But don’t worry – we’re not moving into this one.
As we mentioned on this week’s podcast, we recently purchased a beach house. It’s not a glossy, high-end getaway — it’s nearly 100 years old and easily the roughest, most in-need-of-help property we’ve ever taken on. That made it one of the most challenging and exciting projects we’ve tackled so far.
We fell for the home because of its location, character, and the price — it was significantly less expensive than neighboring homes because of its condition. Below are some “before” photos, starting with the front of the house.
Where is it?
The house is in Cape Charles, VA, a small historic town on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The Eastern Shore is a narrow peninsula separated from mainland Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay, so our drive from Richmond takes about 2.5 hours and includes a 17-mile bridge crossing. We first discovered Cape Charles in 2013 while taking part in a Virginia Tourism commercial and immediately fell in love with the town’s quiet charm.
Cape Charles is small and calm — most people get around on foot, bike, or golf cart. The town offers classic small-town amenities: an independent ice cream shop, a mail carrier who walks a cart down the street, and a single-screen theater called the Palace Theatre. Located on the bay side of the peninsula, the water is shallow and tranquil, which makes the beach ideal for young kids and excellent for kayaking and paddleboarding. Even busy summer weekends still feel relaxed, with plenty of close parking and a peaceful atmosphere.
Why buy a house there?
We’ve been considering a vacation home or a rental property for years. With family experience in rentals and a long-standing curiosity about renovation projects, we kept an eye out for the right opportunity. We hoped a second property would be both a fun long-term family investment and a financially sensible decision.
On repeated visits we noticed renovation activity, new small hotels, and restored inns — signs that the town was on an upswing. We decided to act before prices rose further. We worked with a local realtor and went from casually considering the idea to actively pursuing a property.
Why THIS house?
We toured several rough houses while shopping in the $75–$100k range, but many were eliminated by poor lots or locations. The house we bought was a pocket listing our realtor showed to buyers she thought would take on a major renovation — and it suited us.
At $125,000 it sat at the top of our budget, but the location made it a smart choice: three blocks from the beach, under two blocks from the main shopping area, and close to Central Park with its walking paths and play areas. The house sits on a charming tree-lined street among other, already-renovated older homes, which demonstrated the potential for what ours could become.
The house, built in 1920, has solid bones and character. It belongs to a row of four similar houses, and the neighboring renovated homes provided a clear vision of what ours could be. One of those houses had recently sold for nearly three times our purchase price, which reinforced the investment potential here.
The house has elements that hint at a Victorian influence — porch columns, decorative brackets, stained glass, tall ceilings, an original clawfoot tub we plan to reglaze, an old stair railing, and solid wood doors with vintage knobs and keyholes. It also includes a back staircase not found in the neighboring twins, which we’re excited to preserve.
How do we plan to use it?
We want this house to be a place for family traditions — summers together, holiday visits, and a gathering spot for extended family and friends. My childhood summers at the Delaware shore inspired the idea of a home base where our family can make memories for years to come.
We also plan to rent the house as a vacation rental to help offset maintenance and repair costs. Cape Charles has a healthy vacation rental market, and some homes rent for significant weekly rates in peak season. We haven’t finalized whether we’ll use Airbnb or another channel, but we’ll share details as we figure them out.
Are we going to DIY the renovation?
We plan to DIY many finishes but hire professionals for major structural and mechanical work. Pros will handle foundation repairs, complete plumbing replacement, updated electrical (it currently has a lot of knob-and-tube), a new HVAC system, and a new roof. We’ll tackle finishes like cabinetry, tile, painting, installing fixtures, and decorating ourselves.
Some early phases — foundation work and HVAC upgrades — won’t be dramatic to look at, so it may take time before big before-and-after moments appear. We’ll share our layout ideas, plans, and proposed floor diagrams as the project progresses.
P.S. — For anyone who missed it, we shared our Annual Gift Guides for Gals, Guys, and Kids.