South Carolina Couple Appears On Magnolia Network “First Time Fixer”

What happens when you combine a home renovation, a wedding and six-year old triplets?  Well, with any luck you see your dreams come true.  That’s just what happened when South Carolina couple Ashley and Angel decided to tackle their very own home renovation.   They had started their renovation when they stumbled across a social media post about the show.  The couple simply made contact, and within minutes they got a call from the show.  And, that’s how they ended up on Magnolia Network’s “First Time Fixer.”

They purchased the home on the lake in York, South Carolina for $650,000 because they loved the location and the views. And, they knew it had potential to be exactly what they wanted.  However, it needed tender loving care.   With a budget of $350,000 and a 12 week timeline for completion, they rolled up their sleeves and went to work. 

How do I know the couple?  Ashley’s daughter, Alli, and my son attended high school together in Monroe, North Carolina.  And, Alli and Hogan remain best friends to this day.  Never afraid to take on a challenge, I’ve known Ashley to build chicken coops, redo bathrooms and install her own major appliances over the years. So, I knew she was prepared.

During the timeline, they encountered setbacks, permit delays and termites.  However, they managed to see it through.  And, they refused to let a little dust and bare drywall stop their wedding.  They married in the unfinished home on New Year's Eve.

The project ended up taking 16 weeks to complete, but they stayed on budget.  The home is beautiful with special touches they personally chose.  Angel hand painted a peninsula mural representing the home’s location.  They added a dog wash in the laundry. Plus, there’s even a “morse code” wall in the bath that translates to “wash your hands.”  As beautiful as the home looks on TV, it was even more stunning when we visited in person.  So, take a tour along with us of this South Carolina couple’s experience with their “First Time Fixer.”  Stream the show on Discovery + or Magnolia Network.

The U.S. housing market continues to be a little crazy. And buying a fully updated home can be out of the question for many people. First-time and experienced buyers may see the benefit of a fixer-upper. It can be a good investment as purchasing a home that needs extensive remodeling can get you a good price. But how good that return on investment depends a lot on where you're looking to buy. If you're looking to purchase a home in North Carolina, you'll be glad to know one NC city did rank as one of the best to buy a fixer-upper! The study was conducted by StorageCafe!

Though I must relay a story for a word of caution. Just because you've watched HGTV and think you can doesn't mean you should take this on by yourself. A good friend of mine just had her entire bathroom vanity detach from the wall after the previous owner did their own renovations. For long-lasting and quality renovations you should make sure to consult the experts. That slightly increased cost can save you in the long run!

To come up with this list StorageCafe used 11 key indicators of fixer-upper market potential. Their ranking metrics rank from median purchase price to fixer-upper inventory and discounts, median home space, and lot size for a fixer-upper as compared to a regular home.

You can read their full analysis here or read on for the top 15 cities to purchase a fixer-upper.

Fixer Upper Listing Pric3: $79,900

Fixer Upper Discount: -59.0%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 12%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $145,000

Fixer Upper Discount: -51.7%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 26%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $59,900

Fixer Upper Discount: -47.95%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 22%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $109,900

Fixer Upper Discount: -44.5%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 18%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $107,500

Fixer Upper Discount: -48.8%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 25%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $199,900

Fixer Upper Discount: -43.8%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 10%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $325,000

Fixer Upper Discount: -44.4%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 9%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $170,000

Fixer Upper Discount: -47.7%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 7%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $450,000

Fixer Upper Discount: -38.8%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 9%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $289,839

Fixer Upper Discount: -34.9%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 5%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $350,000

Fixer Upper Discount: -28.1%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 4%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $564,499

Fixer Upper Discount: -37.2%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 5%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $155,000

Fixer Upper Discount: -60.2%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 7%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $249,450

Fixer Upper Discount: -54.6%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 8%

Fixer Upper Listing Price: $190,000

Fixer Upper Discount: -29.6%

Fixer Upper Share of Home Stock: 7%