Moving house is considered one of the most stressful and financially challenging things you can do, but some locations offer an incentive that could help ease the burden. Around the world, towns, cities and even states are offering cash rewards to new residents who relocate there.
Click or scroll on to explore the places that'll pay you to stay and discover what homes in the area look like...
Nestled in the Swiss Alps is the charming village of Albinen. Despite its picturesque location, the town's population has dwindled in recent years, leading the local council to take action. In an attempt to entice new residents, the town introduced generous housing subsidies in 2018 designed to encourage investment in homes in the area.
As laid out in a 2023 amendment to the regulations, the subsidies apply to the purchase of existing homes, the construction of new homes, the purchase and residential conversion of existing buildings including farm structures – or simply the cost of a conversion project if a structure is already owned.
Whether buying or building, the minimum amount invested in the home must be CHF 200,000 (£180k/$218k) to qualify and applications must be based on a purchase agreement or building application with construction estimates.
Crucially, non-Swiss applicants must have a Swiss residence permit C, which is granted after five or ten years of living in Switzerland.
Provided you meet the requirements, individuals up to the age of 45 are eligible for a one-off sum of CHF 25,000 (£23k/$27k) and couples within the same age bracket are entitled to CHF 50,000 (£45k/$55k), while CHF 10,000 (£9k/$10.9k) is offered for each child up to the age of 18.
Families must reside in their new home for 10 years after the payment has been made. If the property is sold before this time or if the household moves away and gives up tax residence, the full amount must be repaid. This only applies to individual and couple payment contributions, not child contributions.
Property prices in Albinen are pretty competitive, so it could be a good place to make a long-term investment. The median price for houses on the market is CHF 643,903 (£580k/$703k), while the median apartment is listed at CHF 280,574 (£253k/$306k).
Pictured here is a cosy chalet currently for sale in Albinen for CHF 370,000 (£333k/$404k) with VAL Group. Constructed in 1900, the charming space spans 581 square feet (54sqm) and includes a balcony and terrace overlooking the mountain peaks. Quaint shuttered windows and rustic wood beams celebrate the home's heritage, while modern kitchen and bathroom amenities bring the space up to scratch for contemporary living.
This particular property is ready to move into, however, it's worth noting that for home-building projects and renovations, subsidies will only be paid after the construction bill has been submitted.
Defined by its breathtaking mountains, forests and lakes, the region of Extremadura in the west of Spain is home to one of the country's smallest populations. In a bid to breathe new life into the area and boost the economy, the local government is incentivising digital nomads and remote workers to relocate to the Ambroz Valley, a scenic spot in the north of Extremadura.
Called the Live in Ambroz programme, up to €15,000 (£12.6k/$15.3k) is available to qualifying applicants looking to make the move to this rural stretch of Spain.
Applicants must be able to work remotely and completely online and they must commit to residing in the area for a minimum of two years.
According to European TV network euronews, who spoke with local authorities, the scheme is open to people living in other areas of Spain as well as abroad, provided they haven't lived in Extremadura for at least six months. Applicants from outside the country will need to be approved for a digital nomad visa by the Spanish government.
Financial incentives are available for around 200 remote workers, and the scheme, which was announced in September 2024, will reportedly remain open until September 2025 or until all funding has been allocated.
Extremadura government officials told euronews that the grants available to each eligible applicant will depend on a few factors. Women, people under 30 years old and people who choose to move to towns with populations of less than 5,000 may qualify for a handout of €10,000 (£8.4k/$10.2k). Successful applicants outside this criteria will receive €8,000 (£6.7k/$8.2k).
After two years, prioritised applicants in the first category who decide to stay for a further 12 months will be awarded a second payment of €5,000 (£4.2k/$5.1k), while applicants in the second category will receive a further €4,000 (£3.4k/$4.1k).
According to Spanish real estate portal Indomio, house prices in Extremadura as of October 2024 were €102 per square foot (£86/$104) or €1,102 per square metre (£925/$1.1k).
