When it’s cold outside, our historic dream house looks a little less like a fussy, ornate Victorian and a little more like a low-slung Craftsman where we can sit in front of the fire and watch the snow fall. Simple and solid, these charmers from a century ago have retained their popularity precisely because they’re so homey. We’ve rounded up some of the prettiest on the market right now to warm your old-house-loving heart.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
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Norman, Oklahoma
$645,000
This cuter-than-cute four-bedroom bungalow from 1930 is the perfect combo of historic charm and modern flourishes. You can’t beat the location: It’s just a short walk to shops, restaurants, and the University of Oklahoma.
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Norman: A Peek Inside
Oak and pine floors, a warm fireplace, and trim galore have plenty of charm, but the updated kitchen and entertainment area — complete with a bar — are the stars of the show. The owner’s suite has an office and its own living area.
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Georgetown, Texas
$1.4 million
This three-bedroom from 1916 underwent an award-winning restoration in 2006 and blends old and new seamlessly. Outside, a front porch is ultra-welcoming, but the real prize is in the back, where the original garage has become an entertainment area with a water feature, fire pit, and more.
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Georgetown: A Peek Inside
Dark woodwork and light walls balance each other in the spacious living room, which blends into a formal dining room. An updated kitchen opens onto a cozy sitting area.
Ville Platte, Louisiana
$335,000
A five-bedroom bungalow for under $400,000? It can be yours in this small town in central Louisiana. Built in 1915, it has a large yard and an equally large porch, a spacious back patio, and an adorable picket fence.
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Ville Platte: A Peek Inside
Charm oozes from every corner in this traditional home, which includes pine, oak, and paver floors, tall ceilings, fireplaces, and built-ins. An eat-in kitchen with tall cabinetry has storage galore, and a formal dining room offers even more room.
Santa Monica, California
$6 million
The price is steep, but consider the setting: This sweet three-bedroom from 1913 is just steps from the beach and boasts ocean views from the upper floor. It has a two-story, two-bedroom guesthouse that could provide plenty of rental income.
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Santa Monica: A Peek Inside
If traditional Craftsmans are too dark for you, this one might hit the spot, with plenty of sunlight and white trim throughout. Highlights include a stacked stone fireplace, a modern kitchen and bathrooms, and intricate gardens.
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Spokane, Washington
$649,000
Prices are a bit easier to stomach in western Washington, where this renovated three-bedroom from 1916 awaits. Exterior highlights include a roomy porch, fresh landscaping and fencing, and a new paver path.
Spokane: A Peek Inside
Shiny new hardwood floors, fresh paint, and a renovated kitchen combine with the charm of original woodwork and a working wood fireplace. Book lovers will adore the small library.
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Montague, Michigan
$916,000
While pricey for Michigan, this lakefront 1915 Craftsman offers plenty of room to stretch out, with five bedrooms and more than 3,000 square feet. But that’s the least of it: The house has 900 feet of shoreline and its own boathouse, plus an 800-square-foot porch where you can enjoy the view.
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Montague: A Peek Inside
Traditionalists will love the coffered ceilings, brick fireplace, built-in benches, and gleaming dark woodwork in the open living area. A butler’s pantry offers additional storage for the eat-in kitchen.
Siloam Springs, Arkansas
$595,000
This beguiling four-bedroom bungalow ticks all the boxes: It’s just blocks from downtown, has a half-acre lot, a heated and cooled three-car garage, and a front porch with more than enough room for family and friends to kick back on a nice evening.
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Siloam Springs: A Peek Inside
Though it’s actually a newer home, this beauty has the warmth of a century-old Craftsman, with plenty of custom built-ins, coffered ceilings, and exposed beams. A bonus room even has a massive movie screen and its own bathroom and wet bar.
St. Petersburg, Florida
$2.5 million
Just minutes from the water, shopping and restaurants, this five-bedroom built in 1910 combines the charm of yesteryear and the ease of Florida living. There are plenty of spaces to soak up Gulf breezes and sunshine, including a huge front porch, a sunroom, and a charming brick courtyard.
