“Everything Old And Residential”: This Group Celebrates Old Homes, Here Are 50 Of The Most Interesting New Pics

Houses constructed more than a century ago account for barely six percent of homes in the United States, according to the market research firm Statista. But interest in old fixer-uppers has boomed as the cost of newer houses has skyrocketed over the past few years.

"We believe that you're being sold the wrong American Dream," Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein write in their book, Cheap Old Houses: An Unconventional Guide to Loving and Restoring a Forgotten Home.

"For many of us, the trade-off for acquiring ... [new] homes is living beyond our means and accepting soul-crushing debt, not to mention contributing to the overabundance of waste that comes from accumulating everything shiny and new ... It doesn't have to be this way."

Of course, remodeling old houses comes with a fair number of challenges. Drop a marble on the floor, and it might roll to the other end of the room. Plus, they were often built with toxic chemicals such as asbestos.

But the Finkelsteins also run the Instagram account @CheapOldHouses, showing people that you can find interesting options on the market and giving them a chance to imagine a home’s potential. And the internet can't get enough of it: the account has nearly three million followers.

Like all things real estate, buying and restoring old houses has become more expensive in recent years, given the increase in the cost of materials and the lack of skilled labor available.

"Nobody is naive enough to look at a lot of these houses and think that they don’t need work,” Elizabeth says. "Our audience can read between the lines and know what they're getting into. There's a huge decrepit mansion in a field in Illinois. That's going to take a different type of person.”

And these days, even the "cheap old house" market has become competitive. The Finkelsteins have found in the past few years that they must post listings as fast as possible if they want to feature them before they’re sold.

"They pop up on the market and they’re gone in like five minutes," Elizabeth says. But if you aren't afraid of putting in the time and effort, the value you can gain can be huge.

Sarah McGee, a well-known real estate agent who specializes in historic properties in Charleston, South Carolina, shares her perspective on the trend. "Buyers are increasingly looking for homes that are more than just four walls and a roof. They want a connection to the past, a space with personality,” she explains.

In cities like Charleston, New Orleans, and Brooklyn, New York, buyers are particularly drawn to properties with rich histories. McGee notes, "The buyers I work with often choose historic homes because of the unique architectural details—things you can't find in modern construction, like original hardwood floors, crown molding, and large windows."

And looking at these pictures, can you blame them?