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Today, a divorcee shares how she put just 3% down on fixer upper, saving her cash for renovations and investing her time into what has become a labor of love.
The basics
Age: 55
Occupation: Radiation therapist
Household setup: Divorced and living alone
Household income: $125,000
What was your home experience when you were growing up?
My dad is a welder, and we moved wherever he had work. Along the way, my parents owned homes in a few different states. I always thought I would own a homeand I have. This is the third home Ive purchased.
Why did you start thinking about buying again?
I got divorced. A few years passed, then I started dating someone who was refurbishing an old house. Ive always loved older homes, and seeing him do it made me see I could do it. Around the same time, I changed my name and got a new job. It felt like the right time to look for a new house.
Three years.
Did you have any non-negotiables?
It had to be brick. I also didnt want a house that had already been fixed. I wanted to know who did the rewiring and that it had been done correctly. I also wanted to remodel the kitchen myself, to my style.
How many homes did you see in person?
I only saw one other house in person. In this area, few old homes hit the market. I liked a couple, but by the time I learned about them, they already had offers on them. Other homes had work done, sometimes poorly. For example, one home had new Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter boxes, but they hadnt been properly grounded.
How did you know this was the one?
My Realtor� knew exactly what I wanted and ruled out most of what was coming on the market. I was on vacation in North Carolina when she called to tell me she had found my house. She sent photos, and I knew the exact house: It turns out it was around the corner from the home of the guy I had been dating when I started looking.
Did you have any concerns about the home?
This house was exactly what I wanted except it seemed a little small, but then again, Im the only one calling it home.
How did the inspection go?
I did a lot of the inspection myself. I got under the crawl space, crawling on my belly. I passed a dead cat that was so old and dried out it was mummified. I was hyperventilating, but I had to keep going. I saw that in some places the floor and subfloor were worn so thin that they were like paper. There had clearly been termite damage at some point. I just needed to know what I was getting into.
I knew I had to be vigilant about my money, making sure I had enough not just for the down payment, but also to make the home livable. I had $75,000 for both the down payment and the renovations.
How much did you end up putting down?
I only put down around 3%, just enough to be able to buy.
How much did you spend on renovations?
Ive spent $65,000 on renovations so far, most of which came from my initial savings.
How did the renovation process go?
It was rough because I was making two home payments for the year and a half that I did the work. I was living in my previous home while renovating this one. I would work all day, drive an hour to the new house, work three hours, then drive an hour home.
I started in the kitchen, removing five layers of old linoleum. I put in new floors and subfloors. When I took the cabinets out to redo the floors, they fell apart, so I installed all new cabinets. I had to put in all new plumbing, too.
I also discovered that the heating vents werent connected to anything, so I put in new central heating and AC, which cost $9,000. I had to install new wiring from the home to the street, and have an electrician install a new fusebox, which cost $3,000. Ive been slowly replacing the outlets inside. I just keep buying new boxes and rolls of wire. Theres still so much to do.
Whats your plan to pay off the mortgage?
I recently sold my previous house and used the cash from that to pay off the mortgage on this home. I also had enough cash to buy the half acre next to me.
What has been the biggest surprise of the house?
I was taking down walls upstairs and found a hidden room that had been entirely walled off. As I continued to take down walls, I found two more secret rooms. These were complete surprises because the home had been listed as a one bedroom. After some research, I found out that the house was a so-called polygamy house that was built to conceal a plural marriage.
Whats it like to remodel a home on your own?
Some days I get overwhelmed. This renovation takes up all my free time. Ive had to get a tetanus shot along the way. But, all in all, it feels very worth it. The work helps this house feel like its mine.
What do you love most about this home?
It all makes me so happy. I love the squeaky floors. I love the tall ceilings downstairs and the exposed beams in the kitchen. Upstairs, the ceiling is lower and angled. Its all the little things, too. Outside the front door, somebody carved names and years of residents who have lived here. Plus, Ive found all kinds of treasures, from an 1887 penny to a bracelet in the plaster of the walls.
Are there quirks to living in such an old home?
I wouldnt say the house is haunted, but there is definitely an energy here. Sometimes I smell a very distinct perfumea scent I dont wearand sometimes its cigars, which I dont smoke. These smells come on suddenly, then disappear. I notice them the most when Im actively working on the house, which makes me think that whoever or whatever is here appreciates my efforts to update the house while honoring the homes history and past lives.
