The small Swiss village of Albinen really, really wants you to move there. So much so, that on November 30th residents will vote on a new policy that would pay outsiders to move to and live in the town for a decade.
Currently, only 240 people live there full-time (even though others have holiday homes there) and is one of many towns in Switzerland that has experienced an exodus of permanent residents in recent years. As a result, locals are pressing the town’s council to do something to ensure the village’s future.
Their plan? Anyone who moves to the town and buys or builds a house will, under certain conditions, be eligible for a grant of 25,000 francs per adult and 10,000 francs per child, according to information published in the commune’s newsletter. That’s roughly $25,422 per adult and $10,168 per child. Not bad.
However, there are conditions. First, you must be under the age of 45 and, as we noted above, live in the village for a minimum of 10 years. The property you move to must also have a minimum value of 200,000 francs ($203,376) and be a permanent home — not a vacation residence. If you stay 10 years, you don’t have to pay the money back. And based on these pictures, it’s safe to say you’ll want to stay.
As for the money, town authorities believe the policy and expense will be worthwhile: “It is an investment in the village’s future,” says the newsletter. It also notes that the community will profit from the new families through taxes, construction contracts and purchases in the village shop.
