Manfred and Emmelie bought their dream house for 1,000 kronor

Sometimes it is said that reality is stranger than fiction. That is exactly how Manfred Nilsson and Emmelie Eliasson from Bollebygd felt when they found their dream house – for a measly 1,000 kronor. 

– It still feels quite surreal, says Emmelie.

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

Moving to a log house has long been a dream and they had previously said to each other: “We want that too.”

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

– You could say it’s been a roller coaster, says Emmelie.

Because the municipality owned the house and no one wanted it, the rescue service was going to set the house on fire during a fire drill. Then Manfred and Emmelie decided to go out to Borås Tidning and try to save their dream.

– It’s about cultural history in a way. Because the house is from 1877, says Manfred.

Unexpected price tag

The interview went viral 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.

– You’ve seen TV series where they renovate. Then we had 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 also sold unexpectedly cheaply because no one else placed a bid. Something that Borås Tidning was the first to report.

– 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 the clock

The house became theirs in June, but now a big project awaits, which the couple themselves describe as something you “have to be a little crazy to take on.”

Because yes, they have bought the house, but the land is still owned by the municipality. Therefore, the couple now have to 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 on a new site.

They have until November to complete the work.

– It feels a little stressful, but we’ve come quite far, says Emmelie.

They are doing most of the renovation themselves, but whether they will ultimately make money from the house purchase is hard to say.

– It will almost be like a new building, says Emmelie.

Found newspapers from the 40s

The house has a history, and during the work they have found, among other things, old newspapers – the oldest is from 1940.

– Under a plastic mat, there were newspaper clippings all over the floor. Everything from Göteborgs-Posten, Älvsborgs läns tidang and then there was the Swedish Farmers’ Association, says Manfred.

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

– The youngest of four years, he’s on the move. He’s tearing and pulling out nails all the time, and he’s happy to show off the house to people who visit. He’s very committed, says Emmelie, making them both laugh.

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

– Eating food, I would say. No one should get “hangry”. But also allowing each other to have their process. It’s okay to be a little frustrated in the meantime.

Now the work continues until the end date in November. The house will initially function 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.