Couple accidentally won 1830s house for $460,000; spent $300,000 restoring it
A Pennsylvania couple, Tyler and Lauren Bouldin, accidentally purchased an abandoned 1830s stone house for $460,000 at auction after the husband's smile was misinterpreted as a bid. They subsequently invested an additional $300,000 into restoring the five-acre property, which they named 'The Forge'.
Why it matters
This human-interest story highlights the challenges and rewards of historic home renovation, the unpredictable nature of real estate auctions, and the personal journey of transforming an old property, resonating with those interested in design, history, and unique homeownership experiences.
A Pennsylvania couple looking for a new home where they could raise their growing family ended up buying an abandoned 1830s stone house at auction for $460,000 in 2020.Tyler and Lauren Bouldin, both 36, had originally been looking for a more rural home where they could raise their growing family. After losing several properties in a competitive housing market, the couple began looking for less conventional ways to find a home that fit their needs.That search led them to a five-acre property they called “The Forge”, which Tyler discovered while browsing Zillow, an online real-estate platform.The stone house, surrounded by trees and sitting at the base of a mountain, had the setting the couple wanted. But it also needed extensive work.
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