Friday Fix: Fixer Homes Under 25K!

Every Friday we will put together a special collection of Victorian homes priced UNDER 25K! Some need everything some are actually livable and most could be made 'campable' while you restore them. Think about that a Victorian Home for less than a Econo car. In some cases, less than what you pay for one months rent! Hear that, East coast folks!

10 Tennessee Ave is in Danville IL and is bargain priced at 9900.00!  4 bedroom home 1 bath. Home needs some TLC. Priced reduced to $9,900. Bring offers!! Not a short sale. We see a brick cottage 2 over2 original windows that could be quite cute , Obviously need a new roof and some proper porch columns (weekend getaway maybe or retirement place). More Information HERE .

2019 E Broadway, Logansport Indiana, Priced at 19,900, 2 story single family home with wrap around front porch. Home features 4 bedrooms, 2 baths (one needs finished), laundry room on 2nd floor, family room, dining room, and Kitchen. We see a front porch with potential here and we suspect there is some patterned shingle work under then vinyl siding! 2116 Sq Feet.  More info Here .

1065 Linden street in Alliance OH 20,900.00 Are you kidding! Huge Queen Anne  SEVEN bedroom 5 baths, Turret, Corner lot (Barber design maybe). Currently a triplex, convert this one back to single family and live like a king. More info Here .

2332 Selma Ave Youngstown Ohio. 19,000.00! 1927 Eclectic Full Brick Continental Tudor. 3398 square foot, 2.5 story. Long steep pitch slope roof. Single dominant front gable. Flat head dormers. Shed style roof over front entrance. Brick wall masonry cladding with very little decorative detailing except for quoins corners & brick tabbed front door surround. 6 over 9 inset sash windows. Custom inside secure mail drop box. ORIGINAL: windows, woods, trims, wood floors, double step open riser to stairs, whitewash textured walls, corbeled arches. Almost 3400 Sq  5, bedrooms. More info Here .

Our Friday Fix Cover Home! 1324 E Pontiac, Ft Wayne Indiana 9200.00! Seriously this house has a tower! It also borders Renaissance Point! Center hall.2130 sq ft. Four Bucks a Sq Foot! We see potential with this one. More info Here

New Series: The Cozy Cottage: 1014 Arsenal Ave, Indianapolis,IN

Colorful, Cute and Charming

Most often people are looking for the "Grand Mansions", but with todays busy lifestyle sometimes smaller is better.  There is less maintenance and if you don't really need all that space, why have it?

Historic Photo shows how original this home is.

People don't think of Indianapolis much when it comes to Victorian Architecture but Indianapolis has some of the finest Victorian era homes in the Midwest and todays home at 1014 N Arsenal is no exception.

Stained glass frames this view

A remarkable historic home located near the East-End District of Mass Ave in the popular Windsor Park Neighborhood. Constructed in 1889, this Queen Anne masterpiece contains just the perfect mix of new and old. Interior updates include restored hardwood floors, woodwork, built-ins, massive pocket doors, stained glass, fully functional bar, updated electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roof and its minutes to downtown.

You'd expect this staircase in a grand mansion

This 2 bedroom 2 bath, 2277 sq ft cottage is priced to sell at 169,900. More information is Here.

What a great mantle!

Do you know of a cozy cottage for sale? If so email us at victiques@gmail.com and we might feature it here

Midwest Preservation Bargain: 647 Seminary, Greencastle IN

For some a Preservation Bargain is something they can buy super cheap and restore, for other "Bliss" is finding a well maintained, or already restored home, that is move in ready in a  great community.

This is a Real Bargain:
Built during the Victorian era, this romantic Italianate style home abounds with history. Lovely corner lot within walking distance to DePauw Univ.

Wow! Imagine living here!

Welcoming entry with a beautiful ornate spiral staircase. Formal Parlor (living) & dining rooms, updated kitchen, 4 Bedrooms & 9X13 Screened Porch. 4 decorative Fireplaces, Built in Shelves & Bay Window. With 2 1/2 Car Detached Garage and Manicured lawn/landscape. 

Everyone needs a place for that baby grand!

This home has all the features we love in a preservation bargain. Killer staircase, great street presence.

Great summer Cover on this fireplace

 

Cup of tea on the sun porch maybe

Nice fireplaces, a sun porch , up to date kitchen. Oh and did I mention the price? 158,000.00 ! So for the price of a boring 3 bedroom starter home you can have this elegant little mansion.

No hotplate while your restore. This house has real kitchen!

More information on this gem is Here.

