We Bought A Brooklyn Brownstone For $1.5 Million And Renovated It For About $300,000

Jordan and Barry purchased a brownstone in Bedstey, Brooklyn in October 2018 for $1.5 million with a $500,000 down payment, financing the remainder with a mortgage of approximately $5,000 per month. They completed their initial renovation by mid-2019 for $300,000, which they funded by doing much of the work themselves despite having limited DIY and restoration experience. The couple met in 2017 on a dating app, went on a bike ride around Brooklyn that cemented their shared passion for brownstone properties, and made an early commitment to purchase a home together. They met with contractors who quoted $800,000 to $1 million for renovation work, prompting them to learn restoration skills and document their project on a blog called Brownstone Boys. The home features original architectural details including crown molding, newel posts, and trim work, alongside modern additions like custom built-ins and newly constructed fireplace features. Notable design choices include a guest bedroom inspired by French countryside aesthetic featuring reproduced wallpaper from a Loire Valley chateau, a primary bedroom modeled after English countryside sensibilities, and creatively designed utility spaces such as a Rupaul's Drag Race-inspired laundry room and an appliance garage coffee bar. The property includes a rental unit on the garden floor generating $2,500 monthly income that covers approximately half their mortgage. Five years into living in the home, they completed additional renovations costing $300,000. The couple's Brownstone Boys business has since grown to a team of six completing over 32 full gut renovations across New York and Brooklyn. They view their home as a stewardship responsibility, aiming to set it up for its next 100 years of life, and consider it their forever home with potential for another major renovation in 7-10 years.