A 1750 Cape Cod on 5.4 Acres for $225,000: Inside 7 Bartlett Hollow Rd in Stafford Springs, CT

Built in 1750, 7 Bartlett Hollow Rd in Stafford Springs, Connecticut is one of the older homes to hit the market in Tolland County recently, offering 275 years of history on a secluded 5.4-acre lot that backs directly to Northern CT Land Trust land. Priced at 225,000 dollars and being sold as-is, this property is aimed squarely at buyers ready to take on a genuine historic renovation project.

Property Snapshot

This Cape Cod-style home offers 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, 1 full and 1 half, across 1,309 square feet of finished space above ground, priced at roughly 172 dollars per square foot. Zillow’s Zestimate places the home’s automated value at 473,500 dollars, more than double the current asking price, a gap that reflects both the property’s as-is condition and how significantly historic homes with land can be undervalued by automated pricing tools. Annual property taxes jumped from 4,679 dollars in 2024 to 7,090 dollars in 2025, a 41.5 percent increase, based on a tax assessment of 182,840 dollars. There is no HOA.

Nearly Three Centuries of Character

Inside, the home retains genuine period character, with hardwood floors running through the primary bedroom, upper bedroom, kitchen, and living room, and a stone fireplace anchoring the living room as the home’s central gathering point. A bay or bow window in the kitchen adds natural light and charm to the everyday living space. A full, unfinished basement with hatchway access offers substantial additional storage, along with a laundry area on the lower level. The kitchen comes with a gas cooktop, oven and range, microwave, and range hood, and a washer, dryer, and water heater are all included in the sale.

Heating runs on forced air with oil, and there is currently no central cooling system in place. The property is self-sufficient with a private well for water and a septic tank for sewer.

A Secluded Lot with Real Land

The 5.4-acre lot is described as secluded, offering genuine privacy along with plenty of potential for buyers thinking beyond just the existing structure. Several outbuildings on the property, including sheds and a barn, provide additional space for storage, hobbies, gardens, fields, or future projects. The property’s border with Northern CT Land Trust land adds a layer of permanent privacy that most buyers can’t get anywhere else, since conserved land bordering a property typically cannot be developed in the future.

Understanding the As-Is Sale

The listing is direct that this property is being sold as-is, with no repairs made by the seller. For buyers, this means budgeting realistically for renovation work from day one and treating any inspection findings as information to negotiate with or plan around, rather than expecting the seller to address them before closing. Given the home’s age, this is a case where a thorough inspection matters even more than usual.

Financing Options to Consider

A historic as-is property like this one calls for a specific financing approach.

A conventional renovation loan is worth discussing with a lender, allowing buyers to finance both the purchase price and planned repairs into a single mortgage.

An FHA 203k renovation loan may also be a strong fit, particularly if the home needs updates to systems like heating or plumbing to meet standard livability requirements, since this program allows renovation costs to be rolled directly into the loan.

Cash is common for as-is historic properties like this one, especially among buyers or investors planning a full renovation before financing or reselling.

A VA loan may be available to eligible veterans, active-duty service members, or surviving spouses, though as-is condition may require some initial repairs to meet program property standards before closing.

Insurance Considerations

Insuring a home built in 1750 requires real coordination with an insurance agent from the very beginning. Buyers should expect insurers to want detailed information on the roof, electrical system, plumbing, and the oil-fired heating system before issuing a policy, and some carriers may require updates to specific systems before binding coverage. Because the property is being sold as-is, getting insurance quotes early in the process, ideally before waiving any inspection contingencies, is especially important here.

Due Diligence Checklist for Buyers

Given the as-is sale and the home’s age, a full and thorough home inspection is essential, covering the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, and the oil heating system in detail. A well water test and septic inspection are both necessary given the property’s private systems. Buyers should also have each outbuilding, including the barn, evaluated for condition and safety, and should confirm the exact boundary with the adjacent Northern CT Land Trust land. A title search and full understanding of the recent 41.5 percent tax increase should be part of any offer strategy, along with a realistic contractor estimate for needed repairs before finalizing a purchase price.

The Stafford Springs, CT Market

Stafford Springs is a village within the town of Stafford, located in Tolland County in northeastern Connecticut. The area offers a rural, historic character with proximity to both the Massachusetts border and central Connecticut, and properties bordering protected land trust acreage, like this one, are particularly valued for the permanent privacy that comes with them.

Final Thoughts

7 Bartlett Hollow Rd is a genuine historic renovation opportunity: a 1750 Cape Cod with real period character, 5.4 secluded acres bordering protected land, and a significant gap between its asking price and estimated value. For buyers ready to take on an as-is project with real long-term upside, this one is worth a serious look.

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