[Andy] Wow, this is really spacious.
[narrator] First time buyer Andy's looking
for a historic Baltimore rowhome
that he can renovate for a future family.
You have your bunk beds with your foster children.
They come in here and here's your playroom.
[Andy] I think you're winning me over a little bit.
I haven't climbed a ladder since summer camp.
I would want this
to be a grill and chill type of spot,
and I don't see myself carrying platters of food
up a ladder.
[narrator] High expectations and a competitive market
are proving a challenge for Andy's agent, Tom.
[Tom] Good ceiling height.
Is that what we're calling good ceiling height, Tom?
Oh, my God! A white refrigerator?
[Tom] Do you want something that you can fix up?
Or do you want something that you pay top dollar for?
I want something that looks like it's not crumbling.
[doorbell rings]
[theme music playing]
[Andy] Come on, Deaks!
I'm Andy, I live in Baltimore, Maryland,
and I'm the Social Responsibility Manager
for Hamilton, the musical.
I help with their social and racial justice initiatives.
I lived in Boston for nearly ten years
after growing up in Portland, Maine.
I knew I wanted to live somewhere
that was diverse and that had an affordable cost of living.
I think Baltimore is really exciting.
It's a vibrant community.
It's a little gritty, and it's a little bit of fun.
[talking gibberish]
Two and half years ago,
I adopted Deacon Montgomery Morgan.
He's a rescue French Bulldog, and he rules the house.
Hello.
- [Tom on phone] - Oh, hey, Tom. How's it going?
[Tom on phone]
I'm looking to buy a home
because, financially, I'm in a place
where I can afford to do it.
And it's always been my dream
to buy my own home, and renovate it,
and really make it my own.
I work from home,
and I also travel quite a bit for work.
I currently live in Butcher's Hill,
but I'm looking to move to the south side of the city
because it's closer proximity to downtown restaurants
and nightlife.
Ideally, I'm looking to spend
$220,000 to $300,000.
I know it's a competitive market,
but I'm fully prepared to be competitive
to get what I want.
Yeah, I'm a five minute walk away.
Deacon and I, I'll just drop him at the house,
and we can come right over.
- Hey, man! - Hey, Andy.
I wanna tour this time with you
and get an idea of what you're actually looking for.
I know Andy's not gonna like this house.
He doesn't wanna be in this neighborhood.
But I need to physically see what he likes
and what he doesn't like.
First thoughts on the home?
[Andy] I love the brick.
The floors are great, and obviously, the fireplace.
I started looking a couple of weeks ago.
There was actually a house for sale
one street over from my current home,
and that's how I met Tom.
He was the listing agent.
So, we agreed to work together and start our search.
- [Tom] How do you feel about the accent ceilings? - [Andy] It's beautiful.
This helps me paint the picture
of what we're trying to find.
It feels like this was renovated and flipped.
And I want some historical character.
I really want curb appeal.
I want it to feel classic and historic.
You want the grand entrance of a Baltimore City rowhome.
Yeah! I would like red brick, front facing,
a fireplace.
I need a backyard for Deacon,
and I need at least two extra bedrooms
for guests and foster kids.
I'm in the process of becoming a certified foster parent,
and so I wanna build my nest,
and really have those roots in a community.
The one unique thing that I'm looking for,
that may be difficult to find,
is I am someone who wants walls.
I don't want open concept.
I want my rooms compartmentalized.
-Your list is very extensive. You would think... -It's not that long of a list.
Okay, for what you're lookin' to spend,
are you willing to fix things up?
I would like to put my own personal stamp
on everything.
So, I'd love to be able to not pay for things
that have already been done.
This is the downtown area.
This is where you wanna be.
You have the harbor within walking distance.
There's restaurants everywhere you look.
I love how the houses are old and historic.
What's the deal on this house, Tom?
It's a two bedroom, two bath,
little over a thousand square feet.
This one's a bit pricey.
This is $290,000.
Andy also wants to raise foster children,
so he's gonna need space.
