182: Deal-breakers & Old House Life
From True Tales From Old Houses by Stacy Grinsfelder
April 6, 2026 · 56 min · Season 13 · Episode 182
About this episode
Stacy discusses the deal-breakers in buying old houses and features an interview with Michelle Bowers about her experiences.
In this episode, Stacy explores the deal-breakers that shape how people approach buying an old house and how those decisions shift depending on life stage. She also chats with Michelle Bowers of Old House Life, who has watched that play out in real time. In preparation for this episode, Stacy asked her Instagram and Facebook audience to share their own deal-breakers. The responses covered everything from structural concerns and layout challenges to location, cost, and long-term livability. She shares their responses and explores what stops people in their tracks. Then, Stacy welcomes Michelle Bowers of Old House Life , who has a front row seat to old house listings across the country. What began as a hobby has grown into a massive Facebook following and something more personal. Michelle found herself unable to pass on certain properties, sometimes at remarkably low prices, gradually building a collection of historic homes of her own. Her perspective offers a unique look at how deal-breakers play out in real time, both for the people browsing listings and as someone who has stepped in and said yes more than once. Mentioned in this Episode Sign up for the Wood Window Workshop at…
People in this episode
Host: Stacy
Guest: Michelle Bowers
Topics covered
- deal-breakers
- old houses
- buying decisions
- life stages
- historic homes
Keywords
- structural concerns
- layout challenges
- location
- cost
- long-term livability
Mentioned in this episode
Products: TRUETALES26, The Repaint Tray, The Repaint Tray's, Wood Window Workshop
More episodes of True Tales From Old Houses
- 184: A Grand Hotel in the Middle of Nowhere (Sun Valley Lodge) · April 20, 2026 · 56 min
- 183: Spring at Blake Hill House · April 13, 2026 · 30 min
- 181: From Grange Halls to Sprung Floors · March 30, 2026 · 49 min
- 180: Lead Laws and the Ripple Effect · March 23, 2026 · 51 min
- 179: Tool Talk: Infrared Paint Removers · March 16, 2026 · 47 min
- 178: Wait. That's Historic? · March 9, 2026 · 52 min
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