Couple Buys Run Down 19th Century Gothic House, Transform Into Dream Home

Buying a project house isn’t for everyone, but one couple has stunned the internet by sharing the progress they’ve made on their nineteenth-century Gothic house that looked utterly run down.

After years of renting a one-bedroom apartment in Florida and even temporarily moving back in with their family, Jacob Evans and Zahira Rivera finally managed to buy their first house in July 2023.

But it’s not your ordinary home, as the couple bought a five-bedroom Gothic-style Victorian home built in 1875.

Needless to say, the New York property needs plenty of work, but Rivera, 34, told Newsweek that they “fell in love” with it. They’d always “loved the idea of a historic home,” and they were more than happy to take on this extensive project to give the property a new lease of life.

“The architecture was so unique and unlike any modern architecture we’d seen,” Rivera said.

“We knew from the start that there were a few big projects, like repairing some bay window roofs, the rotted wall in the front, and of course, evicting some pigeons. All in all, the first projects were to make sure we did damage control and that there could be no further deterioration.”

The property features five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a carriage house, and a large front porch. The couple purchased it for just $150,000.

It may not be perfect yet, but it has plenty of character, and Rivera said they want to “bring it back to its classic Victorian elegance.” The couple have taken on most of the renovation work themselves, and they’ve been documenting it on TikTok (@thedwightreynoldshouse).

“We’re currently working to scrape, prime, and paint the front exterior of the house. Although we might not finish the whole house before winter. And we’re also finishing our foyer renovation by staining the stairs and balusters,” Rivera said.

“Every project has taken triple the time and double the budget we imagined it to, but we thrifted a lot of our décor and found some unique pieces at architectural salvage stores.”

The couple expects the full renovation to take around five years to transform the property into their dream home. Regardless of how long it takes, it will eventually be worth all the trouble because they see this as their forever home.

The High Price of Renting Before Buying

Prior to buying the house, Evans and Rivera lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Florida, but when the rent skyrocketed to $1,500 a month, they were forced to find other accommodation.

Rivera explained that they resorted to living with family so they could save enough money to get on the property ladder.

“We were drawn to the area as cheap old homes were constantly coming up on the market. It’s also got seasons, and it’s not too far from Jacob’s family in Connecticut,” Rivera added.

Despite the major upgrade from a small apartment to a massive five-bedroom house, their mortgage is still cheaper than the rent was, costing around $1,300 a month instead.

How Has Social Media Reacted?

Evans and Rivera have been amazed by the following they’ve gained since sharing their renovation project. Social media users love seeing how much progress they’ve made on the archaic house so far.

“We mostly get positive and encouraging comments online, and they give us motivation and joy. Sometimes we get some negative comments, but we also use those for motivation,” Rivera told Newsweek.

“We want to be transparent and let people know this isn’t for everyone, but don’t write off an old home because it needs some love. Any home will need constant upkeep, so you might as well learn how to do it yourself along the way. It will save you tons, and it’s not as hard as it seems.”

As for anyone who is considering going through this challenge themselves, Rivera recommends researching everything from taxes to the scope of repairs. Not to mention, get used to watching DIY tutorials online as they will become a savior.

The couple’s viral videos have gained a devoted following, with one video posted on July 3 gaining over 1.3 million views and 125,500 likes. With over 1,000 comments on the post, people have lauded their ongoing renovations.

One comment reads: “Restoring a home like this rather than destroying it deserves so much respect.”

Another person commented: “That fresh paint will make progress feel significant.”

While another TikToker wrote: “I love that you guys are bringing it back to its former glory.”

Do you have amazing renovation videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.