Manfred and Emmelie Bought Their Dream House for 1,000 Kronor

Manfred and Emmelie purchased an abandoned house for just 1,000 kronor, saving it from being burned down. Now, they face a race against time to move and renovate the house from 1877.

Manfred Nilsson, 34, and Emmelie Eliasson, 34, who live in Bollebygd, were out looking at garden plots. But when they turned around, they spotted a large, white house—lonely and abandoned.

Moving to a log house had long been a dream, and they had previously told each other, "We want that too."

So, at first glance, they knew they had fallen in love. But the path to one day calling the house their own proved to be anything but simple.

"It's been a rollercoaster, you could say," says Emmelie.

Since the municipality owned the house and no one wanted it, the fire department planned to burn it down during a fire drill. Manfred and Emmelie decided to reach out to Borås Tidning to try to save their dream.

"It's about cultural history in some way. Because the house is from 1877," says Manfred.

Unexpected Price Tag

The interview gained traction, and politicians in the municipality decided that the house would no longer be burned down. Instead, the public was given a chance to bid on the abandoned house, which would require extensive work.

"We've seen TV shows where they renovate. Then we got a dream a few years ago," says Manfred.

Manfred had previously bid on other log houses further north, but when the opportunity arose just ten minutes from home, it felt obvious. The house was also unexpectedly cheap because no one else placed a bid. Borås Tidning was the first to report on this.

"It was 1,000 kronor, but we thought we would pay much more," says Emmelie.

She adds that a much smaller house could have cost 100,000 kronor, and in the worst case, they were ready to pay that much.

Race Against Time

The house became theirs in June, but now awaits a major project that the couple themselves describe as something you "have to be a little crazy to take on."

Yes, they have bought the house, but the land is still owned by the municipality. Therefore, the couple must now dismantle the 270-square-meter house, remove it from the site, and during the work, try to save as much as possible of what they want to keep in the future when they rebuild the house in a new location.

They have until November to complete the work.

"It feels a bit stressful, but we've come quite far," says Emmelie.

Most of the renovation they do themselves, but whether they will profit from the house purchase in the end is hard to say.

"It's almost like a new build," says Emmelie.

Found Newspapers from the 1940s

The house carries a history, and during the work, they have found old newspapers—the oldest from 1940.

"Under a plastic mat were newspaper clippings covering the entire floor. Everything from Göteborgs-Posten, Älvsborgs läns tidning, and there was the Farmers' National Association," says Manfred.

But it's not just Manfred and Emmelie involved in the work. They also have three children.

"The youngest, four years old, is on it. He tears and pulls out nails all the time and is eager to show the house to people who visit. He's very engaged," says Emmelie, making both laugh.

How do you keep the relationship strong during this big project?

"Eat food, I would say. No one should get 'hangry.' But also allow each other to have their process. It's okay to be a little frustrated during the time."

Now the work continues until the deadline in November. The house will initially serve as a summer cottage, but the future remains to be seen. Regardless of what happens, Manfred and Emmelie have already realized their dream—and saved a log house from burning down. All for 1,000 kronor.