By Ainur Romah and Rochimawati
JAKARTA, Indonesia
Frustrated with a stagnant housing market and love life, an Indonesian widow has come up with a novel way of selling her property -- fail to meet the asking price and she'll throw herself into the bargain.
Sales literature for the Rp 999 million ($76,846) two-bathroom, two-bedroom home near the Javanese city of Yogyakarta says it comes with a large backyard, a fishpond, and a chance to win the hand of 40-year-old owner Wina Lia.
"My priority is selling my house, but if the buyer wants to marry me, and he fits my criteria, I will not resist," the beauty salon entrepreneur told The Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.
Lia -- who was widowed in 2001, has broken up with her boyfriend "twice" and is bringing up her two children on her own -- said that her recently deceased mother had convinced her to build the house to be close to her family.
"But the instalments were very big. I am in debt to the bank. I am dizzy and unable to bear this burden alone," she told AA.
She said that the idea had come from her estate agent, whom she had told that she was not only interested in selling her house, but also finding a husband.
"Buy the house and marry the owner at the same time," the agent had suggested.
"I said 'OK'."
The house went on the market this month, the agent's strategy stating "The bid of the century!... Buy a house and marry the owner [terms and conditions apply]. For serious prospective buyers only. No negotiations."
"Single and responsible are my main criteria," Lia said.
The Jakarta Post reported Tuesday that the non-negotiable condition is that the buyer must be a devout Muslim who can be an imam for Lia's family and can teach her how to properly wear a hijab.
Lia, however, is still waiting.
She told AA on Wednesday that despite more than 150 interested callers she is still to find sale or husband.
"I've been busier picking up the phone and giving interviews to reporters," she says.
