by Teresa Iafolla

The holiday season is upon us! Chances are you’ve been super busy with gift-wrapping, decorating, baking cookies…and what better excuse for a few minutes break than to ogle these old fixer uppers!
There’s certainly been no shortage of historic beauties with plenty of potential this December. Grab that mug of something hot and cozy up with these bargain gems.
 

 

2116 E Main St, Richmond, IN

 
Source: Lingle Real Estate
$44,900
 
What a find! Situated in Richmond, Indiana, this Victorian is full of 1890’s charm. The home was clearly built to impress – it’s sweeping floor plan has 7 bedrooms, 3 floors, 4 fireplaces, pocket doors…it’s almost enough to sing an architect’s version of the 12 days of Christmas! I can’t get over the sprawling porch and the ornate fireplaces. A mansion for under $45,000!
 

 

 

 

 
 

1065 N Waco Ave, Wichita, KS

 
Source: Fox Realty
$59,000
 
Ok, this one is just a bit over our 50,000 price tag limit, but do you really blame me for sneaking it in? Like the last house, this circa 1886 Kansas home is a mansion with 7 bedrooms and 5,216 square footage! It definitely needs some TLC, but is screaming with potential. Just imagine what a quaint B&B this one would make!
 

 

 

 

 
 

227 N Logan St, Lincoln, IL

 
Source: Postlets
$59,900
 
Another one just a tad above the limit, but I’m sure you could talk them down! This 1910 colonial would be perfect for hosting elegant, talk-of-the-town, dinner parties. Just look at that two-story front porch! Besides the grand entrance, this old home has 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and rooms filled with beautiful wood flooring and stained glass windows. Plus, it’s located in the middle of downtown historic Lincoln, Illinois! What a steal…
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

224 W Gracia Ave, Marceline, MO

 
Source: Postlets
$35,000
 
This turn-of-the-century home was actually featured in the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis before being moved to it’s permanent location! Imagine that. At 2,572 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, it the perfect size for a dedicated rehabber. I love the quirky stained glass windows on the top floor.
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

838 Main St, Dillwyn, VA

 
Source: Keller Williams Realty
$27,000
 
This inviting, Virginia manor house has so much potential for only $27,000! True, it needs a LOT of work, but it’s got great bones. Just look at all those windows and natural light.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

403 E 4th St, Carthage, MO

 
Source: Charles Burt Realtors
$44,900
 
This Victorian beauty literally took my breath away when I first saw it. Featured on the National Register as the Logan House, every inch of its 4,655 square feet hints at a storied past. It’s full of exquisite details like the painted and adorned ceiling panels, the adorable squirrel motif in the front porch gable, the ornate columns inside and out, and original butler’s pantry.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

21 S June St, Dayton, OH

 
Source: Iron Gate Realtors
Foreclosure: $24,900
 
I’ve decided to affectionately dub this one the “purple house.” Scroll through the images below and you’ll see why! Built in 1879, this cheery Italianate is located in Dayton’s Huffman Historic District. It’s 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms boast high ceilings and long, double-hung windows that breathe life into the place. And, even though the house is located in the middle of town, it looks like there’s space for a cute little yard in back! Just make sure you move quick on this one – it’s a foreclosure.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

213 19th St S, Bessemer, AL

 
Source: Keller Williams Realty
$44,900
 
Looking for an antique, Tudor-inspired bungalow? Well you’re in luck! This circa 1908 bungalow, known as the “Honeycutt house,” was just recently renovated and move-in ready. I love how bright and airy this one is!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

119 2nd Ave SW, Lafayette, AL

 
Source: RE/MAX
$44,900
 
Sitting on over 2.5 acres of land in Lafayette, Alabama, this old home is a bargain! It was originally built in 1840, but looks like it’s in pretty good shape – with gleaming hardwood floors in almost every room.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

709 Main St, Mount Vernon, IN

 
Source: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
$14,900
 
Last but not least is this 1860 red-brick Italianate! I wish there were more pictures of the inside, but from the long, curving staircase in the foyer, I’m guessing it has lots of promise. With 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, there’s plenty of room to transform this $14,900 fixer into the home of your dreams.
 

 

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Decided to take a leap and put in an offer on one of these finds? Send us a note! We love to hear when we match up a fixer and an owner.
 
 
 
AUTHOR TERESA IAFOLLA
A contributor to the CIRCA blog, Teresa has been captivated by old, character-rich houses since she was little. Growing up in the cookie-cutter suburbs of Montgomery County, Maryland, she dreamed of one day calling a quirky, old Victorian “home,” often pouring over house plans and blueprints from the local hardware store. Chasing that fondness for all things steeped in history, Teresa attended college at William & Mary, the second-oldest college in the U.S., based in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. After graduating with a degree in English Literature and Psychology, she moved into a restored Baltimore row home, circa 1830. Currently, Teresa lives in San Francisco and spends her days ogling the colorful Victorian Italianates that line her Mission neighborhood.