KarunaNews Story

For the million or so Finnish city residents dreaming of a rural getaway, there is an app that matches them with owners of vacant houses. Talo Maalta (roughly, “A house in the country”) is part of a venture by the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners. People interested in moving to the countryside can post a profile describing what sort of place they are looking for and what they want to use it for. Homeowners post profiles of their properties. By clicking on a green heart, users can select properties of interest, and owners can show interest in people they would like to talk with. Contact can only be made if there is a match. Uniquely, Talo maalta offers the possibility of right-of-use agreements in which housing is made available in exchange for property maintenance.