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St. Petersburg: A Peek Inside
The light, bright interior includes a second-floor library and a master bedroom with a huge bathroom featuring a whirlpool tub and a large steam shower. The yet-to-be renovated basement has plenty of room for a wine cellar.
Reading, Pennsylvania
$435,000
This three-bedroom two-story built in 1916 has classic warmth. Outside, you’ll find a large porch wrapping around two sides of the home, a concrete patio, and a long patterned driveway leading to the one-car garage.
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Reading: A Peek Inside
Decorative glass and natural woodwork are highlights in several rooms, and the kitchen has a butler’s pantry, oak cabinetry, granite countertops, and even radiant-heat flooring. A family-room addition adds more gathering space, and the fireplace in the master bedroom is made with local stone.
Athens, Georgia
$875,000
Enjoy plenty of room and then some in this classic five-bedroom that clocks in at more than 3,500 square feet. Surrounded by mature trees, it boasts a roomy front porch, a private, fully fenced backyard, and a back deck perfect for entertaining.
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Athens: A Peek Inside
Solid-wood doors, crown molding, built-ins, and a first-floor master suite that opens onto the back deck are just some of the highlights in this cozy home. The kitchen and bathrooms have been renovated, and the family room has a wood-burning fireplace.
Pierre, South Dakota
$239,000
If you don’t need a ton of square footage but won’t compromise on charm, this three-bedroom in the heart of South Dakota is a gem of a find at a gem of a price. Built in 1922, it has plenty of garage or workshop space out back for those who want room to tinker.
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Pierre: A Peek Inside
The cheerful, light-filled eat-in kitchen has been modernized, and has a bar where you can grab a quick bite to eat. There’s also an office and a separate bonus room.
Portland, Oregon
$1.1 million
This “straight-out-of-a-movie” four-bedroom built in 1909 has undeniable curb appeal with its large porch and gabled front door. It’s also in walking distance of Ladd Circle Park and Rose Gardens, one of Portland’s most beguiling public spaces.
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Portland: A Peek Inside
A blend of white and natural wood trim brings together old and new in a warm interior that includes glassed-in built-ins, brick fireplaces, and a classic kitchen with restored retro appliances that will appeal to any nostalgia buff.
Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
$925,000
How’s this for cool? This three-bedroom built in 1913 served originally as an elementary school. Structurally reinforced after Hurricane Katrina, it’s on a roomy lot with beautiful magnolias, oaks, cypress, and azalea trees. Look over the parklike grounds from the airy front porch or back deck.
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Bay Saint Louis: A Peek Inside
Wide open living spaces, old-growth pine floors, and 12-foot ceilings call to mind this building’s past life. There’s a library with a gas fireplace, a “ship’s cabin” loft bedroom, a downstairs studio space, and much more.
Dundee, New York
$599,000
Ever fancied going into the hospitality business? This seven-bedroom Four Square in the Finger Lakes region, built in 1922, functions as a bed-and-breakfast. It welcomes visitors with a wrap-around porch and even has a barn from the 1800s on the property.
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Dundee: A Peek Inside
Immaculate chestnut woodwork and the warm fireplace might make it hard to tear yourself away from the living room, but there’s plenty more to ogle, including a chef-worthy kitchen and a 1,000-square-foot addition that could be an owner’s suite or a rental unit.
Nashville, Tennessee
$3.5 million
If you love a good mashup of old and new, this high-end renovation of a 1901 craftsman in the Music City will definitely be your kind of eye candy. With six bedrooms and more than 4,500 square feet, it’s got plenty of space, and the sleek black exterior will set tongues wagging.
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Nashville: A Peek Inside
The open floor plan has high ceilings, ornate molding, and a jaw-dropping gourmet kitchen with luxury appliances. Each of the bedrooms has its own ensuite bathroom, and there’s a two-bedroom guesthouse.
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Finding a qualified financial adviser doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisers in your area in five minutes.
Each adviser has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisers that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