And we need to find a larger home
here in Baltimore.
For what Andy's willing to spend,
it's going to be very hard to find.
It better be spectacular.
It is. Wait until you see the rooftop deck.
So, what do you think?
[Andy] I like the brick,
and I definitely like the planters,
but I would wanna repaint the blue.
-[Tom] That's cosmetic. We can fix that down the road. -Okay.
[Tom] Let's go see it.
Initial thoughts.
- [Andy] I love the gas fireplace. - [Tom] Yeah.
I love the hardwoods.
But it's so small.
I wanted space to be able to move around.
[Tom] That's something you're gonna deal with down here.
In the area you wanna be,
not everything's gonna get bigger.
It's gonna get smaller.
That is downtown.
You're gonna sacrifice something.
[Andy] I just didn't think it would get this small.
Can we actually fit a couch in here?
Yeah, you got two love seats you can fit right here.
One in that corner and one right here.
Great. One for Deacon, one for me.
[Tom] Yeah. Now, let's go to the kitchen.
[Andy] This is the ugliest kitchen
I have ever seen in my life.
It's a blank page that you can do what you want.
-Well... -Oh, my God! A white refrigerator!
[Tom] You can change that out.
That's simple.
The kitchen is straight outta 1994.
The white refrigerator just makes my skin crawl.
The house is already at the top of my budget,
and this entire kitchen would need to be renovated.
[Tom] Whatever Andy gets,
he's gonna have to modernize it,
but he wants it when Ben Franklin made it.
Andy can find what he's looking for
in his budget.
It's just he's gonna have to be
willing to put some sweat equity in
to make the home what he wants.
Let's check the backyard. This is the best part.
[Andy] Oh, this is nice!
[Tom] A nice, private backyard.
Storage shed, too.
I could probably take that out and make the backyard bigger
- for Deacon. - Yeah. Definitely can.
They do have a retaining wall you have to take out,
but it's definitely something doable
that can make it your own.
The other thing is, too,
is you do have this brick outside,
so it gives you some of that Baltimore charm, too.
[Andy] And I love the vines.
They're absolutely gorgeous.
This is a plus here, isn't it?
- Yeah. - Okay.
Let's head on up to where the bedrooms are.
[Andy] I love the floors.
The size is good.
Is this the primary or guest bedroom?
This is guest.
Your foster children are here.
They have plenty of room up here to sleep.
Closet.
1875 home. Baltimore City.
We're gonna have smaller closets.
Through your magnificent bathroom.
[Andy] Oh, boy.
- [Tom] It's huge, isn't it? - Yeah.
I guess so.
So, is this what I'm supposed to do? Like...
We can put a stool in there for you.
Step through to your owner suite.
[Andy] How is it possible
that the primary bedroom
is smaller than the guest bedroom.
If someone's going to the bathroom,
I'm trapped in my room.
There's going to be things that you change
in any home you buy.
Come on up.
Oh, there's a ladder.
I haven't climbed a ladder since summer camp.
[Tom] Get the full view.
Take it in.
Baltimore City skyline.
Come up here. Enjoy a nice sunset.
You can see from the east to the west.
You can do the mornin' or the evenin'.
[Andy] I love the roof deck.
But my concern is I would want this to be
a grill and chill type of spot,
and I don't see myself
carrying platters of food up a ladder.
That's why you get a little bar up here.
A mini bar, mini fridge, you set that up here,
- and your grill. - Okay.
The backyard is incredible,
and I do really enjoy the neighborhood,
but the layout is terrible.
I just see dollar signs
in everything I would have to do
to get this space
to where I would want it to be.
I see at least $50,000 to $60,000
in improvements in this home.
If you put those together with the current asking price,
I don't know if it makes sense.
But I do love the roof deck, and I love the gas fireplace,
and I think it does have the potential
to be configured to what I want.
Price point is a little bit high,
but it's exactly where you wanted to be.
- Downtown, you know? - [Andy] I like the proximity to the restaurants,
definitely.