Accommodation in the Ambroz Valley varies from apartments, as seen here in the town of Hervás, to single-family homes and historic properties.
If the initiative proves successful in repopulating the region's remote corners, the Extremadura government could extend the programme to other rural areas. Applications can be made online via the Extremadura General Electronic Access Point.
Over in wild and beautiful Alaska, there's a lucrative annual incentive designed to encourage residents to stay in this remote corner of the world for the long term.
The Permanent Fund Dividend rewards people who have lived in the state for a full calendar year and intend to remain Alaskan residents with a yearly sum.
The annual amount comes from a state-owned fund that's fed by Alaska's oil revenues, so the money varies depending on the stock market. In 2024, for example, it paid out around $1,702 (£1.4k) to every eligible adult residing in the state.
Perhaps surprisingly, Alaska is a fairly pricey state to buy in and the average property price in December 2024 was $371,354 (£306k).
As with every state, house prices vary from region to region. The state capital, Juneau, has a small-town feel that combines modern conveniences with one of the largest swathes of wilderness in the US. It also has Alaska's highest property prices, with the average home value in the city reaching $482,760 (£398k) as of December 2024.
Pictured here is a row of contemporary wooden homes staggered across the hillside in Douglas, a residential island suburb just over the water from downtown Juneau.
Other areas offer more affordable property markets. Average home values in Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, are around $100,000 (£82k) lower than Juneau at $387,646 (£319k).
There's a wide variety of home types to choose from in Anchorage, ranging from condos, townhouses and multi-family units to single-family homes, farms and large acreages.
Photographed here is the interior of a spacious family home previously for sale in Anchorage, which had been staged by Jan Pennington and Marilyn Carpenter, owners of Home Staging Alaska.
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan is offering a one-off payment of CA$50,000 (£28.5k/$35k) to healthcare workers in high-priority roles who relocate to its most rural regions. The scheme is known as the Rural and Remote Recruitment Incentive and seeks to address the ongoing shortage of medical staff in remote communities.
Applicants must have moved to one of 54 specified locations to be eligible for the grant. The quaint city of Weyburn, pictured here, is one of the places on the relocation list.
Other locations include Moose Jaw, Shellbrook and Turtleford – an aerial shot of the latter town in the south of the province is shown here. According to the last census, Turtleford has a population of 503, a number that's shrunk in recent years. It's home to a handful of shops, as well as a curling and ice-skating rink.
Applicants for the grant must have begun employment in a permanent full-time position prior to submitting their application. The incentive is paid out over the course of three years, during which time the recipient must remain in employment.
As well as working in one of the specified locations, successful applicants must hold one of nine high-priority roles. These include registered nurses, psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners, lab technologists and assistants, x-ray technicians and continuing care assistants.
Pictured here is a large family home in Yorkton in southeastern Saskatchewan, which was previously on the market. As of January 2025, the average house price in the rural city, which is one of the prioritised locations, was CA$249,000 (£142k/$173k).
Over in southwestern Saskatchewan, the town of Leader offers more quirky housing options for those looking to take advantage of the grant. Captured here is what used to be a row of abandoned stores on the main street, which have since been converted into characterful homes.
According to data from Canadian realtors Royal LePage in January 2025, the average house price in Leader is CA$180,633 (£103k/$125k), making it an extremely affordable place for relocating healthcare workers to buy.
Chile is looking to draw budding entrepreneurs from around the world to its bustling capital Santiago. Start-Up Chile is a government-backed business accelerator programme that offers up to 75 million Chilean pesos (£61k/$74k) to applicants with promising early-stage startups who choose to grow their businesses in Chile.
The nominated team leader from each fledgling business must be aged 18 or older, hold at least 10% equity in the company and be working full-time on their startup.
