Welcome to the magical world of Cheap Old Houses, where the new American dream comes with zero mortgage and an affordable lifestyle fit for a storybook. We’ve scoured the country to find homes in desperate need of saving—including a $45,000 Victorian in Mississippi, a $25,000 mansion in Indiana, an $82,000 recreational camp in Maine, and more. Cheap Old Houses features the stories of how these homes were acquired and lovingly restored.
Within these pages, you’ll discover sprawling Victorian mansions, Italianate–style farmhouses, off–the–beaten–path cabins, and even old churches, schoolhouses and hydropower stations turned into residences. You’ll meet a couple who camped out on their back porch while they made their 6,000–square foot manor livable, and homeowners who found a free bungalow and moved it seventy miles to their property. Additionally, we give information on the details to preserve in historical houses, from pocket doors that might be hiding in the walls to badly cracked plaster walls that are worth repairing and butler’s pantries that are once again desirable for storing dishes and small appliances.
With hundreds of beautiful photographs capturing these homes in all their glory, you’ll be inspired to find “the one”—a fixer upper to rescue that will rescue you right back.
Want a copy personally signed by Elizabeth & Ethan?
Click here
Welcome to the magical world of Cheap Old Houses, where the new American dream comes with zero mortgage and an affordable lifestyle fit for a storybook. We’ve scoured the country to find homes in desperate need of saving—including a $45,000 Victorian in Mississippi, a $25,000 mansion in Indiana, an $82,000 recreational camp in Maine, and more. Cheap Old Houses features the stories of how these homes were acquired and lovingly restored.
Want a copy personally signed by Elizabeth & Ethan?
Click here
“A first-of-its-kind book written by and for people
who cherish the raw beauty of old houses.”
“A first-of-its-kind book written by and for people who cherish the raw beauty of old houses.”
Hosted by Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), this special event invites you to experience the iconic Graves Mansion in Au Sable Forks with featured guests Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein of Cheap Old Houses. Through guided tours, you’ll explore the mansion’s architectural significance, learn about its restoration journey, and hear stories of preservation from the people bringing it back to life. Each tour includes insight from the Graves Mansion’s owners, AARCH staff, and Elizabeth and Ethan, followed by a casual meet and greet and book signing.
Hosted by Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), this special event invites you to experience the iconic Graves Mansion in Au Sable Forks with featured guests Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein of Cheap Old Houses. Through guided tours, you’ll explore the mansion’s architectural significance, learn about its restoration journey, and hear stories of preservation from the people bringing it back to life. Each tour includes insight from the Graves Mansion’s owners, AARCH staff, and Elizabeth and Ethan, followed by a casual meet and greet and book signing.
As part of this year’s Saratoga Book Festival, join Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein — the creators behind the viral sensation Cheap Old Houses — for a lively discussion about architecture, storytelling, and the movement they sparked to save America’s forgotten homes. With millions of followers, a hit HGTV show, and a best-selling book, the Finkelsteins have inspired a new generation to fall in love with old homes and historic preservation. Don’t miss this event celebrating the stories that live within our walls — and the people passionate about preserving them.
Want Elizabeth and Ethan to speak or attend your event? Email hello@cheapoldhouses.com to learn more.
From the founders of the HGTV show and viral Instagram feed Cheap Old Houses comes a stunning collection of beautiful, affordable homes and inspiration for buying and restoring an historic house. Elizabeth + Ethan Finkelstein started the Instagram account @cheapoldhouses in 2016 and have since grown the brand into a show on HGTV and a cultural movement that has helped thousands of people find and restore their own pieces of heaven. Elizabeth has a master’s degree in historic preservation, and for their work both she and Ethan received a Pillar of New York Award from the Preservation League of New York State. They’ve been featured widely in such publications as New York Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Financial Times, Forbes, Buzzfeed, and Business Insider, and on programs such as The Drew Barrymore Show, Today and Good Morning America. They live with their son and rescue dog in upstate New York, where they are restoring their own cheap old farmhouse.
From the founders of the HGTV show and viral Instagram feed Cheap Old Houses comes a stunning collection of beautiful, affordable homes and inspiration for buying and restoring an historic house. Elizabeth + Ethan Finkelstein started the Instagram account @cheapoldhouses in 2016 and have since grown the brand into a show on HGTV and a cultural movement that has helped thousands of people find and restore their own pieces of heaven. Elizabeth has a master’s degree in historic preservation, and for their work both she and Ethan received a Pillar of New York Award from the Preservation League of New York State. They’ve been featured widely in such publications as New York Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Financial Times, Forbes, Buzzfeed, and Business Insider, and on programs such as The Drew Barrymore Show, Today and Good Morning America. They live with their son and rescue dog in upstate New York, where they are restoring their own cheap old farmhouse.
“One of my favorite things about it is not just the homes… but all the takeaways. There’s so much direction on, like, ‘If you love this, here’s where you can find it,’ and ‘If you want to try this, here’s how to do it.'” – Drew Barrymore
“One of my favorite things about it is not just the homes… but all the takeaways. There’s so much direction on, like, ‘If you love this, here’s where you can find it,’ and ‘If you want to try this, here’s how to do it.'” – Drew Barrymore
