A True 1922 Craftsman With a Wraparound Porch on Nearly an Acre in Wingate, North Carolina, Listed at $219,900

Some houses sell themselves with fresh paint and staged furniture. This one sells itself with a porch. A big, classic wraparound porch, the kind that makes you want to drag out a pair of rocking chairs and a pitcher of sweet tea and stay there until the fireflies come out. Behind it is a real 1922 Craftsman on 0.98 of an acre in Wingate, North Carolina, listed at $219,900.

We want to be clear from the start about what this house is. It is not a move-in-ready home. The listing is refreshingly honest that the property is being sold as is and will require significant renovation. But it also has two of the most expensive items on any renovation list already taken care of, with a new well drilled in 2018 and a new roof put on in 2021. For an investor, a renovator or a buyer who has always dreamed of bringing an old Craftsman back to life, that combination is worth paying attention to.

The Basics

The house has three bedrooms and two full bathrooms across 1,990 square feet, which is generous for a home of this era. It sits on just shy of an acre in Wingate, a small town in Union County. Along with the wraparound front porch, there is a screened porch, a covered carport and a detached barn with electricity. Water comes from a well that was replaced in 2018, and the roof was replaced in 2021. The sale is as is, so the seller will not be making repairs.

What Makes a Craftsman a Craftsman

The Craftsman style took off in the United States in the early 1900s as a reaction against the fussy ornament of the Victorian era. The idea was simple: honest materials, good workmanship and houses that felt connected to the outdoors. That is why Craftsman homes so often have deep porches, lots of natural wood and trim that is solid and handsome rather than flashy.

This house has many of those details still in place. There are wood floors, wainscoting, crown moulding and substantial baseboards. Those are the features that renovators hope to find when they walk into an old house, because they are expensive to reproduce and they give a finished renovation its soul. A new house can be built quickly. A hundred years of character cannot.

The Porches

The wraparound porch is the star here, and it is easy to see why. In the South, a porch like this is not decoration. It is a living room without walls. It is where you drink your morning coffee, wave to neighbors, shell peas, watch summer storms roll through and spend long evenings when it is too warm to be inside. Wraparound porches are also one of the most expensive features to add to a house, so having one original to the home is a big part of its value.

There is also a screened porch, which in North Carolina is close to essential. From spring through early fall, a screened porch lets you enjoy the outdoors without feeding the mosquitoes. It is the perfect spot for a dining table, a daybed or a ceiling fan and a good book.

Inside the House

At 1,990 square feet, the house has room to work with. The kitchen is described as spacious, which gives a renovator a lot of freedom to design something that works for modern life, whether that means an island, a big farmhouse sink, open shelving or a walk-in pantry. The two full bathrooms are a plus as well, since adding a bathroom to an old house is one of the costlier changes you can make.

The listing includes several virtually reimagined photos showing what some of the rooms could look like after a renovation. Those images are worth a close look, because they help you picture the house with the character preserved and the finishes brought up to date. Just remember that virtual staging shows possibilities, not the current condition, and it does not come with a price tag attached.

Already Done: A New Well and a New Roof

When you are considering a house that needs significant work, it helps to focus on what does not need work. Here, two of the biggest ones are already handled.

The well was replaced in 2018. On a property without public water, the well is the most important system in the house. Drilling a new well can easily cost many thousands of dollars, and it is the kind of expense that can wreck a renovation budget if it comes as a surprise. Having a relatively new one in place removes that risk.

The roof was replaced in 2021. A new roof protects everything underneath it and is typically one of the first things a lender, an insurer or an inspector asks about. With a roof that is only a few years old, a buyer can put renovation money into the interior instead of over their head.

The Barn and the Carport

Outside, there is a covered carport for parking and a charming detached barn with electricity. That barn opens up a lot of possibilities. It could be storage for tools and equipment during the renovation, a woodworking shop, an art studio, a place for a home business or a hobby space for anything from restoring cars to potting plants. With power already run to it, it is ready to use.

Nearly an acre of land also gives you room for gardens, fruit trees, a play area for kids, space for dogs or simply some breathing room from the neighbors, all without the upkeep of a large rural property.

Where Wingate Is

Wingate is a small town in Union County, in the southern Piedmont of North Carolina, just east of Monroe. It is home to Wingate University, which gives the town a steady, lively feel. Union County is part of the greater Charlotte region, and it has been one of the faster growing areas in the state as people look for more space and lower prices than they can find closer to the city.

The listing points to easy access to the Monroe Expressway, which connects the area to Charlotte and the surrounding suburbs. Downtown Monroe is nearby as well, with locally owned restaurants, shops and eateries that the listing says continue to add new energy to the area. For buyers who want small-town living with a big city within reach, that is a good balance.

Renovation Budgeting for a 1922 House

The honest truth about a house sold as is and in need of significant renovation is that the purchase price is only the beginning. Before you make an offer, it is worth getting a realistic idea of what the work will cost. Here are the systems that typically need attention in a house of this age, even with a newer roof and well.