There are three programme levels depending on the position your business is in. The Build programme provides a fund of 15 million Chilean pesos (£12.2k/$14.9k) to entrepreneurs with a validated idea or early-stage prototype. The Ignite programme offers 25 million Chilean pesos (£20.4k/$24.8k) to those with a functional product, while the Growth programme for startups looking to expand comes with a boost of 75 million Chilean pesos (£61k/$74k). Team leaders must live and work in Santiago until the fund is spent.
Taken from the city's San Cristóbal Hill, this photograph captured rows of upmarket homes in the prestigious neighbourhoods of Las Condes and Vitacura, some of the most expensive enclaves in the city.
Apartments are among the most common housing type in the centre of Santiago. This space in one of the city's many accommodation blocks features a wall of glass that recesses, creating a seamless flow from the kitchen to the sheltered balcony.
In Santiago, apartments are more expensive to buy than homes. According to global real estate platform Properstar, the median price of an apartment for sale is just under 195,100 Chilean pesos per square foot (£159/$193), the equivalent of around 2.1 million Chilean pesos per square meter (£1.7k/$2.1k), as of November 2024.
Pictured here is a row of colourful homes in the city's artsy Bellavista district. Exclusive neighbourhoods such as Vitacura and Bella Artes are among the most expensive in the city, while Ñuñoa to the east of the centre of Santiago offers more affordable accommodation.
As well as funding, the accelerator programme provides successful applicants with access to valuable amenities across Santiago, including a free coworking space, mentoring and pitch training. The scheme will also help non-Chilean applicants secure a two-year temporary residency visa.
Have you ever dreamt of running away from it all and moving to a rugged island with only sheep and a few hardy locals to keep you company? If the answer's yes, you're in luck because the Irish government has a generous grant available to those looking to embrace remote, rural living.
Around 30 islands off the coast of Ireland are cut off daily by the tide and are not connected to the mainland by a bridge or road. As part of a repopulation initiative, newcomers to these isles willing to tackle a renovation project could receive a sizable financial boost.
The policy, known as Our Living Islands, was launched in June 2023 and is designed to boost the dwindling population on these remote and hard-to-reach isles, including the stunning Arranmore (pictured), just off the coast of County Donegal.
Under the policy's Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, eligible candidates will receive a minimum grant of €50,000 (£42k/$51.5k) to breathe life back into a vacant house or up to €70,000 (£58.6k/$72.2k) to revive a derelict home that's structurally unsound. For context, the median sold price on Arranmore in 2023 was just €71,573 (£60k/$74k), so the grant could stretch a long way.
The funds are for the sole purpose of carrying out building works, such as structural improvements, installing insulation and redecoration. The grants only apply to a building that was constructed before 2007 and that has been vacant for at least two years. You must intend to live in the home as your primary residence or lease the property out.
We think this incredible derelict lighthouse more than fits the bill. On the market in January 2025 for €550,000 (£461k/$567k), the 200-year-old local landmark is positioned on Inishmore Island or Inis Mór, where the Oscar-nominated film The Banshees of Inisherin was filmed.
The unique property stands on more than two acres (0.8ha) of emerald green isle, right next to the ancient Dún Eochla monument, a Celtic stone ring fort that's thought to date between 550 and 800 AD.
The Irish government has also pledged money to improve the islands' infrastructures, including health and education services and high-speed broadband in the hope that (very) remote workers might be attracted to island life.
Homes on the islands of Clare, Achill and Toraigh are also eligible under the scheme. Applications are open if you're up for an ambitious renovation.
If you're not afraid to relocate, then you could soon be a landowner in the Australian outback. The district of Quilpie is incredibly remote, located 621 miles (1,000km) west of Brisbane. To try and encourage people to move to the area and expand the housing stock, Quilpie Shire Council established the Home Owner Grant, which will pay eligible applicants AUD$20,000 (£10k/$12.3k) to build a home in the community.
Since there are plots of land in the area listed for around the same price, the scheme will essentially give people a free plot of land to build on, but there are some stipulations...
