July 2014

by Jon Valalik (photo by John Phalen) Hello, and welcome to Old House 101! You've probably heard of the National Register of Historic Places, but do you know what the heck it is? Jon's here to tell us all about it!   As a publication dedicated to bringing to light historic homes and buildings for sale across the country, we felt it wise to introduce tips, resources, and general insight on the...

by Amanda Davis I love old brick houses, and better yet when they’re in Virginia. That state just oozes charm! I was there just last week and its historic buildings never fail to amaze me. Today’s fixer upper is in Crockett, which is located just off I-81 and about halfway between Roanoke and Bristol. It’s on the market for $72,500 and features 4 bedrooms, 1 bath, and over 2,800 square...

by Alix Adams (Photo of the Ashbel Smith Building by Nsaum75)   Welcome to "You Should Move To...", in which we travel the country scoping out beautiful, under-the-radar old house towns where big charm can be had for little cost. Have a city, town or neighborhood to recommend? Send it along to [email protected]!   Galveston is a small barrier island town on the coast of Texas just fifty miles...

by Elizabeth Finkelstein The best things in life are free, right? Houses included! Welcome to CIRCA's new column, which spotlights wonderful old houses being offered entirely free-of-charge. First stop: Fargo, ND!   You never really know what you'll find on Craigslist, but when an ad for a free historical house listed on the National Register of Historic Places pops up, you've gotta pause and read on!...

by Hänsel Hernández-Navarro (photo by WindingRoad) If there's one thing we love about CIRCA, it's the chance to "tour" the great vernacular architecture that makes America wonderful. Love Victorians? You're most certainly not alone! Join Hänsel as he teaches us all about the Queen Anne style.   When one thinks of Victorian houses, the variety of architecture styles in America in the period 1840s...

by Elizabeth Finkelstein Since CIRCA features homes all over the country, it's rare that I'm given the opportunity to peek inside any of the beautiful old houses listed on the site. Which is sad, in a way. I've mentioned before that what makes old houses so wonderful is an essence that can't be captured in photographs -- it's just a feeling you get when you walk inside.   For this reason, I feel...

by Amanda Davis Summer’s in full swing, and for many of us that means heading to the beach and soaking in some sun. And for those of us who’d also love to sneak in some time fixing up a great old house, I have the best of both worlds for you today: a fixer-upper near the Jersey Shore!   This little cutie pie is on the market for $69,000 and sits on just under an acre of land at 727 Dennisville...

by Jon Valalik (photo by SJ Strand) Nothing screams "July!" like a dose of pure, unabashed Americana. Today, CIRCA brings you the story behind one of our favorite properties up for sale -- Wisconsin's Usonian Inn, a classic piece of roadside nostalgia with a direct connection to Frank Lloyd Wright in the rural haven of Spring Green. As much as we love traditional B&B's (and trust me, we do!) there's...

by Elizabeth Finkelstein At long last -- here it is! Ten more beautiful old houses for sale for under $50,000! I skipped a month of this series (we've been deep in the throes of the homebuying process -- more on that to come!) but to make up for it, I've included a handful of bonus listings at the bottom. Enjoy, and as always, click the photos to be taken to the listing sites!   This week's picks,...

by Alix Adams (Image courtesy of OZinOH)  Welcome to "You Should Move To...", in which we travel the country scoping out beautiful, under-the-radar old house towns where big charm can be had for little cost. Have a city, town or neighborhood to recommend? Send it along to [email protected]!   Just nineteen miles square, Delaware is a small but sparkling gem in the center of Ohio just...