“But is anyone really doing this? Upending their lives and moving to save a cheap old house?” YES! These are the real stories of real people who have bought houses featured on @cheapoldhouses and are giving them a new lease on life!
Have you purchased a house featured on our instagram feed? Share your story with us at [email protected].
Randi + Dave first spotted their 6,000 sqft mansion, Duncan Manor – an Italianate beauty rising dramatically out of the center of a field – on our website. They happened to be at a wedding nearby and drove by the house, and exactly month (and one BIG leap of faith) later, they had left their tiny Denver apartment for a new life on the farm. After spending months camping on the porch, they were finally able to move inside, where their restoration adventures continue.
Follow along with their inspiring journey on Season 1 of Cheap Old Houses on HGTV or Discovery+ or on their instagram page @duncanmanor
(photo above by the very talented Stephanie Wood)
Purchase price: $15,000
Built: 1896
Building style: Queen Anne
Instagram: @mr_nostynova
Purchase price: $102,000
Built: 1875 by Maria Hemiup
Instagram: @grovecastlerenovation
Purchase price: $95,000
Built: 1903 by funds from Andrew Carnegie
Building style: Neo Classical
Fun fact: one of 1,689 Carnegie libraries in the U.S.
Instagram: @thecarnegieindiana
Brittany + Dave are restoring a gorgeous, old Italianate house that sits on 20 acres and was featured on @cheapoldhouses. Follow along with their adventures (and hilarious stories!): @rademacherrevival
(photo above by the very talented Maria Horford)
Purchase price: $95,000
Built: 1965
Building style: A-Frame
Instagram: @byregan_jackson
Purchase price: $45,000
Built: 1885 by Archimedes Russell
Building style: Shingle
Fun fact: the previous owner considered duct tape as a building material
Instagram: @kristin_mahoney_ny
Purchase price: $68,000
Built: mid 1860’s
Building style: Half-Timber
Fun fact: it’s a hotel known as The Lamplelburg and was built where a previous castle existed
We wrote a book for anyone who has ever dreamt of changing their life to rescue an old house. 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. 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.
We wrote a book for anyone who has ever dreamt of changing their life to rescue an old house. 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. 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.
Michael + Natalie uprooted their lives in New Orleans to move across the country to save this house, which was featured on @cheapoldhouses. Follow along with them: @robins_nook
Purchase price: $47,000
Built: 1877 by Pudley Miller
Instagram: @italiana1877
Purchase price: $180,000
House style: Second Empire Gothic Victorian
Built: 1830
Instagram: @thedeleusomme
Purchase price: $147,000
Built: 1855
House style: Victorian
Instagram: @thetowerhouseironton
This beautiful townhouse in the historic district of Wheeling, WV, was featured on @cheapoldhouses and purchased by a preservation-minded buyer for only $16,500 who is planning to restore it to its original glory. Follow along with her at @betsysweeny
Purchase price: $175,000
Built: 1865
House style: Italianate with Greek/Federal facelift in the early 1900’s
Instagram: @hsbartholomewhouse
Purchase price: $89,900
Built: 1880
Instagram: @the1880soctagon
TikTok: the1880soctagon
Nick + Damien snagged one of the prettiest homes in New York after it was featured on @cheapoldhouses for $59,900 (check out that mansard roof!). They’re allowing us to live vicariously through their adventures at @thekimblehouse
(photo above by the very talented Julie Peveto; you can find her on Instagram @juliepevetophotography)
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Purchase price: $107,000
Built: 1899 by Eugene Brady
Instagram: @pinkhouserevival
Purchase price: $90,000
House style: Italianate
Instagram: @haymishhouse
This Colonial Revival with Queen Anne touches is now loved by Samantha, an interior designer, and her partner. Without finding this gem on @cheapoldhouses, they may have never been able to call this one home! For progress pictures and other design projects, follow along at @sambrazil1!
(photo above by the very talented Mackenzie Schmucker, which you can find @thelocalphoto_)
Purchase price: $370,000
House style: Gothic Revival
Built: 1854 by Josiah Prentiss Brown
Purchase price: 72,500 CAD
Built: 1898 by Moses Chamberlain Eddy
Style: Queen Anne Victorian
Instagram: @imemmaelizabeth
Purchase price: $34,000
Built: 1903
Fun fact: it’s a church!
A mother-daughter duo found this circa 1883 Queen Anne Victorian house on @cheapoldhouses and decided to tackle the plunge into saving this mansion. As the fanciest former dental office we’ve ever seen, they bought the home for only a cool $88,000. To see all of the incredible architectural details, give them a follow @samson_j_friendly_house.
Listing price: $73,900
Built: 1850
Fun fact: our very first ‘saved’ story!