When you're this close to downtown,
you're paying for the location.
If Andy's willing to drive a little bit outside of town,
I think we can find something that he'll absolutely love.
[narrator] And that's Tom's plan for the next house.
But Andy's skeptical right outta the gate.
Where are we? I'm seeing horses.
[Andy] Where are we? I'm seeing horses.
[Tom] Yeah, you never thought you'd see horses in Baltimore.
[Andy] Some of these homes are gorgeous.
- And we're in Baltimore City proper. - [Tom] Yeah.
We're about ten minutes from downtown Baltimore.
- Okay. - The harbor center.
[narrator] And since it's not too far out,
Andy may be persuaded to buy a house out here instead.
- This home is right under 1400 square feet. - [Andy] Okay.
Just under a quarter acre property.
- It's technically 0.1... - [exclaims] A quarter acre?
0.17.
- [Andy] Wow. - [Tom] Yes.
Okay. I'm seeing ice cream, pizza, a cafe.
- Oh, and there's a wine store. What? - Right across the street.
There she is, right here in the yellow.
Oh, that's big.
It's a whole house.
I kind of love it.
It feels like New England to me.
[Tom] I know Andy wanted a rowhouse,
but we're only ten minutes from downtown Baltimore.
And it's a lot bigger home.
It's a single family home.
I wanted him to see what his money could get him
before making that decision.
This home's two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms.
The actual lot is huge.
- Like it? - I don't know if I like being on a main road like this.
I love the floors.
I love the recessed lighting.
There's so much space.
Everything's new.
The windows.
[Tom] Kitchen's a little bit more spacious
than what you're used to.
Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances.
[Andy] No white appliances.
And I really love the color of the cabinets.
I think that they have that nautical feel.
However, it does feel
a little rehab-y.
Deacon would love this backyard.
There's also enough room for the kids to play.
[Tom] You put a swing set up here.
- [Andy] This would be an awesome patio. - [Tom] Yeah.
[Andy] This house caught me off guard.
I wasn't in the market for a single-family home,
but the yard is a selling point for me,
it has potential if I want to add an addition to the home,
it has enough space for my foster kids to play,
and obviously, it has the room for Deacon to roam.
Let's head upstairs.
So, you have your full bathroom,
shower/tub combo, you have your vanity,
you have a toilet in here,
and two of us could fit in this bathroom comfortably.
- Nothing special, but nothing terrible, either. - [Tom] Right.
- This is for your guest. - Yeah.
[Tom] Your guest bedroom.
- Oh, this is actually really spacious. - [Tom] Yeah.
You have your closet.
Obviously, good ceiling height.
Is that what we're calling good ceiling height, Tom?
- No, you can't bang your head on it, can you? - That's true.
You've seen some of the rowhomes we walked in.
Yes.
[Tom] Now, into the primary.
Is this enough space?
[Andy] This is really impressive.
- Is that the closet? - [Tom] Check it out.
- [Andy] I could make this work. - [Tom] A walk-in closet.
And a shoe closet.
If you do fill that closet,
here,
can you fill this one, too?
- Two closets in your primary bedroom. - [Andy] Shenanigans!
It's super spacious.
I think I'd be very comfortable here.
This is your own private bathroom, too.
[Andy] I like that it has a shower and no tub.
-[Tom] Okay. So, your stand up shower. -[Andy chuckling] Right.
Am I tall? Or is it just me, Tom?
[Tom] You're, you're focused on the small things.
This we can rip out.
[Andy] The ceilings feel pretty low.
But I like that it has this en suite.
That's definitely a plus.
I can't believe the backyard space.
I mean, I like the floors.
I do love that it has two bathrooms.
However, it doesn't have
any of the historic character that I'm looking for.
I think you could add some history to this home with decorating,
but I feel like a lot of those original features
have been stripped from this home.
I wish that the house had more house
as it has backyard.
And my only concern would be
that it doesn't have that third bedroom for guests.