Series: The Country Place: Nevada Ohio Italianate

For some the idea is simply to get away from it all. Maybe its escaping the confined quarters of an urban neighborhood or maybe getting out of suburbia but some long for a place in the country. In fact, there are plenty of fine old homes in the Midwest out of the urban core yet close to a small town where one can buy the essentials but still close enough to major cities so you can get that occasional "big city fix".

Todays example is in Nevada Ohio! This was obviously a family farmhouse for what was once a large farm. With family farms getting bought up by large corporate farm operations many of these old family homes are demoed or just used for storage. This is a fine Italianate home that obviously has a front porch and side porch at one point probably added in the late Victorian era. This house can be bought on 1 acre for only 95K or up to 4 acres for 125K.

The home appears to have good detail for a classic Italianate  and while it will need some updating it looks campable while one personalizes it to suit their own taste. More information is available HERE . 4 bedrooms 2 baths, financing is available through a number of resources.

Know of a great "country place"?  Email me at victiques@gmail and we may feature it  on our "Country Place' series

Historic Auburn Indiana Second Empire

If you are an old car Buff you certainly know  Auburn Indiana's history as far as classic cars go may not know That Auburn Indiana has some pretty incredible Victorian architecture and its affordable.

Such is the case with this rare Second Empire home at 302 N Van Buren in Auburn. This brick home has a great patterned slate roof sits on a generous sized lot and the current owners have done a lot of restoration work so you wont have to!

The original owner of the home was Christopher Columbus Shaffer. The earlier wood framed  structure was moved out of the way (to 7th street),  for the construction of this home. Shaffer was well known in early Auburn history an downed several businesses and was responsible for the construction of a commercial building at main and sixth.

More listing info and photos can be found Here. This home is offered at 139,9K.

Midwest Preservation Bargains: Galion OH Victorian 59,9K

This Galion home would be a stunner in a 4 color paint job

Galion Ohio is home to incredible Victorian Architecture. This great home at 323 Harding Way West, is a wonderful 3 story Gabled Victorian with lovely balcony porch and incredible detailing.

Currently a three family this home can be covered back to a single family home and has commercial zoning which would allow for B&B, antiques shop or a variety of uses. Grand home from a grand era ready for you. More details on this home are Here . Priced at ONLY 59,9 K!

Midwest Mansions : Grand style at a starter home price: Shelbyville Indiana!



Exquisite shingle style Victorian with Queen Anne and free Classic details

So you live on one of the coasts. Maybe LA, maybe New York.  That 'starter condo' is 700 sq ft and 350K. You work from home and worry about how you will make that home office work with the living/dining/kitchen/bedroom/bathroom shoebox condo space you will move into. Not only do you worry about the mortgage, but the condo fees, and forget about affording a place to park a car. Lets not even talk about the snooty co-op board. There has to be a better way?



Over 10,000 square feet

There IS. Move to the Rustbelt! Live like a Kennedy or Rockefeller in a grand mansion. In this case, move to Shelbyville Indiana. Now I know you have no idea where Shelbyville is, but its close to bigger cities like Indianapolis and Cincinnati and if you want that true "big city" fix you can be in Chicago in 3 hrs.

Period lighting , grand columns

Lets run the numbers: 10,133 sq feet.  3 stories,grand entry and stairs befitting any New Port mansion.

Probably 100K in Stained glass in this home

7 bedrooms, 3 baths and, oh did I mention, it has your own third floor grand ballroom and there is a swimming pool too!

Exquisite carving and craftsmanship throughout!

Property taxes in Indiana are capped at 1 percent plus any local initiatives and the taxes on this mansion are less than 4k a year (isn't that about what your condo fees are?) List price? 324,900.00.  If you do the 20 percent down your monthly payment would be 1250.00 a month! Isn't that what that your first rent controlled studio in New York cost?

Your personal 3rd floor ballroom. Perfect for your next rave or maybe that internet startup office?

Come to the Midwest, live like a king! Be the envy of your friends. Even your parents will think you are smart! Full details and ton of pictures Here .

Formal dining for the holidays and room to invite the whole family if you want to!

FRIDAY FIX! 8/22/2014

This is our First Friday Fix! Every Friday we will put together a special collection of Victorian homes priced UNDER 25K! Some need everything some are actually livable and most could be made 'campable' while you restore them. Think about that a Victorian Home for less than a Econo car. In some cases, less than what you pay for one months rent! Hear that, East coast folks!

Russiaville IN 20,000!

Russiaville Indiana: 4511 W 250 S. 20,000.00 Actually this is the town of West Middleton. Gothic cottage , great porches, but bad windows and interior remodel. All stuff you can fix.  2 Bd, 2Ba and a quarter acre! Listing link HERE

Mishawaka  IN 19,000!