Instagram: @louiesmomma_15
Purchase price: $104,000
Built: 1890
Listing price: $42,000
Instagram: @blueearth_yellowhouse_redink
This 1916 Arts + Crafts bungalow was designed by Ward Wellington Ward, and for sale for $94,500 when is was featured on @cheapoldhouses! Erin + Luke’s goal is to make it as original as possible—in their words, “it’s a time warp and we want to ‘warp’ it further!” They even have a designer in LA making a historically accurate linoleum floor. Music to our ears! Follow along: @erinlindemann
Purchase price: $52,000
Built: 1845
Building style: Pennsylvania Stone Bungalow
Fun fact: moved from Louisiana for this house!
Instagram: @stonehousemd1845
Purchase price: $75,000
Built: 1909 by Samuel Plato
Building style: Tudor Revival
Purchase price: $74,900
Built: 1880
Fun fact: one of oldest wooden churches in Indiana
After being posted on Cheap Old Houses, this FREE Dutch Colonial house has gone from bleak to bright. To save the house from demolition, Eddie and Julie Flores will move the house to a new location a few miles away and rehab it as their new family home.
Purchase price: $70,000
Fun fact: also an AirBnB!
Instagram: @riverbottomcottage
Purchase price: $62,500
Fun fact: same county Abraham Lincoln was born!
Instagram: @rustickycabin
Listing price: $64,999
House style: Colonial Revival
Built: 1880
Instagram: @raising_catherine
We met Lise long before she became our right-hand lady and Content Manager at Cheap Old Houses! Purchased for $78,000, this Tudor was truly love at first sight; when she step foot into the living room, Lise knew this house was meant to be hers. You can read more about her journey here.
Fun fact: former hunting club (and place to go to escape prohibition!)
Built: 1876
Instagram: @camp_cinnamon_1876
Purchase price: $319,500
House style: transition between Federal and Greek Revival
Built: 1838 by Samuel Rockwell
Instagram: @rockwellhousega
Hallie + Ned bought a stunning riverfront house that was featured on @cheapoldhouses for $100,000 and came with 10 acres! We call it a dream farmhouse; they call it “a veritable wallpaper retrospective.” They’re documenting their journey: @tillerproject
Purchase price: $60,000
Built: 1920
Fun fact: they had to buy a skeleton key to lock the front door!
Instagram: @1920_mtown + @2guysyarn
Purchase price: $66,000
House style: Victorian
Built: 1830
Fun fact: Mike uprooted his life in Las Vegas for this house
Instagram: @wyld_myk
Despite the age of this 1913 Colonial Revival, Abby + Trey are only the third family to own the house! That’s right, the Page Mansion was completely furnished with antiques at the time of purchase. You can find some incredible before and after’s on their Instagram @turningthepagemansion!
Purchase price: $50,000
Built: 1900
Instagram: @mainstreethouse_
Purchase price: $115,000
Built: 1882
House style: Queen Anne
Fun fact: original owner was a descendant of the inventor of the Coca Cola bottle!
Purchase price: $88,000
Built: 1873
House style: Gothic Revival
Instagram: @jewellville
With zero experience in restoration, first-time homebuyers Tung + Martha have taken on an incredibly beautiful (and incredibly large!) Victorian that was featured on @cheapoldhouses for $79,900. They fell in love so quickly that they put in an offer before seeing it in person, and are documenting their journey over at @The.Minnie.Project
Purchase price: $74,000
Built: 1885
House style: Victorian Italianate
Instagram: @making_momence
After years of hunting for a city-free getaway, @cheapoldhouses was a key part of how Emily dreamed about the new life she would have when leaving the hustle and bustle of New York City behind. Emily spotted ‘the one’ in her home state of Vermont on the Cheap Old Houses feed. Follow along Emily and her pup Hanna as she brings new life to a very old home @for_agnes_with_love
Purchase price: $99,000
Built: 1829 by the Dutton family
House style: Federal
Instagram: follow their amazing GC @pinestatebuilders
Purchase price: $80,000
Built: 1888
Fun fact: old schoolhouse + found via our Cheap Old Farmhouses Issue #17
This Federal-period home with a Victorian addition was purchased by Jenn + Brandon for a cool $11,000 after seeing it on @cheapoldhouses. They were even able to have their wedding here among the restoration process. Follow along at @johnbrownhouse or visit their website at thejohnbrownhouse.com!
