A young couple bought an uninhabited island because it was cheaper than paying a deposit for a traditional house.
In a recent incident, a couple purchased an uninhabited island to make their home.
They found it more affordable than paying a traditional house deposit.
The couple, looking for a way to escape the high costs of real estate, saw an opportunity in an island purchase that many would consider unusual.
Young couple buys uninhabited island to save on house deposit costs
Oliver Russell, a 24-year-old with both American and Finnish roots, always envisioned living in Finland.
After moving from Fort Collins, Colorado, to Helsinki in 2022, he met his girlfriend, Helena Tomaszewska, 20.
“I fell in love with the idea of going to Finland and going to school there. As a Finnish citizen, I got free schooling and it has been awesome here and I have really enjoyed my time here.
“In Finland, the summer cottage life is a huge part of the culture and I would come out here every summer.
I loved the summer cottage life and wanted one of my own,” Oliver shared.
Instead of renting an expensive apartment in the city, they sought a more unique option.
They bought an uninhabited island at a cheap price
While browsing a real estate website Oliver stumbled upon an island that had been vacant for a decade and was listed for only $36,569.
Intrigued by the opportunity, he decided to make an offer.
To their surprise, their bid of $31,000 was accepted, turning their dream of owning an island into a reality.
“I was looking more for fun, I was going through a real estate website and found the island.
“It ended up being cheaper than a normal lot I could buy so we jumped on it.”
The couple started to build their ideal home on the uninhabited island
The couple arrived at their island home in June 2024 and quickly realized that the land was largely uninhabited.
They began by constructing a simple frame using logs from fallen trees and sourced decking materials from a local hardware store.
Their first project was an outhouse, followed by plans for a shower structure to enhance their living conditions.
Oliver shared, “We want to create a cozy base camp while we plan for a larger building next year.”
Their weekends are now filled with hard work as they design a summer cottage complete with a sauna, an essential feature in Finnish culture.
“The ultimate dream is to build a log cabin for the summer.
“But first we want to build a sauna cabin – based on the rules, one-third of the plot has to be a sauna cabin.
“We haven’t set ourselves super hard deadlines as there have been a lot of learning experiences.
“It is a very big commitment, especially now with me and Helena both being students,” Oliver revealed his and girlfriend’s plan to build an ideal home.
Despite the challenges of building on an uninhabited island, Oliver and Helena find joy in their new lifestyle.
Oliver expressed how surreal it feels to own such a peaceful retreat.
“It’s so quiet, and since it’s an island, nobody can just stumble upon it,” he said.
The couple understands that this project will require time and dedication, especially as both are still students.
They are taking their time to ensure that each step is well-planned and enjoyable.