- [Tom] You could always build on. - [Andy] That's true.
[Tom] With the conditions of the market right now,
the amount of buyers,
and the amount of traction that they are having on this home,
this won't be on the market long.
[narrator] Since the last house
only had two bedrooms and was still pricey,
today they're seeing a more affordable row home
in a revitalized part of the city.
- Hey! - [Tom] Hey, Andy, how we doin'?
We're in a historic neighborhood
on a national registry.
It's got the curb appeal that I'm looking for, Tom.
- I love it. - Is this, is this grand enough?
- [Andy] It's beautiful. - [Tom] Let's go in and look at it.
This home's in Union Square,
just outside the initial area that Andy was looking at,
but this is becoming a very desirable neighborhood.
It just came back on the market.
It's at a great price point, so I think
it'd be perfect for him.
- You have your formal living room. - Wow.
This is really spacious.
Yeah. Three bedrooms, one bath.
Over 2,000 square feet.
It just came back on the market.
- [Andy] Oh. - [Tom] And as you see, the contractors still need
to pick up some things.
So, it is a mess.
You wanted a fixer-upper,
so this is what we're lookin' at.
- I can handle a little mess. - [Tom] All right.
- [Andy] I love the exposed brick. - [Tom] Yeah.
Very nice, Baltimore City charm right there.
This is gonna be the original brick,
original hardwood, the staircase, and all.
- Okay? - [Andy] The staircase is gorgeous.
This home's a good fit for Andy
because it has the size that he's looking for
in the home,
and also he can put some sweat equity in there
to build some value for himself.
[Andy] What is this?
[Tom] So, that is your breakfast nook
or reading nook.
I've never had a nook.
I, I think I'd like to have a nook.
Now, the fireplace.
- Is that wood burning? - [Tom] Yes.
Beautiful fireplace.
We can redo the mantle.
[Andy] Yeah, I don't like the crack in it.
You know, I'm really concerned about these floors.
What's up with all the cracks?
[Tom] These floors are from 1875.
This is something that you can restore and fix yourself.
Formal dining room.
You have crown molding, you have base molding.
You also have the chair rail going all the way around.
Okay? And still, the original hardwoods.
And I love that it's closed in.
- It's not open concept. - [Tom] Yeah.
You're gonna have that Victorian feel.
I think I could turn this into an office.
What do you think?
Office. Gym. Whatever you wanna make it.
- [Andy] It needs some love. - [Tom] It does.
[Andy] I love the cabinets.
I like that it already has decent-looking appliances.
- It's gonna need a new floor. - [Tom] Yeah.
-So, it is a tile floor. You can just rip those up. -Oh.
- This is really uneven. - [Tom] Remember, this is a fixer-upper, okay?
There is gonna be some work that needs to get done.
But again, you're putting that Victorian feel that you wanted
in the Baltimore City charm.
Let's take a look at the backyard real quick.
-Big backyard. -[Andy] Oh, wow. It has a full tree.
I love that.
[Tom] You got the pond.
[Andy] I don't know. The pond is pretty gross.
It's all right.
You're not living here yet. You'll fix it up.
[Andy] There's definitely a lot to fix.
That's why it's called a fixer-upper.
- [Andy] Oh, you're so funny. - [Tom laughs]
Here's your second bedroom,
and then your laundry room is in here.
You can turn this into an office.
En suite bathroom.
- [Andy groans] - [Tom] You have claw-foot tub.
You also have a stand-in shower.
[Andy] I will not be showering in this shower.
A fixer-upper, Andy.
Oh, look at that!
[Tom] You're putting new floors down.
There's plenty of work to do in here,
but this is something you wanted to do.
It's spacious.
I'm just worried about it falling apart.
To be honest, all I'm seeing are dollar signs.
[Tom] Well, do you want something cheap
that you could fix up and put some money into?
Or do you want something that's already been fixed,
and you pay top dollar for?
I want something that looks like it's not crumbling.
[Tom] Now, the main bedroom.