Purchase price: $75,000
Built: 1860 by George Duke Thornhill
House style: Italianate
Instagram: @dukesofthornhill
Purchase price: $156,000
Built: 1850 by John Todd Wood
House style: Georgian Greek Revival
Fun fact: there is a cemetery on the property where John T. Wood and his wife are buried
Instagram: @historicfarmhousefamily
Purchase price: $190,000
Built: 1972 by Mike McGuire
House style: Bermed Earth Shelter
Instagram: @clarknelsonhouse
With its incredible porch + ceilings, this rambling Victorian totally won us over when we posted it on @cheapoldhouses for $99,900! Its loving owner, Mandy, is bringing us along for the restoration ride: @theswanvictorian
Purchase price: $9,001
House style: Queen Anne
Purchase price: $230,000
Built: 1969
House style: Mid-Century Modern
Purchase price: $67,000
Built: 1939
Kaycee + Mark are saving this remarkable former school to transform into their home. Purchased for only $35,000 and built in 1938, this art deco, solid concrete building will sparkle once again! Find their next restoration assignment at @schoolhousehome and artdecoschool.com
Purchase price: $46,000
Built: 1905 by George F. Barber
Building style: Queen Anne
Instagram: @bringbackoldhouses
A gas fireplace in nearly every room must’ve drawn this family in to take on downtown living for only $50,000! Brandon + Sera are planning on turning this C. 1924 house into their dream home. To see more of their Southern journey, find them at @foreverinthesouth
Purchase price: $91,400
Built: 1880 by The Kempton Family
Building style: Free Classic Queen Anne
Fun fact: they’re moving across the country for this house
Purchase price: $57,000
Built: church 1875 / bell tower 1899
Instagram: @thisoldnhchurch
Purchase price: $42,000
Built: 1912
Building style: Queen Anne
Fun fact: they moved 1,100 miles just for this house
Sarvie + Jasper’s lives were changed when they bought this amazing Bavarian Style Cottage! Featured on @cheapoldhouses for $95,000, they restored this gem! They have recently started a new chapter with another Cheap Old House in Europe.
Purchase price: $35,000
Built: 1870 by Capt. George Miller
Building style: Second Empire
Fun fact: known as the Miller Sims House
Purchase price: $50,000
Built: 1929
Purchase price: $69,900
Built: 1900
Building style: Queen Anne Victorian
Fun fact: made an offer sight-unseen
Instagram: @volatile.renovation
As featured on @cheapoldhouses Instagram and HGTV show for only $58,000, Jason + Rebecca relocated their family from California to the Mayodan Hotel. The building came furnished and they continue to find treasures tucked in drawers in every room. They already started work on the hotel using several archival photos to guide them. Follow along at @mayodanhotel
Purchase price: $150,000
Built: 1903 by John Wheeler
Building style: Classical Revival
Instagram: @revivalwheelermansion
Purchase price: $70,000
Built: 1885 by Frank Morse
Building style: Italianate
Instagram: @once.upon.an.italianate
Purchase price: $110,000
Built: 1926
Fun fact: the previous owner left their extensive wine collection in the wine cellar!
Found in our Cheap(ish) eNewsletter, Conner & Kayli were drawn to this unique property and purchased it for $165,000. They were told that the original owner was a whiskey dealer; he would drive his horse and buggy through the tunnel into the wine cellar. How wild!
Purchase price: $83,500
Built: 1836 by Lawrence Allison
Building style: Greek Revival
Purchase price: $81,000
Built: 1900
Fun fact: Everyone in the village claims to have dated a person living in it!
Purchase price: $105,000
Built: 1864 by Margareta and August Marks Steffen
Building style: Italianate
Fun fact: they moved cross country from Phoenix for this house!
Instagram: @margaretaauguststeffenhouse
A church for with historical items found in the walls? That’s exactly what Deirdra + Leif found for $46,000. They continuously have people from the community sharing their memories and pictures from their past experience with this church. For their vlog on church living, check them out on YouTube!
Purchase price: $96,000
Built: 1940
House style: Colonial Revival
Instagram: @fixing_up_on_fairfax
Purchase price: $32,000
Fun fact: former Freemason Lodge
Built: 1915
Building style: Greek Revival
Instagram: @pequotpropertygroup
Purchase price: $93,000
Built: 1860
House style: Victorian
Wanting a fresh start, James + Isabelle fell in love with this house they spotted on Cheap Old Houses. So much so that they bought the house sight unseen for $98,000! They are realizing it’s an emotional journey renovating an old house — from realizing that they have to peel 5 layers of wallpaper, to finding newspapers from the early 1900’s under the floorboards.
Purchase price: $69,000
Built: by Black Mt Lumber Co.
Fun fact: purchased as a family summer retreat and they refer to “her” as Someday, because ‘someday’ she will be finished
Instagram: @someday.farmhouse
Purchase price: $84,900
Built: 1873 by C. C. Vanderpoel
Building style: Gothic Revival
Fun fact: they moved 2,000 miles to save this house and are only the 4th owners
Instagram: @updationnest
Purchase price: $112,000
Built: 1904
Building style: Free Classic Queen Anne by John Nietzel
Fun fact: moved a historic garage to this property via Indiana Landmarks’ May House that destined for demolition unless it could be repurposed
Instagram: @pennyhillhomes
Purchase price: $175,000
Built: 1879 for Henry Vahlkamp
Building style: Italianate
Purchase price: $479,000
Built: 1923
Building style: Foursquare
Fun fact: connected with the grandchild and the great grand child of the original owners; they were able to share before and after pics with them
Purchase price: $60,000
Built: 1890
Building style: Queen Anne Victorian
Purchase price: $113,000
Built: 1857
Building style: Italianate
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