freelancers, and digital nomads:

workcation homes — buying an inexpensive property abroad, fixing it up little by little, and using it as both a workspace and a retreat.

Instead of spending thousands on accommodation every year, people are using that same money to build equity, create a second home base, and often save money in the process.

From suitcase to toolbox

A few years ago, the concept of buying a home in another country seemed out of reach unless you had significant savings. But the rise of property listing platforms that focus on affordable real estate, combined with the normalization of remote work, changed everything.

In many parts of Europe, South America, and Asia, you can still find:

•   countryside cottages for under €50,000

•   old stone homes in villages for the price of a used car

•   small apartments perfect for a one-person workspace

These are not glamorous, turnkey, luxury villas.

They’re blank canvases — and that’s exactly the appeal.

The fixer-upper lifestyle isn’t about perfection.

It’s about possibility.

Why travelers are buying instead of renting

The logic is simple:

A one-month rental in a popular destination costs, on average, between €800 and €2,000.

A modest fixer-upper in rural Italy, the Portuguese countryside, or the Balkans can cost less than one year’s rent.

Many remote workers start with a long stay. They set up their laptop in a café or a rented apartment, get into the rhythms of daily life, and begin imagining something more permanent.

Then the thought appears:

"What if I didn’t have to leave?"

Workcation homes are not just about property — they’re about lifestyle

People who buy workcation homes describe their motivation in a way that has little to do with investment spreadsheets.

They say:

•   They want to be anchored somewhere meaningful.

•   They want to learn how to build and create something lasting.

•   They want their breaks from the world to feel grounded, not temporary.

Even small, manageable renovations create a sense of ownership and belonging. Painting walls, restoring old shutters, planting grapevines in the backyard — these are things that turn a traveler into part of a community.

With every improvement, the house becomes more theirs.

With every visit, they become less of a visitor.

The financial side: surprising affordability

Buying a fixer-upper abroad is often cheaper than people expect.

While browsing international listings, it’s not unusual to find properties under €50,000 — some under €20,000.

One example of a resource often used by budget-conscious travelers is PropertyUnder50k.com, a platform dedicated to affordable real estate around the world.

Instead of paying rent each time they return, remote workers begin to:

•   build equity,

•   create a rental income stream,

•   and reduce long-term living costs.

A simple calculation makes the point clear:

If a remote worker travels two months per year and spends €1,200 per month on accommodation, that’s €2,400 annually.

In five years, that’s €12,000 — money that could have gone toward ownership instead of disappearing into rental expenses.

Renovation at your own pace

Unlike buying a primary residence, fixer-upper workcation homes don’t need to be perfect on day one. Many buyers:

•   live in one room while renovating another,

•   learn DIY through trial, error, and YouTube tutorials,

•   hire local craftsmen for important work.

This slow, seasonal renovation becomes part of the lifestyle.

Work by day.

Fix the house by evening.

Walk to the local café on weekends to practice the language.

The transformation is gradual, but deeply rewarding.

The community effect

In small towns, locals often welcome people who invest in old houses instead of letting them decay. A fixer-upper brings life back into a street. It brings business to local carpenters, bakers, plumbers, and corner shops.

Travelers frequently say that after a few months of owning a workcation home, they feel less like tourists and more like neighbors.

That sense of belonging cannot be rented.

It has to be built.

The future belongs to people who don’t wait for permission to live differently

For some, buying a fixer-upper in a dream destination is a financial investment.

For others, it’s an emotional investment.

But for many, it is a personal statement:

"I choose lifestyle over routine."

"I choose experience over square meters."

"I choose to live where I feel most alive."

The world changed.

Remote work unlocked a freedom most of us never imagined.

Now, instead of letting vacations fade into memory, people are building something lasting — a place they can return to, year after year.

Maybe that’s the most meaningful renovation of all.