Our Family Lives in a Church We Bought and Renovated for Under $50K

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Today, a blended family of six shares how they ended up buying a church for less than $20,000 and turning it into their dream home. 

The basics

Age: 38

Marital status: Married

Occupation: Quality Assurance

What was your home experience when you were growing up?

I was raised by a single mom, and we moved a lot, always renting. I hated moving. Once I became a single mom myself, I wanted to own, but it was out of reach. Getting married made it possible. Being able to own, knowing that my family and I don’t have to move for a long time, is a big thing.

Why did you start thinking about buying?

We owned the 100-square-foot mobile home we were living in but needed more space. It felt like we were constantly on top of each other. In that house, I had to close the dryer door any time someone needed to get by. Plus, the more we talked, the more my husband and I knew we wanted to live in another town. I had lived my whole life in Centerville, Missouri, and was ready to live somewhere different. 

Did you have a particular area in mind?

Because I work remotely and my husband travels for work anyway, we were able to look in the whole state of Missouri.

How many homes did you look at?

Online, many. More than I can count. In person, we saw one other property that was really cool, but the layout was weird, and the foundation wasn’t good. 

Did you have any non-negotiables?

Size. We needed space to accommodate our family. My husband and I have a blended family of four kids, and we wanted each kid to have their own bedroom. We also needed to stay within our cash budget, buying something that would not require a loan. The foundation was another consideration. That had to be solid, as that was pretty much the only thing my husband didn’t have experience with.

How did you decide to start looking at churches?

I was looking online every night, and there was a converted church listed for $50,000. That made me realize that, with a church, all your exterior walls are finished, but inside is a blank canvas. You get to decide where the walls go. You can have any layout you like.

How did you find this church?

My husband found it online. It was just out of our price range, but it had a hole in the roof. We thought maybe they’d come down in price. The seller’s Realtor^® was doubtful that the owner would drop the price because they’d gotten another lower offer and had said no. But I think by the time we came along she was more ready to sell.

How did you know this was the one?

We saw it in person and knew right away. Our Realtor had lined up other houses for us to see that day, but we didn’t even end up checking them out. We were so impressed with how solid this church was. The beams were old, cut wood. The arched ceiling is special. It’s 20 feet tall, and adds a unique vibe.

What did friends and family think of this idea?

My mom thought we were crazy. Her fear was that we would sink all of our time and money into this project and still possibly have nothing at the end that we could live in. But I have so much faith in my husband’s construction ability. He has 20 years of experience, and I knew he could do this.

How were you able to save up to purchase with cash?

My husband is a disabled veteran and he received some back pay.

Did you have build plans?

We did have some rough drawings on notebook paper, but we envisioned it mostly. We didn’t have to submit build plans to the county. That doesn’t happen here. This is a very small community. Our property taxes are just $22 a year.

What were the big projects that had to be done?

Pretty much everything except for the exterior walls. One of the crazier projects involved fixing the sloped floor. My husband had to jack up the floor and make a hinge of sorts and add shims and extra floor support. The original hardwood floor is now level, and it cost just $300. 

The church also needed all new electrical as it had the old knob-and-tube wiring. My husband rewired the whole home and installed a new panel box, all for $1,500. He installed all-new plumbing, too. He also did the duct work and ran all the electrical for the furnace so that we are ready for that install in the early fall.

How much did renovations cost?

Close to $30,000. The money came from several places. Some was from my husband’s veteran back payments. I also took a chunk out of my 401(k). We put a small amount on credit cards. We also planned and budgeted closely. 

What do your kids think about living in a church?

They were hesitant only because they didn’t want to move. Once we pitched it to them that we’re going to have the biggest house in town, they got on board. They were mainly excited to have their own rooms. And with this much space, the kids are also able to have their own living room. They have a dedicated area for a huge TV and gaming system that’s perfect for hangouts and sleepovers. It’s a total kid zone down there.

How has the plan changed since you bought the home?

I had planned on having a small garden bed, but the longer we are here, the more we are set on turning our space into a backyard homestead. We want not just herbs and vegetables but fruit trees and bees. We had chickens before but bought more before we moved. The eventual goal is to be self-sufficient.