- What do you think? - It has a lotta natural light.
- I love that. - [Tom] It's huge.
And if you wanted another bathroom,
you have space to do that in this place.
-Is that enough space? -I don't know. I have a lot of clothes, Tom.
[Tom] Let's head up to the top floor.
This is where I think you'll love it.
- [Andy] Oh, wow! - [Tom] Look how big this room is.
Right next door, you have your bunkbeds with your foster children.
And they come in here, and here is your playroom.
Endless possibilities.
[Andy] I think you're winning me over a little bit.
And look at the view.
You can see the harbor.
[Tom] Right down to the downtown area.
It has the historical characteristics that I want,
- [Tom] Yep. - [Andy] I'm just nervous about maintaining them.
Yes, this house might be competitively priced,
but I also have to weigh how much work the home needs.
I see at least $50,000 in renovations.
I don't want to be investing in a money pit
for the rest of my life.
I believe you have some options.
You have some thinking to do.
But you know how this market is,
so don't take too long.
Andy, how are we doin'?
We have a lot to discuss.
[narrator] Andy needs to decide if he wants
one of the historic Baltimore rowhouses
that require huge renovations,
or a move-in ready home in the suburbs.
I really can use your help in how to move forward.
Small, pricey rowhouse.
Ideal location.
Right in the middle of everything.
[Andy] It had that fabulous backyard,
and it did have the roof deck,
but the layout was terrible,
and I feel like I'd have to renovate most of it.
[Tom] It has enough space that you can work with.
Single family home.
It's perfect.
Hits everything you pretty much want
outside of being downtown.
[Andy] But you surprised me.
Yeah, I didn't even know that neighborhood
- really existed. - [Tom] Yeah.
[Andy] I loved it.
It felt like a small, little cottage
from my hometown in Maine.
And it had that incredible backyard.
And even though it was renovated
and it lacked that charm,
it had the right bones
- for me to really just move in and get ready. - Right.
But it just feels a little cramped.
If I'm gonna have foster kids,
I need to have another bedroom for guests.
I don't know if there's enough space there.
[Tom] You need space.
I mean, that's one thing we talked about.
And then, we had the large and inexpensive house
that had an incredible curb appeal,
that had all of that historical charm
and character,
but it needed a lot of work.
That bathroom, it would have to be
completely gutted and renovated.
There's a lot of cosmetic updating that it needs.
Are you willing to put some sweat equity into the home?
Do you wanna go and do a lot of work?
Live through construction?
How much money do you wanna put in it?
-[doorbell rings] -[Andy] All right, Deaks! Let's go!
Hey, Mom, I think we're getting there.
What do you think?
[Andrea] Yeah, this is really good.
I went with the rowhome in Union Square.
It was big, historical,
and it had all of the potential
that I wanted to put into a home.
Owning my own home is pretty surreal.
It's a dream.
Sometimes, it doesn't feel real.
It's, then, a very long and involved process,
but it's totally been worth it.
- [Andrea] You gotta pick up this floor. - I know, Mom.
[Andrea] Well, if I fall down.
[Andy] The asking price was $175,000.
Tom told me to trust him, and I'm glad I did
because I was able to get the house for $170,000.
I moved in about two weeks ago,
and it was chaotic.
I had the bathroom remodeled.
I've had floors installed in the bathroom.
So, right now, I'm about $20,000 in
in renovation costs.
And when I'm done, I'll be about another $30,000 in.
And I'm really excited about creating
another dream bathroom.
That's eventually going to be an en suite bathroom.
[Andrea] Oh, sweet.
- I don't need all this closet space. - [Andrea] Well, yeah, you do.
[both laugh]
[Andy] Deacon absolutely loves the house.
He loves running around,
and the backyard has been perfect for him.
Once I get the renovations finished,
I will become a foster dad to two children
and I have the perfect home for it.
I'm looking forward to building my life here in Baltimore.
I love this city,
and I'm looking forward to making it my permanent home.