For starters, you must be a new homeowner, promise to build a property that's worth less than AUD$750,000 (£377k/$462k) and commit to living in Quilpie for at least six months. The grant will be paid out per new home, not to each applicant for the same home, and it applies to all township areas across Quilpie Shire: Adavale, Eromanga, Cheepie, Quilpie and Toompine.
The grant may also be available for relocated homes that have been substantially renovated or a relocated new home that has not yet been occupied.
Throughout Quilpie Shire, you'll find plenty of vacant plots of distinctive red earth waiting to be developed. This particular site is in Adavale, a tiny town within the wider Quilpie government area with a population of just 15.
You can find lots of land for sale in the region from as little as AUD$50,000 (£25k/$31k). Many sites already have power, water and sewage connections in place to make construction projects easier.
Pictured here are some of the existing homes in Quilpie. These brick-built bungalows line one of the main streets and give an idea of the housing stock in the area.
In December 2024, the estimated median property value in Quilpie was AUD$151,000 (£76k/$93k), though a home was on the market on this particular street in January 2025 for AUD$230,000 (£121k/$152k).
It's hoped that the Home Owner Grant will result in the building of around four or five new homes, easing the housing shortage affecting regional Australia and helping to rekindle a dwindling community.
In an attempt to attract creatives and digital nomads, the US city of Tulsa in Oklahoma created the Tulsa Remote programme. The scheme pays out $10,000 ($8.2k) to eligible applicants who meet four key requirements.
Firstly, you must be able to move to Tulsa within the next 12 months and be over the age of 18. Eligible candidates must have full-time remote employment or be self-employed outside of Oklahoma. Plus, applicants must be eligible to work in the United States, so this might cause issues for those relocating from other countries.
Those who make the move will gain access to Gradient, a dynamic coworking space in Downtown Tulsa with complimentary snacks and beverages, as well as monthly workshops with local entrepreneurs and community-building events to connect you with like-minded people.
In December 2024, the median listing home price in Tulsa was $198,273 (£163k), so it could be an option for those looking for an affordable, culture-rich city to relocate to.
The process of applying for the Tulsa Remote programme is extensive. It includes a written application followed by a 30-minute video interview to assess suitability. A decision will be made up to two weeks after the interview before background checks and income verification are carried out.
For successful applicants, Tulsa has a diverse range of housing options and attractive suburbs to choose from. Pictured here is a grand home in the central Cherry Street neighbourhood, where the average house value is an affordable $250,248 (£206k).
Other suburbs can be costlier. Perched on the banks of the Arkansas River, the neighbourhood of Maple Ridge offers some of Tulsa's more expensive housing options, with average home values of around $522,387 (£430k). A two-bedroom corner condo in the coveted 2300 Riverside Drive building (pictured) was on the market for $460,000 (£376k) in January 2025.
The Tulsa Remote grant is distributed according to your accommodation choice. Renters with a qualifying lease will receive monthly payments amounting to the total grant, while homebuyers who purchase a qualifying home can choose to receive a lump sum or monthly amounts.
The rural municipality of Pipestone in southwestern Manitoba in Canada is hoping to boost its economic growth by encouraging people to set up home in the area.
The region is offering grants of up to CAD$4,000 (£2.3k/$2.8k) for those buying a property in the region, or as much as CAD$6,000 (£3.4k/$4.2k) towards the cost of building a new home.
There are also grants for those building or renovating multi-family homes or buying farmland to put to good use. The grants are designed to build a stronger, healthier community by encouraging residential and commercial development.
The rural municipality of Pipestone encompasses the communities of Reston, Pipestone, Cromer and Sinclair, which have a combined population of just over 1,400 residents, so the property market here isn't exactly booming. In fact, the median home value here in January 2024 was CAD$174,000 (£99k/$121k). But, if you know where you look, you can find yourself a truly lovely home.
