From New Jersey mansions to Italian palazzos, these stunning properties are on the market for as little as $1,000. If the offer looks too good to be true, you’ve got to ask yourself, what’s the catch?

A two-bedroom apartment in Belgravia, London is on the market for $49,000 (£35,000), which is considerably lower than the area’s $2 million (£1.5m) average asking price. Located in one of the most prestigious London neighborhoods, the Grade II-listed property is within walking distance of Knightsbridge, Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens.

A bright and spacious luxury home, the property contains two ensuite bathrooms with 'his and hers' sinks, a large reception room and modern kitchen. Potential owners will also have access to the exclusive Eaton Square gardens and tennis courts. 

Luxury living, city skyline views and recent renovations at a bargain price, so what’s the catch? The property’s almost-expired lease can only be extended for 20 years and costs $1.5 million (£1.1m) to do so at a time. Ouch!

This recently-renovated Manhattan cooperative is filled to the brim with stylish details, including custom-made units, soaring ceilings and solid oak floors. The bright and spacious property contains an open-plan living room/kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and patio.

The kitchen has been fitted with state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances and plenty of storage units, a feature that many Manhattan apartments lack. Potential buyers will benefit from the building's 24-hour security, free parking, fitness center and communal courtyard, all for an asking price of $460,000 (£328,000), so what’s the catch?

It’s a renovated HDFC apartment, which means buyers must be in the low-income bracket to qualify to buy it. Unfortunately, properties like these often to go unsold as they tend to be unaffordable for those people that actually qualify.

This luxury estate in Albion, New York is the stuff of period drama dreams! Built in 1878, it’s gone through an 11-year restoration project that’s seen it revived to its former grandeur.

The property contains six bedrooms, three full bathrooms, three half bathrooms, a library, dining room, ballroom and patio, and features a number of renovated period elements, including fireplaces, chandeliers and hardwood floors. At $499,000 (£357,000) you’d be investing your money’s worth and so much more, so what exactly is the deal?

The house is as haunted as they come. Built during the Civil War, you’d be sharing your home with its other permanent residents. Notable ghosts that have been spotted over the years include hide-and-seek playing children and the spooky figure of a woman holding a white parasol.

This Victorian-era house in Fayette, Ohio is currently being sold as a Bed & Bed breakfast business. It contains four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a spacious garden surrounded by mature shade tree. At $45,000 (£32,000) it’s listed at less than half the price of similar properties in the area.

The house was built in 1862 and, judging by its current state, it probably hasn’t seen much renovation work since then. As a perfect example of a time warp home, expect to spend all the cash you saved purchasing the property on new walls, carpets, light fixtures, plumbing, heating and so much more... 

This six-bedroom mansion in Montclair, New Jersey, was recently put on the market for an insanely low price of $10 (£7). Built in 1906 by famed architect Dudley S Van Antwerp, the property is as historic as they come, having been home to African American football star Aubrey Lewis, who in 1962 became one of the first black agents to join the FBI.

The Colonial-style mansion is advertised as being sold with 2.7 acres of land containing landscaped gardens, a gazebo and a tennis court. Clearly, there’s a catch and it’s not a small one either...

Upon purchase, the new owner must move the entire house to a new location in order to make space for property development on its current site. Shifting historic properties is common practice in the States, though bear in mind that moving costs alone can add an additional $100,000 (£70,600) to the selling price.  

Wade Barrow listed his Queen Anne-style house in Fort Worth, Texas for a mere $1 (70p) on Facebook back in 2016. In a bid to prevent developers from turning it into modern apartments, Barrow agreed to sell the historic property under one condition, the new owner would continue to live in and protect it from demolition. 

This Grade II-listed castle in the village of Gronant in North Wales is on the market for $2.1 million (£1.5m). Currently run as a wedding business, the castle contains 12 hotel-style rooms, 9 self-contained apartments and a chapel with a bell tower. It's being sold with beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds that are set over 3.6 acres of land.

Known locally as the ‘Downton Abbey of Wales’, the historic property was once home to the aristocratic Mostyn family, who built it during the 1880s. It’s filled with beautifully-restored Gothic Revival elements, including gilded vault ceilings, intricate plasterwork, chandeliers and restored stone fireplaces.

Though extensively renovated, each bedroom is furnished in the Victorian fashion and contains tall windows, wood panels and original fireplaces. Ensuite bathrooms contain both traditional cast iron baths and modern showers. Could this be the historic property investor's dream? There is one major catch...

The castle is being sold at auction, which means making quick decisions and hoping you’re not outbid by other interested parties. If you’re considering redeveloping the castle (into private apartments, perhaps), there will most likely be a lengthy application process that’s subject to layers of authorization, so make sure you do your homework first!

This five-bedroom terraced house in Kennington, London is on the market for $2.1 million (£1.5m). The property is a five-minute walk from a number of iconic landmarks, including the River Thames and Lambeth Palace. With access to Waterloo station and a number of London Underground lines, this central London home is an absolute steal.

