TL;DR
Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Whitney Anderson is renovating an abandoned 1898 Methodist church in Michigan into a home, a project she calls a “chouse.” She negotiated the purchase price from $125,000 to $45,000, and renovation cash flow has reached close to $200,000, according to Hunker’s report citing CNBC. The project is still underway, and Anderson has said she is unsure whether it will be financially sustainable.
Whitney Anderson is converting an abandoned 1898 church in Michigan into a home after negotiating its purchase price down to $45,000, according to a Hunker report drawing on CNBC’s coverage. The renovation has involved substantial structural repairs and close to $200,000 in cash flow, and Anderson has described the project’s long-term financial viability as uncertain.
Anderson, who grew up in New York City, told CNBC that her interest in the property grew from a childhood love of stained glass. She found a parsonage for sale in Michigan that came with a church and negotiated the combined property’s listed price down from $125,000 to $45,000. She paid cash, according to the report, and uses the term “chouse” for the church-house she is creating.
The church was built in 1898 as a Methodist place of worship and still had features including an altar, pews and a bell tower. The work has included addressing structural problems and water damage. Anderson handled demolition and much of the flooring herself, while hiring help for work she could not do, including water-damage repairs, Hunker reported.
Before searching for a property, Anderson spent years saving $250,000, according to the CNBC account cited by Hunker. The report says her renovation cash flow reached close to $200,000. Her renovation journey, shared on Instagram as @houseofvitrail, also brought sponsorships and free materials and labor, and led to an appearance on Magnolia Network’s “Home Reimagined.”
The Cost of Reusing a Church
Anderson’s project shows how a low purchase price can be only one part of the cost of turning a former institutional building into a home. Structural repairs, materials and specialist labor can add substantially to the budget, even when an owner takes on some work personally. In this case, the reported renovation cash flow approaches $200,000, far exceeding the $45,000 purchase price.
The project also illustrates how sponsorships and social-media attention can affect a renovation’s finances. Hunker reports that Anderson received sponsorships and some free materials and labor after documenting the work online. Those benefits are particular to her situation and do not establish that a similar project would be affordable or financially sustainable for other buyers.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Methodist Church to Chouse
The building dates to 1898, and its surviving religious features give the renovation a different starting point from a typical residential remodel. Anderson’s stated interest in stained glass and the church’s historic character help explain her decision to take on the property, while the building’s condition has required extensive work.
According to Hunker’s account of CNBC’s reporting, Anderson avoided a mortgage by paying cash for the purchase and had saved money for years before buying. She also reduced some labor expenses by carrying out demolition and much of the flooring work herself. Those choices helped shape the project’s finances, but the report does not provide a full itemized budget or a final renovation total.
““It’s still 50/50 if this is going to be a sustainable chouse … or if it’s going to be what bankrupts me.””
— Whitney Anderson, in a video interview with CNBC Make It, as quoted by Hunker
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Renovation Costs Still Unsettled
The project is still underway, and the available report does not state when the house will be finished, what its final cost will be or whether Anderson will be able to live in it as planned. Her “50/50” assessment is a personal description of the risk, not a confirmed financial outcome.
The reported figure of nearly $200,000 refers to renovation cash flow, but Hunker does not provide an itemized accounting of expenses, sponsorships, donated materials or labor. The source also does not detail the church’s current occupancy status, the complete scope of required repairs or any permits and approvals associated with converting the building to residential use.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Completion and Final Costs Ahead
The next milestones are the completion of the renovation and a clearer account of its final costs. Anderson continues to share the project through @houseofvitrail, while the cited report does not give a completion date or identify a specific upcoming construction milestone.
Until the work is finished and costs are fully accounted for, the project’s financial outcome remains open. Any further updates would need to establish what repairs remain, how much additional spending is required and whether the former church becomes a sustainable home for Anderson.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Who is renovating the abandoned church?
Whitney Anderson is renovating the Michigan property as a home she calls a “chouse.” She shares the project on Instagram as @houseofvitrail.
How much did Anderson pay for the property?
Hunker reports that Anderson negotiated the price down from $125,000 to $45,000 and paid cash. The property included a parsonage and the church.
How much has the renovation cost?
The report says Anderson’s renovation cash flow reached close to $200,000. It does not provide an itemized account or a final total, and the work is ongoing.
Why is the renovation financially uncertain?
The church has required structural work, including repairs related to water damage, and the final project cost is not known. Anderson said she was unsure whether the “chouse” would be financially sustainable.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
