A house in an Iowa town with fewer than 10,000 people was featured on a viral Instagram account for its historic, yet affordable, charm.
A 123-year-old house at 1102 Concert St. in Keokuk has garnered more than 17,000 likes on “Cheap Old Houses,” an Instagram account with nearly 3 million followers and an HGTV show.
People from all over the country have contacted Lisa Johnson, with Weichert Realtors – the Massimo Group, about her listing. Some are even putting in offers before physically viewing the property, Johnson told the Register via email.
“This house has drawn a lot of attention and has kept me busy since the day I listed it,” Johnson said about the listing, which hadn’t even been on the market for a week.
What is special about the historic house at 1102 Concert St. in Keokuk, Iowa?
To start, the house was built in 1902 and still has many original features. The three-story home was built by John Leisy and designed by George Barber, one of the most well-known domestic architects of the late 19th century.
Five bedrooms, two full baths and three half baths are spread across 3,632 square feet. Two of the bedrooms are connected by a full bath. Another bedroom is attached to a full bathroom as well.
“It’s even more exciting when you have the history of the home to go with it,” Johnson said. “In this case, the homeowner has many books full of history on the original owner and the architect who created it.”
What is original in the Cheap Old House listing from Keokuk?
All original woodwork and hardwood floors are still throughout the house. Built-ins can be found throughout the home, and the main staircase is decorated with intricate wooden details. The fireplace in one of the main-floor rooms is also original.
“Not only is the trim and staircase stunning, but the flooring is very impressive with the design it has in it,” Johnson said in an email. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that this hasn’t been painted!”
The original exterior fretwork was crafted from broken glass beer bottles, Johnson said.
The house is currently listed at $169,000, which is rare to find a home of this size and historically preserved under $200,000, Johnson said.
Has anything been updated in the Keokuk Cheap Old House listing?
While the core of the Keokuk home remains, past owners have made some updates to the home. The kitchen cabinets were all renovated. Central air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems were all updated.
The owners tried to keep as many of the original bathroom fixtures, Johnson said. Anything in the bathrooms in need of updates was replaced with something to still match the era of the home.
“I love that there are social media pages that post these old historic homes for everyone to see,” Johnson said. “It’s always an honor to be a part of selling such an incredible house, and having it posted on one of these sites is exciting!”
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: This 123-year-old Keokuk, Iowa home went viral as a ‘Cheap Old House.’ See what’s inside.
Reporting by Kate Kealey, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
