The past six months have seen many of us hunkering down in our houses and embracing a whole new way of living. While few would claim to have discovered a love of videoconferencing, the opportunity to spend more time in our homes or out in the sunshine has been the pandemic’s silver lining. If you’re looking for a way to continue the WFH trend post-virus, we’ve put together a list of beautiful properties that offer isolation and business potential in equal parts.

Featuring the steep, pitched roofed and clapboard siding typical of Cape Cod-style homes, this next property is timelessly charming. Built in 1987, it has been kept in great shape by the current owners and requires little to no updating. The house is located in the heart of the Connecticut countryside and is surrounded by copses and pastureland.

Inside, the property is bright and airy with the living spaces flowing effortlessly into one another. There’s a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar as well as a dining room with hardwood floors. The main family area is the sitting room; a spacious yet cosy space filled with light from the large sash windows. There’s plenty of space for the whole family to isolate here thanks to the four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

If you’re looking to convert your home into a business, an extension on the side of the house offers enormous potential. The space is divided into a kitchen and living area, which features a vaulted ceiling with double-height windows, and a studio space. 

The open-plan studio space is flooded with light, making it ideal for use as a workshop or artist’s studio. It could also function as a teaching area for yoga, Pilates or meditation classes. On the market for £371,000, whatever your work-from-home dreams this beautiful property is sure to deliver the goods.

If Europe is more your scene, what about this rustic chapel conversion located just outside the village of Proença-a-Velha in western Portugal? Built in the 19th century, the house has been renovated over the past few years and now boasts a contemporary, open-plan interior. Situated on four hectares of sloping grassland, the property could make a profitable business opportunity for those looking to rear livestock or start growing crops. It's on the market for just £170,000 ($213k).

Step inside the building and you’re immediately struck by the vaulted ceilings and intricate woodwork. The chapel’s original granite blocks have been preserved and repointed; contrasting with the wooden floorboards and whitewashed mezzanine level. There’s a spacious kitchen with a four-ring hob, a cosy lounge area with a wood-burning stove and a sleeping nook tucked behind a bookcase.

The innovative design helps optimise the compact floor plan while still retaining an airy, open-plan feel. The mezzanine level houses an additional sleeping area as well as a ‘wardrobe’ space with clothes storage and seating. An extension on the side of the house reveals a wood-panelled bathroom with a shower, composting toilet and tap for lab-tested drinking water.

The property’s business potential lies in its extensive grounds. There are already around 150 mature cork trees, a smattering of young fruit trees and a couple of beehives ready to welcome their first colonies. There is also a chicken coop and solar-powered electric fencing that could be used to create multiple livestock paddocks. If the hobby farm lifestyle is calling you, this established small holding could prove a sage investment in years to come.

A cortijo is a rural dwelling, typically composed of a large, stone-walled house and various agricultural outbuildings. The south of Spain is awash with these traditional farmhouses, though not all can rival the beauty of this picturesque whitewashed villa. Located between the Andalusian cities of Jaen and Granada, the property is on the market for £210,000 ($263k) and comes with a built-in source of income.

Christened La Casa en la Colina or ‘The House on the Hill’, the charming two-storey farmhouse has been recently refurbished and has all the necessary amenities. There are two bathrooms and four bedrooms with views out over the rolling fields and distant mountains. The property also has a small but perfectly formed kitchen and a cosy living-cum-dining room.

One of the cortijo’s main draws is the fabulous terrace with shaded pergolas and a rectangular pool with swim jets. For artisans or remote workers, there is also a spacious garage that could function as an office, workshop or studio. Though the house sits alone on the hill, the nearby village of Montejicar offers ample opportunities for socialising (at a safe distance of course).

The current owners subsist partially off the money generated from the farm’s almond and olive oil production. The 3.2-hectare estate has 210 olive trees and 130 almond trees which could offer a yearly income of £7,200 ($9,050) once mature. There is also the option to rent out rooms in the house on Airbnb for an additional source of revenue. With ample space for growing other crops, this gorgeous cortijo is brimming with potential for any budding farmer. 

Love the idea of rearing livestock but not so keen on sending your furry friends to slaughter? Then alpaca farming could be the vocation you’ve been searching for! Docile, affectionate and low maintenance, these cuddly creatures are prized for their wool and don’t need a whole lot of land to graze on. Complete with a fully operational alpaca farm, this modern bungalow is on the market for  £220,000 ($276k) and could be a great business option.

Built in 2019, the house is located in a peaceful hamlet 15 kilometres from the town of Ruffec. The property and accompanying barn sit on 4.9 hectares of grassland with views out over the surrounding countryside. The estate also includes a field of mature poplar trees and a stream that runs through the land currently used for grazing.

The house itself is essentially finished save for the external wood cladding. It offers an open-plan living room and kitchen and three bedrooms, one with an ensuite. There is also an additional bathroom, a useful utility room and a study, making remote working a breeze.

The property is being sold together with the existing alpaca rearing business. The land is already divided up into fields with stock fencing and gates, offering space for a maximum of 40 alpacas. The current owners will provide all the necessary training on how to care for, breed and shear the animals; as well as how to market wool products and maintain the farm’s website. A home and business rolled into one, this property is not one to miss.

