In a remarkable real estate coup, an Irish woman has completely revolutionized how properties can be sold by implementing a simple yet ingenious lottery system. Imelda Collins, who purchased her coastal home for €132,000 in 2022, transformed it into a €1.8 million windfall by selling lottery tickets at just €6 each – notary fees included. Her husband initially thought she had lost her mind, but her bold strategy paid off magnificently.
How a coastal property lottery created a millionaire overnight
The conventional real estate market can be frustrating for sellers facing stagnant conditions. Imelda Collins decided to take matters into her own hands with an alternative approach to property sales. Rather than listing her single-story coastal Irish home through traditional channels, she launched an online raffle where participants could purchase tickets for merely €6 each.
“At first, my husband thought I was completely crazy,” Collins admitted to CBC. “I assured him I had done all the necessary research and wasn’t jumping into this blindly.” Her confidence was well-founded, as the results would soon demonstrate.
Collins had initially aimed to sell 150,000 tickets, which would generate around €300,000 – more than double her purchase price. However, by May 22, 2025, ticket sales had surpassed 300,000, generating a staggering €1.8 million in revenue. This represented six times her expected return and nearly fourteen times her original investment.
To ensure complete legitimacy, Collins partnered with Raffall, a company specializing in organizing traditional raffles. This collaboration established a solid legal framework and precise regulations for the entire process, protecting both the seller and potential winners.
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The property lottery that defied conventional market limitations
What made Collins’ offer so appealing was its straightforward value proposition: “For sale: Single-story house with 7,000 square meters of land on the Irish coast, furnished and renovated, no work needed, price: €6, notary fees included.” This presented an extraordinary opportunity for anyone dreaming of coastal property ownership.
The benefits of this alternative sales method include:
- Immediate liquidity for the seller
- Affordable property access for the buyer
- Circumvention of traditional market obstacles
- International visibility for the property
- Potential for significantly higher returns than market value
Collins had wisely prepared a contingency plan if her initial goal of 150,000 tickets wasn’t reached. In that scenario, 50% of the proceeds would have been awarded to the randomly selected winner. Fortunately, the overwhelming success of the sale made this backup plan unnecessary.
This innovative approach follows a growing trend of property lotteries, inspired by similar experiences like another Irish homeowner who organized a drawing for her apartment when planning to relocate to Paris.
| Sale Details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original purchase price (2022) | €132,000 |
| Target sales goal | €300,000 |
| Lottery ticket price | €6 |
| Tickets sold | 300,000+ |
| Total revenue generated | €1.8 million |
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The winners on both sides of this innovative transaction
The lottery created an exceptional win-win situation. The lucky winner, Kathleen Spangler from Chicago, became the new owner of a complete house on the Irish coast for just €6 – an achievement that would be virtually impossible through traditional property markets.
On her Instagram account @winahousenearsligo, Collins shared the enthusiasm of the new owner: “She is absolutely thrilled to have won my beautiful home.” This life-changing moment for Spangler came at the minimal cost of a lottery ticket.
Meanwhile, Collins can now proceed with her plans to relocate to Italy to join her husband and family, with financial resources far exceeding her initial expectations. The €1.8 million windfall provides her with tremendous flexibility for her future endeavors.
The numbered steps for organizing a successful property lottery include:
- Research legal requirements and regulations thoroughly
- Partner with established lottery management platforms
- Set realistic ticket pricing and sales targets
- Create compelling property descriptions and visuals
- Establish transparent terms and conditions
- Implement effective marketing across multiple channels
Collins’ spectacular success might well inspire other property owners to explore this innovative path in often stagnant real estate markets. By thinking outside conventional boundaries, she transformed an ordinary property transaction into an extraordinary financial opportunity – proving that sometimes the most unconventional ideas yield the most remarkable results.
