I think that buying a 'fix up' old home is an issue in which the most important factor is whether you can be totally honest with yourself before making the commitment. Almost every home, regardless of its condition, is do-able, as long as you have the skills or can purchase them, and the money. The only real deal breakers are your own resources, or lack of them. 20K is a very, very small working budget in the real world. It can go far if you have had a lot of experience in rehabbing, and a lot of skills, and find a unit where there are no major issues. I 'fixed up' an investment house and sold it, having a working budget of slightly less than that. This home had decent cabinets, decent roof, full/dry basement with excellent foundation, all decent windows with storms and screens, decent exterior with newer siding, salvageable plumbing fixtures, new wiring. I had to replace the heating units, hot water heater, install gutters and spouts, clean....clean.....clean, work plaster, paint, carpet and lay vinyl, replace damaged interior doors, tile tub surround, fix leaks in plumbing, install some interior light fixtures and landscape, and bring some stuff up to code. That's about what 20K will get you, if you do most of the work youself. When you do decide to make an offer on ANY older home with the intention of fixing it up, unless you can jockey up the price in cash..........your lender will be inspecting the house, and after that, if approved, your homeowner's insurance company. You may also get a visit from a code inspector, a gas inspector, an inspector from other utility companies. I can tell you it is a lot better to have those done 'before the fact' than after the purchase. In the best case scenario, you walk away unscathed, a little wiser. In the worst case scenario, you could face a break-the-bank repair before you can even move in.

Ana474, I see that you and I share some landscaping sensibilities. Even if cleaned up, I do not find the current design appealing. The property is roomy but two islands oddly dwarf the entrance to the house. The fact that one island is a bit high makes it seem to loom over the arched entrance. I see no design reason for those beds to exist. I would create extra beds only after I had run out of room at the house itself. The foundation bed to the left of the arch is deep but has been designed poorly. It could be made beautiful. On the overhead map I see another overgrown area off the right side corner of the house. I think that area needs attention too. I am not pleased with the Ring Around the Rosie paving either. It offers a path to nowhere and is just perplexing. I believe the paving should lead to the entrance and if you want interesting paths on the property they would be better somewhere else. If I had purchased this home I would remove both the front island beds and never look back. The trees you find attractive can stay and the area may need to be somewhat elevated but could be much lower. I would replace with lawn leaving a smallish bed at the base of the tree. When someone calls their house a fixer upper I think of it as a long time project. If you are not in a rush I think you can do a great deal of the work on your own. You did not say if you have experience with garden clean up. I've done a bit of it for friends and neighbors over the years. It is tiresome and tedious and dirty but I don't find it difficult at all. A good thing about doing the work yourself is that you can familiarize yourself with what plants you have, discover their names and then consider if you want to have a goal or removing them some day. There is a Name That Plant forum that you may find useful. The one area I might hire out for is the two islands that I would demo. Someone with a Bobcat could smooth them out quickly. Hand dig and remove plants you want to keep in advance. If you want to pile the soil somewhere else for a new island I would consider the view from inside the house. Good luck and please post update photos.

The actual frame of the windows are a cream/tan. We're looking for help determining a color scheme but do like shades of darker blue/grays with white trim around the windows. Something to go with the lighter brick.

One of the things not discussed on HGTV is the problem of over improving a house for the neighborhood. Before you spend $20000 (!!!!) on that little house plus whatever enormous amount on the inside, carefully examine real estate values. Seldom will there be a good return on investment. Having remodeled several houses myself, I speak from long experience about the upheaval to daily life that is caused by living for months and years in a construction site. Think about your social life, vacation time, decision making skills, stress on a family and marriage. Perhaps your market justifies all this projected expenditure, but think this through. In most areas of the country, you would never get your money back .