After years of dwelling in San Francisco, California natives Malana Moberg, 59, and Roland Salvato, 64, have been prepared for a change.
Salvato had spent roughly 30 years working as a venture supervisor, whereas Moberg labored as a advertising advisor. After a stint working their very own firm, The RoMa Group, they determined to the countryside to start out a mattress and breakfast.
“We had lived in San Francisco and skilled every little thing that the fantastic metropolis has to supply and we needed to vary,” Moberg tells CNBC Make It. “We love touring and entertaining so we thought this might be an fascinating second profession for us.”
The chateau’s basis dates again to the twelfth century, and different elements of the property have been constructed within the 14th and fifteenth centuries.
Sylvain Elfassy
The concept to start out a mattress and breakfast did not come from a want to generate profits. As a substitute, Salvato and Moberg have been searching for a problem to tackle of their subsequent chapter.
“We clearly made good cash, but it surely wasn’t the objective of both of our lives,” Salvato says. “Expertise is way more vital than materials wealth. Any funding in our curiosity about life is worth it.”
The couple started their seek for a brand new residence, searching for a property that will not solely have house for loads of company, but additionally for animals.
“I all the time knew I needed to maneuver to the nation. I simply did not know which nation,” Salvato says.
They regarded in Spain, Portugal and North Africa, however France and its wealthy historical past stored calling to them. It additionally helped that Salvato already spoke French.
Earlier than the couple moved in, the chateau had not been upgraded in 50 years.
Roland Salvato
They scoured the nation searching for the right spot, ultimately ending up in a city referred to as Druelle Balsac. Right here, they discovered a chateau that felt excellent. The 6,458 sq. toes property was listed for 736,000 euros (roughly $835,000 USD) and included a primary chateau with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half loos, and a four-bedroom, two-bathroom visitor home.
The chateau’s basis dates again to the twelfth century, and different elements of the property have been constructed within the 14th and fifteenth centuries.
In 2017, Moberg and Salvato bought their San Francisco residence for $1.45 million and used that cash to buy the chateau in money. They put the remainder of the cash in direction of renovations and dwelling bills. The chateau hadn’t been renovated or had any upgrades in 50 years.
“We determined we wish to make it nice for us first, as a result of we’ve got to reside right here, we’ve got to be comfy,” Salvato says.
Stays on the chateau begin at $187 an evening.
Sylvain Elfassy for CNBC Make It
Renovations began in 2018 and are nonetheless ongoing. The 2 estimate they’ve spent about $332,000 on the work to date — together with the eating room, front room and kitchen.
However the property is producing some earnings for them. They have been in a position to open the guesthouse to guests for $238 an evening, and have three rooms within the chateau obtainable for $187 an evening.
‘A really costly French lesson’
At Château de Balsac, the couple affords week-long, all-inclusive workshops on yoga, cooking, e book arts, drawing and portray for roughly $4,500 per particular person.
The couple renovated the kitchen in 2020.
Roland Salvato
The workshops assist the mattress and breakfast keep booked exterior of the summer season, which is usually their busiest season. Final 12 months, the chateau hosted 60 company and generated $22,000 in income, in response to paperwork reviewed by CNBC Make It. The couple’s estimated month-to-month bills are round $2,212 for utilities, insurance coverage and Wi-Fi. Final 12 months, they paid about $2,000 in property taxes.
The enterprise is not worthwhile but, however the earnings helps them get by.
“That little sum of money does not sound like a lot but it surely actually helps us cowl loads of the prices of the chateau, which is admittedly what we have been seeking to do,” Moberg says.
The couple began renovations in 2018 and have spent over $300,000 to date.
Sylvain Elfassy for CNBC Make It
Till the mattress and breakfast turns a revenue, the couple is utilizing their financial savings to cowl dwelling bills.
“I suppose you can say this has been a really costly French lesson,” Salvato says.
And although the couple enjoys dwelling and internet hosting company on the chateau, they’re most proud that they’ve been in a position to breathe new life into the property.
“We’re merely caretakers of this piece of historical past and this legacy for the subsequent technology,” Salvato says.
The principle chateau has three bedrooms and three-and-a-half loos, and a four-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse.
Sylvain Elfassy for CNBC Make It
Conversions to USD have been finished on June 2, 2025, utilizing OANDA conversion charges of 1 euro to 1.13 USD. All quantities are rounded to the closest greenback.
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