Jamieson spent $1,000 to have his “little Castle House’’ advertised on a real estate web site that draws clicks from Germans and other Europeans.
He sees a quiet and safe Prince Edward Island drawing interest as a new place to live for at least some people currently living in Germany – a country that faces a high threat from terrorism with the British Foreign Office recently warning that attacks in public places could be “indiscriminate’’.
A terrorist driving a lorry smashed through crowds at a Christmas market in central Berlin last week, killing 12 people and injuring nearly 50 others.
So Jamieson is pitching his Island home abroad as a beautiful property situated in a safe haven.
“For peace of mind,’’ his ad reads, “move to P.E.I.’’
He told The Guardian he believes “untold Germans would like to get out of their terrorist-prone place.’’
Adds Jamieson: “There a lot worse places in the world than P.E.I. The lifestyle here is more sane than most places.’’
Jamieson feels he has a better opportunity of fetching his asking price of $249,000 for a 2,000-square foot home built in 1990 by reaching out to prospective buyers in Germany, not just those much closer to home.
At $1,000, he says the investment was worth a shot.
“I think it’s innovative,’’ he says.
“I think it’s a good deal.’’
Jamieson is shunning the services of a realtor, choosing instead to try his hand at selling the house on his own.
He views every extra dollar made – or saved – in the sale of his house as bolstering his retirement fund.
Jamieson, who retired in 2009 after running a travel agency for roughly 30 years in Charlottetown, says he needs a healthy little pot of money to fuel an active, adventurous lifestyle.
“I want to travel,’’ says the 82-year-old widower.
“I’m still healthy. I need money to enjoy the rest of my life.’’
Jamieson, who parachuted just two years ago at the age of 80, believes he has plenty of energy – and years – left to make the most of the later stages of his life.
“As enjoyable as it’s been in the past, I want it to continue to be enjoyable,’’ he says.
“I still want to experience as many things as I can.’’