This spacious fixer-upper, for example, lies on a leafy street in Reston and was previously on the market in May 2024 for just CAD$225,000 (£128k/$156k).
An ideal family home, the affordable property was built in 1977 and has plenty of appealing features that the new owner might want to retain, such as timber floors and brick fireplaces.
The interior stretches almost 1,200 square feet (111sqm) across two floors. The property benefits from a living room, an eat-in kitchen, a laundry zone, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Patio doors connect the interior with a multi-level deck and the fenced backyard. There are also three garden sheds and a basement level that has been partly renovated.
Did you know that more than 50 financial incentives are available to Baltimore homebuyers and homeowners? And one in particular could be of great interest to those looking to make the bustling city their home.
The Buying Into Baltimore programme essentially helps people with their down payment and closing costs, with up to $5,000 (£4.1k) available to those lucky enough to be successful in their application. However, the scheme is a lottery and only 20 homebuyers will be selected to receive funds from a pool of eligible applicants.
To be eligible for the lottery, homebuyers must also attend and complete all requirements of the Trolley Tour event; essentially a workshop where you'll learn about homebuying, explore the city's neighbourhoods and connect with realtors.
Following the event, applicants have 12 business days to make an offer on a home, have the offer accepted, obtain a contract of sale and submit the required paperwork to be eligible for the lottery. They must also contribute at least $1,000 (£818) of their own money when making the purchase and intend to live in the home as their primary residence.
The lottery isn't just restricted to first-time buyers – anyone looking to buy a home in Baltimore can apply. However, you must have a fixed-term mortgage to be eligible for the cost assistant programme and the mortgage amount can't exceed $731,400 (£602k) for a single-family home.
As of December 2024, the average house price in Baltimore is an affordable $181,968 (£150k), so your money can stretch a long way here.
Pictured here, Baltimore is renowned for its historic 19th- and 20th-century rowhouses, which make up a large swathe of the city's housing stock.
The narrow alley houses in Baltimore's Fells Point neighbourhood are especially iconic, with their brightly coloured exteriors and quaint sash windows. This area of the city, which has a waterfront on the Patapsco River, has significantly more expensive homes than the rest of Baltimore, with average house values of $342,208 (£282k).
However, its adjacent neighbour, Inner Harbor, features the highest property costs of all in the area, with values as of December 2024 standing at $455,355 (£376k).
More affordable neighbourhoods include Johnston Square and Old Town in East Baltimore.
The city of New Haven in the US state of Connecticut is granting as much as $20,000 (£16k) to help new residents get on the property ladder and expand its shrinking population under the Down Payment Assistance programme. To obtain the sum, you'll need to be a first-time buyer and attend a free Homebuyer Education class.
Although the incentive is a loan, there is no interest to pay and after five years, the debt is 100% forgiven. However, if the applicant sells up within that period, the balance of the loan will need to be repaid to the council.
As of December 2024, the average house price in New Haven was $302,597 (£249k) according to Zillow and there are plenty of houses to be found for every budget.
Lined with cherry trees, Wooster Square was established in the early 1800s and is one of New Haven's most historic neighbourhoods. Beautiful clapboard homes in a plethora of vibrant colours line the streets surrounding the square, offering a unique housing stock for those looking to settle in the city.
House prices in the charming district will set buyers back around $389,145 (£321k) according to December 2024 data, and with prices rising 8% over the previous 12 months, it could be a great area to invest in.
Meanwhile, in the east of the city is the neighbourhood of Fair Haven Heights, which stretches along the waterfront of the Quinnipiac River. Perched on a hill outside of the hustle and bustle of the centre, the area is home to leafy parks and quiet residential streets, combining proximity to nature with the conveniences of a city.
Housing options are varied, ranging from condos and snug rowhouses on the river to bungalows and larger Victorian Gothic and Colonial Revival homes further away from the water. The average home value here is $272,347 (£224k), making it a relatively affordable option for first-time buyers.
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