The "Cheap Old Houses" Instagram page has officially caught the attention of HGTV producers, who will be developing a show around it for 2021. Husband-and-wife team Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein run the enormously popular account, which has more than 1.4 million followers. Cheap Old Houses is full of posts featuring antique homes that are typically less than $100,000.
While many of these properties require a little elbow grease to be brought up to livable conditions, the bones of these houses are usually solid. Now, HGTV wants to help the Finkelsteins pursue their passion for finding these gems in the rough. Along the way, they hope to capture the attention of viewers who have a craving for all things historical and architectural.
The new reality TV show, titled Cheap Old Houses, will begin as an eight-episode series, according to Deadline. It will follow the Finkelsteins as they travel across the country, touring budget-friendly antique houses. Ultimately, the Finkelsteins will assess the historic significance and architectural elements of the properties they come across on the show. On top of it all, the couple will stop by previously featured homes from their Instagram page to see how new owners have transformed their properties. The show is slated to premiere in the summer of 2021. Loren Ruch, HGTV's group senior vice president, programming and development spoke about the reasoning behind creating Cheap Old Houses:
When HGTV fans told us we needed a show with Ethan and Elizabeth, we listened because we understand how easy it is to fall into the rabbit hole of hunting for cheap old houses. Everyone will be astounded by the incredible, inexpensive property treasures that Ethan and Elizabeth find and they also may be inspired to buy a cheap old house of their own.
Elizabeth Finkelstein’s background as a historic preservationist and Ethan’s passion for saving old properties is a combination HGTV could use for a fresh TV hit. On Cheap Old Houses, the couple will also re-imagine what old homes could look like with a slew of renovations and ultimately choose which house to feature on their Instagram account. This will give fans an opportunity to follow along via social media while continuing to bolster the couple’s viral page.
As an added bonus, the Finkelsteins have now created a website to provide even more insight into what they do behind-the-scenes. Along with posting their latest listings, they also have an online shop. Here, fans can purchase everything from tote bags to hoodies to show their support for all things related to the Finkelsteins’ initiatives. HGTV has already seen a large amount of success with shows hosted by real estate-loving couples, such as Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper. If its past is indicative of what is to come for Cheap Old Houses, the Finkelsteins will become fan favorites in no time.
Source: Deadline, Cheap Old Houses