I’m a 44-Year-Old Violin Restorer, and I Bought My Dream Vermont Farmhouse for $145K

Thinking about buying a home, but not sure how to afford it? Welcome to the Down Payment Diaries, where real people spill about how they saved and splurged on their path to homeownership. If you’d like to submit your own Down Payment Diary, please fill out the form here.

Today, a home restorer shares how she bought—and fixed up—a historic Vermont home that neighbors described as a tear-down. 

The basics

Age: 44

Marital status: Single

Occupation: Home and violin restorer

What was your home experience when you were growing up?

My dad built two homes, and I was involved with the second one. That gave me some experience. I think I always wanted to own a home. I love homes, especially the old ones. 

What do you love so much about old homes?

I call it seasoning. They’ve already weathered so much bad stuff, and they’ve done most of the settling onto the land that they are going to do. I also know what’s inside these old homes. The building techniques are very regional, so you know what to expect.

When did you start thinking about buying?

I had just gotten through a hard time in my life and really needed something to be hopeful about. I kept thinking that if I survive this, I will make good on a lifelong dream of buying a farmhouse in Vermont. 

What were your non-negotiables?

The home had to be a project—the more tragic the better. Ideally, I wanted to save something that would have been demolished if I didn’t take it on. 

Did you have a specific style of home you were looking for?

I love New England homes: I love the Cape Cods and the saltboxes. I wanted a home that had that plain, simple style. 

What was the house-hunting process like?

A year before I was ready to buy, I reached out to Darcy Handy, a Realtor^® in Colchester, Vermont. She set me up so I received emails of the listings matching what I wanted, so I had a chance to learn the market in terms of availability and prices. When I started my actual search, I flew out to see a short list of seven homes all over the state. Out of all of them, one was my favorite. 

How did you know this was the one?

The day that we saw the home, it had just snowed. When we drove up, it looked like something out of a Hallmark picture. Right away, I knew this was it. 

What else did you like about the home?

It had been a rental property, which I love. Landlords don’t tend to take things out. They cover them up. 

How did you decide what to offer?

I knew I wouldn’t have competition, so I came up with a number that was below asking. Everyone else overlooked it. I happened to see a potential buyer leave as I was arriving to take a look. That person was shaking his head and his eyes were wide. The neighbors had all walked through the house and everyone called it a tear down. 

How did you save up the down payment?

My main job is to restore homes. On the side, I fix and sell violins. I put money from that work into my down payment fund. It took me two years to save up. I had some savings as well, and lived very simply during that time.

Did you get a conventional loan? 

The home, even though it had rotted walls, just barely qualified for a conventional mortgage.

How did the home inspection go?

The sellers weren’t open to a home inspection, so I had to be the inspector. I crawled under the house with a headlamp and a non-contact voltmeter to see where all the electricity was. I confirmed the foundation was good. I had just 30 minutes to inspect all I could, as our showing window wasn’t that long. Luckily, I found what I needed to know.

What kind of renovations needed to be done?

The entire home was a major overhaul. My goal was to uncover, restore and showcase as much of the original home as possible. When I went to remove the flooring, there was layer after layer, and they were all hideous. But under it all was the original wide plank flooring. 

Had you ever taken on a project like this before?

I had restored homes before, but nothing this old. 

How did you finance the repairs?

I took out an equity line on my primary home to cover the renovations.

What’s your long-term plan with this house?

I’m renting it out as an Airbnb until I retire. That was the plan all along, so before I bought, I researched Vermont extensively to find areas that do well as short-term rentals. 

What do you love most about living in this part of Vermont?

It's a totally different world. There are no cities in this area. It took me a while to get the rhythm of living in a place like this. It’s all small towns and small businesses. The more that I was here working on the house, the more I came to adore the people. They are intensely interested in having you succeed. I had been worried coming in as an out-of-stater that perhaps I wouldn’t be welcomed. But that wasn’t the case at all. I’ve become invested in this community, and it feels like family now.

What do you love most about this home?

In the mornings, I love to sit in the front room and look out and see the mountains. It’s so peaceful and pristine. This really is my dream house.