Suppose that the key to midlife makeover is hidden behind the weathered walls of a centuries-old French château deep in the countryside? For Malana Moberg and Roland Salvato, it wasn’t merely a pipe dream it became their new reality. After years of life in the San Francisco business world, the two decided that experience is much more important than material wealth, as Salvato told CNBC Make It, and went about looking for a venture that would satisfy their curiosity and passion for hosting.
Their search took them to Druelle Balsac, where they chanced upon a 12th-century château for sale for $835,000. It was not only the history they were interested in; it was the promise of a life where each day held some sort of interest. They sold their condominium in San Francisco for $1.45 million, paid cash for the château, and spent the rest on repairs and living costs. “We decided we want to make it great for us first, because we have to live here, we have to be comfortable,” Salvato said.
Restoring an old French house is not easy. The couple has already spent more than $332,000 on renovations and it’s not done yet. Restoration experts warn that the owners must negotiate a maze of regulations, historical reports, and local authority permits if the property is a listed monument. Getting genuine materials, expert advice, and ongoing maintenance is in the deal, but so are tax incentives and government grants if you open your doors to paying customers for a limited number of days annually.
Figures-wise, it’s quite a bit more than an account of nightly room rates, say, for an overnight slumber party at a château B&B. Moberg and Salvato rent their château rooms at $187 and the guesthouse for $238 a night, which is in keeping with average rates for boutique B&Bs, which range from $100 to $400+ per night, season and amenity-dependent. But here’s how their business model is so game-changing: week-long, all-inclusive workshop yoga, cooking, book arts, painting are for $4,500 per person. These activity-based things not only fill rooms off-season but bring visitors who want to experience more than where to stay.
Experiential travel is boutique hotels’ gold rush. Throughout France, bed-and-breakfasts are evolving into cooking schools, health spas, and art classes, intended to generate income and create a faithful clientele. As one owner explains, There’s no way the income will recoup the costs, but we come into this world with nothing and will go out with nothing. The true dividend? A legacy and a lifestyle that counts.
Naturally, the ride is not smooth. Other château owners have experienced runaway renovation budgets, unforeseen structural problems, and attempting to generate enough income to meet French residency requirements. The solution, restoration guides say, is a careful analysis of what the house needs, a sensible budget with a healthy contingency fund, and being willing to roll up your sleeves with DIY projects and creative problem-solving.
The French housing market in 2025 is beginning to stabilize, with countryside châteaux being remarkable value against townhouses. Roughly 60% of châteaux for sale are below €1 million, and they’re surprisingly affordable for those willing to take the plunge and have the challenge. Overseas buyers, particularly US and UK citizens, are attracted by the mix of lifestyle, heritage, and investment appeal.
It’s only arithmetic: Moberg and Salvato’s bed-and-breakfast business earned $22,000 in revenue over the last year, with a monthly expense of $2,212 for insurance, utilities, and Internet access, and $2,000 annually in property taxes. They’re not profitable yet but the workshops keep the payments in current accounts and the fantasy afloat. As Moberg explained, “That little amount of money doesn’t sound like much but it really helps us cover a lot of the costs of the chateau, which is really what we were looking to do.”
For go-getter midlife career climbers, the appeal is more than in the bricks and mortar. It’s in restoring new life to an historic piece of property, creating indelible memories, and building a second act as multifaceted and rich as the château.