Electrical wiring in older homes may include outdated systems that insurers and lenders do not like. An electrician can tell you whether the house needs a full rewire and whether the service panel needs an upgrade.

Plumbing may include old galvanized or cast iron pipes, which can corrode over time. Replacing supply and drain lines is a common part of old house renovations.

Heating and cooling in North Carolina is important year round, especially the air conditioning in summer. Ask what system the house has and whether it works. Many renovators install a heat pump, which handles both heating and cooling efficiently in this climate.

The foundation, floor framing and crawl space deserve a careful look. In humid Southern climates, moisture under the house can lead to rot, mold and pest issues. Crawl space encapsulation is a popular fix.

Wood-destroying insects, especially termites, are a real concern in North Carolina, and a wood-destroying insect inspection should be part of any purchase.

Once you have estimates, add a contingency of 15 to 20 percent. Old houses almost always hold a few surprises behind the walls.

How Buyers Could Finance a Fixer-Upper

Financing a house that needs significant work is different from financing a move-in-ready home. Many standard loans require a property to meet minimum condition standards, and a house sold as is may not qualify until repairs are made. Here are the options worth discussing with a lender.

FHA 203k renovation loan. This is one of the most common ways to buy a fixer-upper. It lets you finance both the purchase and the cost of the renovation in a single mortgage, with a down payment as low as 3.5 percent. The standard 203k is designed for bigger projects like this one and requires working with an approved consultant.

Fannie Mae HomeStyle renovation loan. This is a conventional option that also rolls renovation costs into the mortgage. It can be used for primary homes, second homes and in some cases investment properties, and it generally allows a wider range of improvements.

VA renovation loan. Eligible veterans may be able to use a VA renovation loan to buy and repair a home with little or no money down, although fewer lenders offer these, so it may take some shopping around.

Cash, hard money and investor financing. Investors planning to renovate and sell or rent the house often use cash or short-term hard money loans, then refinance into a traditional mortgage once the work is done. Hard money loans move quickly but carry higher interest rates, so they are best for experienced renovators with a clear plan.

Home equity. If you already own a home, a home equity loan or line of credit could fund the purchase or the renovation.

Whatever route you take, get preapproved before making an offer and ask the lender directly whether the property’s current condition will be a problem for the loan you want.

Insurance for a Renovation Project

Insuring a house that is about to be renovated can be tricky, so start early. A standard homeowners policy may not cover a vacant house or one under major construction. You may need a builder’s risk policy or a vacant dwelling policy during the renovation, then a regular homeowners policy once you move in. Insurers will ask about the age of the wiring, plumbing and heating, and the new roof will help. Ask about coverage for the barn and carport, and if you plan to rent the house out after the renovation, you will need a landlord policy instead.

Our Due Diligence Checklist

Because this home is being sold as is, a thorough inspection is not optional. If we were buying it, here is what we would do.

• Hire an independent home inspector with experience in older homes.
• Get a wood-destroying insect inspection, which is standard and important in North Carolina.
• Have a structural engineer look at the foundation, floor framing and crawl space if the inspector raises any concerns.
• Bring in an electrician and a plumber to estimate the cost of updating the wiring and pipes.
• Have an HVAC contractor check the heating and cooling system or quote a replacement.
• Test the well water and ask for the 2018 well records, including depth and flow rate.
• Have the septic system inspected and ask when it was last pumped.
• Ask for any paperwork or warranty on the 2021 roof.
• Check for lead paint and asbestos, both common in homes of this age.
• Look at the survey, property boundaries and any easements.
• Check local zoning and permit requirements before planning major changes.
• Get at least two contractor estimates before finalizing your offer.

The Local Market

Union County sits in the path of Charlotte’s growth, and demand for homes in the area has been strong for years. That growth works in a renovator’s favor. Well-done renovations of historic homes on large lots tend to stand out in a market filled with newer subdivisions, and buyers are often willing to pay for character they cannot find elsewhere.

Before making an offer, ask your agent for recent sales of both unrenovated and fully renovated older homes in Wingate and Monroe. The gap between those two numbers, minus your renovation budget, will tell you whether this house makes sense as an investment or as a home you plan to keep for years.

Who This House Suits

This is a house for people who see potential where others see work. An experienced renovator looking for their next project. An investor who wants a character property with a strong location. A couple who has always wanted to restore an old Craftsman and has the patience and budget to do it right. Or a buyer who wants nearly an acre, a barn and a porch to die for close to Charlotte, and is willing to put in the effort to get there.

Our Take

Porch goals, indeed. A true 1922 Craftsman with a wraparound porch, a screened porch, wood floors, wainscoting, crown moulding and a spacious kitchen, plus a barn with power, a carport, a 2018 well and a 2021 roof, all on nearly an acre for $219,900. It needs a lot of work, and nobody should buy it without a thorough inspection and a realistic budget. But the bones, the character and the location are all here. In the right hands, this house could have a wonderful next chapter.

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