Split over three levels, the house is currently laid out as a rental investment property, though it can also be converted into a spacious family home. With a double reception and kitchen with a stylish breakfast bar and dining area, how has its seller avoided the city’s inflated property prices?

As with the Welsh castle of your dreams, this elegant Central London home is being sold at auction, which means you’ll have to keep a close eye on bids and pay upfront without the aid of financing.

This two-bedroom terraced house in Manchester is on the market for a mere $137,000 (£97,500), which is a steal considering its size and location, right? Well, for that price you’d have to buy it at auction without a viewing. Apply at your own will...

Italy is giving away historic buildings for free, including this 11th-century castle in Lazio that was built by nobility. Yes, we just said free historic buildings, but as with all the properties on the list properties, there is a catch… It must be fully restored and transformed into a profitable tourism business. Some suggestions that have been put forward include a hotel, restaurant or spa.

This Renaissance castle in Tuscany is on the market for $795,000 (£567,000), which is roughly what you’d expect to pay for a one-bedroom apartment in London. Set up high amongst the undulating Tuscan hills, imagine owning a historic abode with its very own circular tower. Surely this is one deal that’s just too good to be true…

Sadly so, as the castle is in need of extensive restoration work. However, once restored, it has plenty of potential to be turned into a six-bedroom home, or even a boutique hotel business. Included in the asking price is 17 acres of surrounding land.

Forget investing in property, because for $350,000 (£250,000) you can nab yourself an entire island and live like a reclusive millionaire. Located in the picturesque Vaila Sound, west Shetland, off the north coast of Scotland, the sale includes two cottages surrounded by 63.75 acres of land.

You can forget moving in anytime soon, as the entire island is in need of redevelopment. Both cottages are in ruins, having been abandoned back in 1934.

This private island in southwest Scotland was recently listed for sale for offers exceeding $457,000 (£325,000). The island was advertised with three B-listed barns, a six-bedroom keeper’s cottage, harbor and private beach.

Images of the keeper’s cottage show a rustic interior with exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and a traditional wood burning stove. Sounds more than fair when you consider the island, right?

Idyllic as it sounds, this island has a dark history that's steered investors clear of buying it for over 50 years. In August 1960 two men discovered the body of a lighthouse keeper, Hugh Clarke, lying in a pool of blood in his own bed. He had been murdered by his assistant Robert Dickinson, who was eventually hanged for his unforgivable crime. The island was recently sold to a private investor, fetching well over its asking price.

A Tudor Revival house in Detroit is being auctioned at $1,000 (£700), making it one of the cheapest properties on the list. A new program set up by the Detroit Land Bank Authority has seen a number of similar properties put up for auction at incredibly low prices.

Most of the houses have been abandoned since the Detroit financial crisis of the 1990s. Not only that, potential owners must be Michigan residents and should be willing to live in their properties once they've been repaired, which means there's no chance of developing them into investment properties.

Here’s another Detroit Tudor Revival house that’s being auctioned at $1,000 (£700). Built in 1932, this house is particularly special due to its red brick chimney and intricate Arts and Crafts-patterned brickwork. Looks like the ideal home, right?

It might look pretty on the outside, but this house is in a shambolic state, with ripped-out plumbing fixtures and holes in almost every single wall. Still, with large windows, open plan spaces and a period fireplace, it's one of the nicer houses on the auction list.

Bear in mind that this property is located in the District 4, Yorkshire Woods neighburhood, which is known for its abandoned properties and high crime rates. Expect to be surrounded by similarly spectacular, yet empty, 1930s homes until further investment encourages redevelopment in the area.

At $36,500 (£26,000), this early 19th-century red brick house could be your historic dream home come true. Built in the early 1880s, the property is located in Crown Point, New York, a historic town that dates back to the beginning of the 18th century. 

For those who enjoy entertaining guests, the house features an open-plan kitchen and dining area, reception room and garden. Split over two levels, the property is advertised as containing four bedrooms and a spacious loft that has the potential to be converted into additional rooms.

Though in need of an interior update, it isn’t its condition that will have you thinking twice. The property is currently for sale at auction and with a number of considerably restrictive conditions, including no financing options, no open house and no viewings, unless you happen to be a licensed estate agent.

Built in 1820, this historic five-bedroom property in Salem City, New Jersey is on the market for $49,900 (£35,000). With pretty shuttered windows and a porticoed entrance, you’ve got to question why such a quaint Colonial-style home hasn’t been snapped up yet...

The property's bright and spacious interior is filled with well-preserved period elements, which includes its decorative crown moldings, handcrafted woodwork and Victorian fireplaces. Located across the road from the Salem City Courthouse and offices, this wonderfully-preserved historic house has the potential to be turned into a family home or professional office.

If the romance of French shutters and intricate plasterwork are your bag, this property could be yours for half the average market value. There’s just one catch: the sale includes a smaller, adjoining property and its current tenants. You’ll have to live in hope that you’re not also investing in the tenants from hell... Still looking for a low-cost lifestyle? These dream homes around the world cost nothing to run.