It's Location, Location, Location
By Chris Petry
You’ve heard the old phrase, “location, location, location.” It’s everything in real estate, they say. Now, one assumes that refers to the price your home will sell for based on its geographic location. Homes located in more popular, more populated, locations might be ascribed more value in the market than homes located in less popular, less populated areas. If your home is close to shops, restaurants, airports, golf courses, schools and houses of worship, it might be more popular with buyers and thus command a higher price. What if your home is located in a really, really unique location, however? Like, I don’t know, on a scary high cliff looking over the snow-capped Himalayas? The parcels of real estate we’re going to take a look at today can be found in some very unusual locations, indeed.
Drina River House, Bajina Basta, Serbia- This house, rather interestingly, sits on rock protruding from the middle of the Drina River near the border of Bosnia Herzegovina and Serbia. The original structure was erected in 1968 and has, tragically, been destroyed and rebuilt a grand total of seven times since then. Note to self, don’t build a house in the middle of the river. Don’t build a house in the middle of the river. Despite the homes propensity to flooding, the home remains a popular tourist attraction and its popularity has only grown since the town began hosting an annual regatta in the mid-90s. Can’t get to Serbia anytime soon? I have a secret for you: in the small West Virginian town of Gauley Bridge, at the convergence of the Gauley, Kanawha and New Rivers, you’ll find a similar phenomenon. Over 70s years ago, a bus was placed on the rock and converted into a scenic homestead, to the astonishment of all who happen to be pulling off Rt. 60 for gas and snacks on their way up the mountain. Yes, your math is correct. The WV river house predates the Serbian one. Someone needs to get my home state some better PR.
Falling Water, Mill Run, Pennsylvania- Continuing our discussion of homes built on the water, this iconic Frank Lloyd Wright development is a must-see attraction, in the heart of the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern, PA. The home was built in 1936 and was opened for tours starting in the early 1960s. The construction was commissioned by Edgar Kaufmann Sr., owner of Kaufmann’s Department Store in Downtown, Pittsburgh. The original structure, erected in 1916, was intended as a summer retreat for employees (there’s a novel concept in 2025). In the 30s, the Kaufmann’s decided to convert it into their private residence and hired famed builder, Frank Lloyd Wright, to turn it into the architectural marvel we see today. As one might expect, having a creek running under your living room can cause some structural issues overtime so the house has undergone several renovations since the early 90s to preserve its grandeur for future generations.
The Meteora, Trikala, Thessaly, Greece- The Meteora doesn’t quite rest upon a massive rock but rather, is a massive rock. The Monastery buildings that dot its summit are between 900 and 1,300 feet above ground level so there’s little fear of flooding. In the mid-14th century, the construction of monasteries began and today, there are 24 atop the Earthen pillar. As you can imagine, access is rather difficult, even today. As a result, there monks who have remained stationary at the summit for several years at a time. I think I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that the site was featured rather prominently in the climax of the 1981 James Bond adventure, For Your Eyes Only.
Paro Taktsang, Paro Valley, Bhutan- Continuing the trend of religious structures found in rather inconvenient places, we’re bouncing over to the Paro Taktsang (or Tiger’s Nest) in the Kingdom of Bhutan. If you’re scared of heights, this place is not for you. If you’re a burgeoning Buddhist Monk of the Tibetan tradition or simply appreciate the architectural wonders of the 17th century, this place is definitely worth a look. Each of the four main temples that make up the structure were built in a way that they adapted to the natural topography, while connecting to each other with stairs carved into the rock. Monks tend to inhabit the monastery for periods of three years before descending into the Paro Valley below.
In 2023, Bhutan, a peaceful kingdom but notoriously inaccessible to non-government visitors, revised their Visa policy in 2023, permitting tours for only 1,000 Nu. That’s about $12 US. So grab a bowl of hearty Ema Datshi (that’s a delicious chili pepper and yak cheese soup) on your way up the mountain and get your camera ready.
Petra, Ma’an Governorate, Jordan- Petra is not one piece of real estate, but many. It’s an ancient city, cut into desert rock in Southern, Jordan. It’s actually one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and was inhabited as early as 7000 BC. It remained hidden from the modern world until the early part of the 19th century when it was rediscovered by Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Since then, it’s been a valuable tourist attraction for the Kingdom of Jordan.
Lagangarbh Cottage, Glen Coe, Scotland, UK- The last stop on our tour of homes in bizarre places around the world is in… Scotland? Yep. What makes this home so unique is that it’s, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere. One can only gaze in awe at the boldness and self-assurance it takes to build a small home this far removed from… well, anything. In all actuality, it’s situated at the base of the mountain, Buachaille Etive Mor in the Scottish Highlands and is the ONLY manmade structure on the moor. For some, that would be lonely. For others, peace on Earth. For lovers of solitude, the cottage is rentable and is often used as a touch-off point for mountaineers.