Mishawaka, IN: 901 Lincolnway W. 19,000.00 This is a multi family 1897 Queen Ann ready to go back to single family. 2890 Sq Feet plus the basement (6000 sq ft lot). That acquisition at 7.00 a sq ft! There is a 325K restored house down the street and lots of restoration starting in this area. Listing link Here



Toledo OH:  UNDER 2 GRAND!!!!

Toledo OH: 2301 Glenwood Ave. 1771.00 (NOT A TYPO) This was once a fine mansion on historic Glenwood Avenue.  This is not a restoration for the faint of heart , It needs lots of work! But your acquisition on this 3600 sq foot mansion  for 50 cents a sq foot! House down the street ( 2333 ) is 114K and it needs work too. This could be something special! Listing link Here

Columbus OH 10,000!

Columbus OH: 321 S Ohio Ave: 10,000.00 . Another once grand mansion (sq footage is wrong on the listing) over 4000 sq ft. There are not many unrestored mansions left in Columbus Ohio these days and this one is brick, that unique tower porch and there is a lot of urban pioneering in this area. Needs a lot of work but well worth the effort considering what restored homes are bringing  just a couple of blocks away! If anyone looks at this please send me interior photos! Listing link Here

Columbus OH: 4,001 dollar TWO DOLLARS A SQ FT!

Columbus OH: 804 Oakwood Ave: 4,001.00 . I just had to throw this other Columbus home in this Friday Fix! Some where under that crappy craftsman porch that ugly second floor balcony and under that 1920's siding beats a turreted Queen Anne home. OK is a BIG commitment but he you took those lost puppy home when you were a kid. 4 bedroom 2460 sq feet (Plus attic) on a 5227 sq ft lot, I have to think for the right person this would work. I'll donate that extra dollar on the price IF SOMEONE WILL SAVE THIS HOUSE!  Listing Link   Here .

Marion IN 10,000 !

Marion IN. 707 1st: 10,000. Check out that Porch!!! This house need 'de-vinyling' Two units currently some water damage in one. This will be a 4 bedroom 2 ba home 1960 sq-foot  and that works out to 5 bucks a sq ft acquisition cost. Off comes the vinyl cut down the bushes and the town would probably throw you a parade. Listing link Here

Richmond IN, 214 13th St:  20,000. Last but not least is our FRIDAY FIX! cover home. Historic Starr District home with lots of square footage, original wood work & fireplaces. Restore this to it's original beauty. Have a piece of History. Front & rear stairways, 3rd floor attic is finished. MY pick of the day, 4367 Sq ft, 5 bedroom, 2 1/2 Ba on an over 8000 sq ft lot? AND in an established historic district with lots of restoration! Listing link Here

So  there you have it. Our First Friday FIX! Sit back and enjoy your "Fix" of old house fixers. More to come from Rustbelt Preservationist!

Welcome to Rustbelt Preservationist

I've been involved in Historic Preservation for many years now and I am continuously amazed that in spite of the efforts of many Midwestern cities to "right size", modernize, or simply embark on a plan to bulldoze anything old and replace it with new and shiny, that so much of our historic built environment remains.

However the pressures are still there and we still lose historic homes every day. In 2009 I began my first blog called Victorian Antiquities and Design which focused on Cincinnati Ohio and our efforts to rebuild a neighborhood on the brink of extinction and save one particular Second Empire Cottage , the Nagele-Merz House . That journey through a hard to deal with city government not particularly interested in preserving old things might be symptomatic of much of the Midwest. As  a part of that blog effort I began a series called Cincinnati Preservation Bargains and that effort resulted in the rescue of dozens of homes that otherwise might not be standing today and it has been one of the most popular post series on that blog which has been read by hundred of thousands worldwide.

As a result of that, I routinely get emails from people all over the Midwest telling me about endangered properties. So as this blog expands expect to see lots of posts of homes that have great promise and just need a new owner. We also plan on serious focus with a series called  the"Friday Fix" that will spotlight homes that need a loving touch. We also will interview urban pioneers whose preservation efforts are making difference in their own part of the Midwest. We will even spotlight restorations to inspire you to become a Preservation Hero yourself!

So for those of you on the high priced coasts, weary of outrageous prices for tiny apartments and if the 'new' has worn off of living in the big city, for less than you are paying for couple of months rent in many cases, you can 'own' your very own "Preservation Bargain" and escape the high cost, high taxes and high stress by coming to the Midwest.

We look forward to your input, your insight,  and your feedback on our efforts.