Picture this: you’re frustrated about being late for class one day, and then you end up purchasing a private island for yourself and your girlfriend.
Getting onto the property ladder is challenging for almost everyone nowadays, leading people to explore various unconventional living options.
In a similar scenario, a 24-year-old man discovered a unique solution that suited him and managed to purchase an island, which he claimed cost him ‘less than a house deposit.’
Oliver Russell, who is of American and Finnish descent, spent many summers in Finland with friends and family.
Raised in Laguna Beach, California, Russell made the decision to move to Colorado in 2020, aiming to qualify for in-state tuition.
Facing difficulties in securing the tuition, he eventually chose to relocate to Helsinki for his studies in 2022.
“I fell in love with the idea of going to Finland and going to school there,” he said.
“As a Finnish citizen, I got free schooling and it has been awesome here and I have really enjoyed my time here.”
During his time in Finland, he met his girlfriend Helena Tomaszewska, 20. Their relationship must have flourished because in March 2024, the couple bought an island after discovering it on a property website.
Oliver noted: “I was looking more for fun, I was going through a real estate website and found the island.”
“It ended up being cheaper than a normal lot I could buy so we jumped on it.”
The two-and-a-half-acre private island had been unoccupied for a decade and was listed for $36,569, but Oliver and Helena managed to purchase it for $31,000.
They first set foot on their island in June 2024, finding it covered in trees and moss, making it largely uninhabitable.
Nevertheless, the couple has been diligently working on transforming the island. Their goal is to build a summer cottage and a sauna, an essential aspect of Finnish culture according to Oliver.
The first step Oliver took was clearing trees to create space for a deck.
The couple has already built a deck for their tent and an outhouse, spending most weekends working on the island. Oliver, who had no previous construction experience, describes the work as ‘fun.’
“We wanted to get the base camp set up so we have a comfortable place to stay while the big building happens next year,” he said, mentioning that he is currently working on a shower structure.
“It is a very big commitment, especially now with me and Helena both being students,” Oliver continued.
“Time is a big thing; doing research and getting work done on the island has been hard.”
He added: “Every time we go to the island it doesn’t feel real that it is ours; it is so nice to be out there.”
“It is so quiet and because it is an island nobody can stumble across it.”