Tucked away amongst the oaks and pines of the Appalachian forest, this 18th-century farmhouse is a real diamond in the rough. Painstakingly restored and decorated by the current occupants, the house has retained all of its antique charm without compromising on comfort. Set into 40 hectares of woodland and pasture, the estate offers plenty to keep socially distant inhabitants occupied.

With its exposed, hand-hewn beams, colourful textiles and period features, this property packs a punch when it comes to character. The light-filled kitchen-diner features a vintage farmhouse sink and vibrant Talavera tiles for a cheerful bohemian feel. Two cosy living rooms are decorated in a similar eclectic style, each completed by an original fireplace.

The property has four beautifully finished bedrooms; a spacious master set into the eaves and three singles with exposed beams and large sash windows. If you do want to invite guests to visit, there’s also a fully renovated guest cottage located on the grounds. Complete with a snug living room, kitchen and bedroom; the additional space allows you to entertain while keeping family and friends at a safe distance!

The estate’s hidden gem is a traditional post-and-beam barn just a stone’s throw from the main house. Offering bags of business potential for budding artists, the outbuilding has a fully functioning pottery studio heated by a wood-burning stove. If you’re not so potty about pots, the barn also houses several horse stalls, making a small equestrian business a real possibility. Whatever your post-pandemic dreams, this property has the space and seclusion to make them a reality.

Our next property takes us to the east coast of Scotland, not far from the capital city of Edinburgh. With over six hectares of private land, the house is sufficiently isolated from the outside world but still has nearby links to the country’s arterial motorway network. Known locally as Overton Farmhouse, the grey-stone building is overflowing with period character and has been carefully updated and decorated.

Accessed via a sweeping gravel drive, the three-storey property has plenty of space for large families. On the ground floor there are several reception rooms, a light-filled kitchen that leads out onto the garden and a practical utility room. There are also several storage rooms (perfect for stocking up between grocery shops) and a good-sized study for any remote workers.

Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms split over the first and second floors of the house. There is also a roomy family bathroom with a bath and shower and additional storage space in the eaves. Step outside and you’ll find a carefully manicured lawn, a terrace area with seating and a well-established vegetable garden with a polytunnel.

If a riding school or equestrian business is what you’re after, then look no further than this property. The estate includes a well-maintained five-hectare paddock as well as a portal-framed shed with an 1,860-square-metre footprint. With everything in place to successfully launch a new line of work, Overton Farmhouse could be the post-corona business opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

Living off the land need not mean giving up a life of luxury. With this incredible country estate, you can very much have your cake and eat it. Grand, isolated and with an integrated source of income, the Tuscan villa is ideal for those seeking an existence far from the madding crowds and any risk of coronavirus contagion.

This vineyard comes with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the historic farmhouse has been sympathetically renovated in keeping with the traditional Pisan style. Spread over four floors, the villa has a grand entranceway with geometric concrete tiles, several bright reception rooms and a dining room with access to the terrace and exposed wooden beams.

Up the majestic stone staircase, there are six large bedrooms and three bathrooms, all with terracotta floors and views of the estate. The farmhouse also benefits from a cosy library room with built-in bookshelves as well as a storage room and a cellar. Across the way, there is an additional house with two separate apartments that could be rented out or used as guest accommodation.

The villa sits on 8.2 hectares of land including 3.2 hectares of vineyards and olive groves. The estate is already setup for the commercial production of wine and olive oil with the current owners happy to teach potential buyers the ropes. An amazing investment for anyone looking to start a new life in the Italian countryside, this Tuscan jewel represents the pinnacle of the work-from-home lifestyle.

Do you dream of days spent leisurely picking fruit and listening to birdsong from a shaded veranda? While the reality of running a working farm may differ from your bucolic vision, this property on the market for £598,000 ($749k) certainly delivers on setting. Nestled in the verdant Virginia countryside on just over four hectares of land, the custom-built home offers stunning views out over the leafy orchards and rolling hills.

Step inside and you’ll be equally impressed. The house boasts an expansive double-height living space with a lounge, reading area and open-plan kitchen. Follow the hardwood flooring round and there’s also a more formal dining room that is perfect for entertaining those within your social bubble. The house is enclosed on each side by covered and screened porches that let you take in the changing weather – storms, blue skies, sunsets – from every angle.

Though hosting may not be on your mind right now, this property does offer plenty of space if you’re looking to self-isolate with your nearest and dearest. The upper level of the house has four spacious bedrooms as well as three bathrooms – one with a roll-top bath. Finally, there’s an unfinished basement currently used for bike storage that could function as a workshop, den or cinema room.

The farmhouse’s primary economic advantage comes is its extensive grounds. The land could be easily fenced off to create pens for livestock and comes complete with a range of different outbuildings, including a chicken coop. There is also a variety of fruit-bearing trees and bushes and raised beds currently used to grow rhubarb and strawberries. For those seeking a life of self-sufficiency, this property is one to watch.

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