Götene, a small Swedish town located approximately 200 miles southwest of Stockholm, recently gained international attention due to its initiative to sell plots of land at incredibly low prices. The town, nestled in a picturesque lakeside setting near a mountain town and two UNESCO-rated sites, offers a peaceful way of life with around 5,000 permanent residents and 13,000 people in the surrounding municipality.
The local government in Götene put 30 plots of land on sale for less than 10 cents per square meter, hoping to attract new residents to the rural region amidst a national housing crisis and declining birth rates. Initially, only about 30 interested buyers responded to the offer, but after the program went viral, thousands of prospective buyers from around the world flooded Götene’s city hall with inquiries.
As a result of the overwhelming interest in the land sale, the local authorities decided to pause the program until early August to develop a plan to handle the flood of requests. Several buyers managed to secure plots before the chaos ensued, with four lucky individuals acquiring some of the ultra-cheap land. When the program reopens next month, it is likely that a bidding process will be implemented for the remaining plots.
This initiative in Götene is just one example of how more and more people are looking to Europe for affordable housing options. The town’s idyllic setting and incredibly low land prices have captured the interest and imagination of individuals worldwide, highlighting the appeal of rural living in a charming Swedish locale like Götene.
