The US-Dutch couple bought the two-and-a-half-acre island right after they made their first offer
Oliver Russell, a 24-year-old who is half American and half Finnish, together with his girlfriend Helena Tomaszewska, are truly living out a dream many might envy.
They’ve purchased an uninhabited island in Finland, and the reason behind this unusual buy? It was ‘less than a house deposit’.
Oliver’s connection with Finland grew through his many summer visits to see family and friends.
By August 2022, the idea of owning a summer house there seemed irresistible to both Oliver and Helena.
Originally from Laguna Beach, California, Oliver had long considered relocating to Helsinki.
In 2022, he finally took the leap, moving from Fort Collins, Colorado. One of the driving factors behind his decision was the inability to secure in-state tuition in the U.S., which led him to pursue international business studies in Finland.
Once settled, Oliver’s life took an unexpected turn when he met Helena. The couple soon realized that city living wasn’t for them—especially with the high costs of urban apartments.
They sought something more spacious and affordable.
Reflecting on his move, Oliver shared, “I fell in love with the idea of studying in Finland. As a Finnish citizen, I received free education, and it has been an incredible experience. I’ve truly enjoyed my time here.”
“In Finland, the summer cottage life is a huge part of the culture and I would come out here every summer. I loved the summer cottage life and wanted one of my own.”
Their search for property led them to a real estate website where Oliver stumbled upon an island that had been vacant for a decade, listed for just $36,569 (£27,712).
Oliver recounted the find: “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. I offered $31,000 (£23,492.42) and got accepted.”
The couple took possession of their new home in June 2024, quickly realizing the extent of work needed to make it habitable.
“We made a frame out of logs that we felled from trees and I got some decking from a hardware store. We then built an outhouse and I am now trying to build a shower structure so we can wash while we’re on the island.
“We wanted to get the base camp set up so we have a comfortable place to stay while the big building happens next year,” Oliver explained.
Their weekends are now largely spent working on their island home, building what they hope will soon become a charming summer cottage complete with a sophisticated sauna.
“The ultimate dream is to build a log cabin for the summer. But first, we want to build a sauna cabin – based on the rules, one-third of the plot has to be a sauna cabin.
“We haven’t set strict deadlines since this has been a huge learning experience for us,” Oliver explained. “It’s a big commitment, especially with both Helena and me being students.”
Despite the challenges, Oliver finds the project incredibly rewarding. While getting work done has been difficult at times, he describes the journey as “fun and fulfilling.”
“Every time we visit the island, it still feels surreal that it’s ours. It’s so peaceful, and because it’s an island, no one can just stumble across it,”
