Morgantown, PA – A family of seven bypassed conventional homebuying, opting rather to purchase a dilapidated midcentury-modern property in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, embarking on a challenging renovation project after being denied a conventional mortgage. The Beilers‘ unconventional path highlights a growing trend of buyers seeking fixer-uppers in a competitive market,especially those willing to take on significant renovations beyond the reach of standard financing.
The Beilers discovered a four-bedroom, 2,940-square-foot home on 13 wooded acres in Morgantown, listed for $786,800 with annual taxes around $5,300. The property, originally a showcase of midcentury design with mahogany woodwork, vaulted ceilings, and stone fireplaces, had fallen into disrepair after being occupied by an Amish family who removed most of the electrical and plumbing systems, relying on a wood-burning furnace. This left the house uninhabitable by modern standards and ineligible for traditional bank loans. Undeterred,the family purchased the property with plans for a $100,000 renovation.
The home featured a covered patio, a three-car garage, a horse barn, and a pool with a sauna. Kingsway Realty handled the listing.
