Buying and renovating a home is tough business, especially for first timers. In this two part series, we’ll meet Ashley and Thomas, newlyweds who recently purchased a house in Brewerytown and got to experience the ups and downs of the renovation process.

Ashley, a mental health therapist, and Thomas, a youth soccer program director, were renting in Fairmount when they decided it was time to test the waters of home ownership.

They set about to make their limited budget work in the nearby (and up-and-coming) Brewerytown and Francisville neighborhoods. “There are some great opportunities around here if you’re willing to do the work” Thomas notes.

After seeing a number of homes in need of serious TLC, Ashley and Thomas got a call from their Solo Real Estate agent to come see a rowhome just north of Girard before developers scooped it up. The two rushed over and quickly made an offer on the 3 bedroom / 1 bathroom house. While it took several anxious weeks for their offer to be accepted, they eventually settled for just under $50,000.

The newlyweds however quickly realized they needed to keep their vision in line with their finances. While their FHA 203k loan was enough to make the major updates the house needed, they knew they’d have to be smart about which cosmetic changes they could afford to undertake. Finding the right contractor to help make these big decisions was key, too.

Keeping an eye trained on the big picture and the small details then, the two were ready for the challenge of transforming their new Brewerytown home.

Check out the video below to see Ashley discuss her new house while it was under construction. Also, stay tuned for our next article in this series to see this couple’s dreams for their home meet the realities of the renovation process.

New Digs: Brewerytown Renovation Part One