Pillar Award Spotlight: Elizabeth & Ethan Finkelstein
Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein pose in front of their own cheap old house in Upstate New York.
When you speak with Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein, their passion for what they do is immediately obvious. Their love of old houses and their efforts to promote them has sparked a movement. On Instagram, @cheapoldhouses has amassed nearly 2 million followers and their HGTV show of the same name has exposed an even wider audience to the beauty of saving old houses. They have built a community, and although they are based in New York, their work has given them a national perspective. They have found a way to make historic preservation accessible to countless people who probably wouldn’t consider themselves preservationists.
We started @cheapoldhouses because we were enchanted with the untapped beauty that is hidden in so many pockets of this country. These homes tell the stories of the everyday people who lived here, worked here, and made America what it is. The fisherman. The millworkers. The families. They are not the fancy landmarks—they are our true history.
Both Elizabeth and Ethan grew up with a love of old houses. Elizabeth pursued that love through a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from Pratt, followed by several years working for preservation nonprofits in New York City. Ethan started a digital marketing firm in Brooklyn and the couple eventually started working together. In 2013, they founded CIRCA, a “curated historic house marketplace showcasing the most beautiful old homes for sale all across the country.” The old home that inspired it was the house Elizabeth grew up in — listed by her parents and not getting the kind of attention she thought it deserved. She knew there was a market for people who love old houses and want a home with charm and historic details. Between Elizabeth’s background in preservation and Ethan’s background in marketing, the couple has built the go-to website for anyone looking to buy or sell an old home.
But it’s the “cheap old houses movement” that has really shifted the preservation landscape. What started as pet project under the CIRCA umbrella in 2016 has become a true internet sensation. By featuring old homes for sale under $100,000, the Finkelsteins were able to tap into the (often unrequited) desire that people have to own a home. Cheap Old Houses is at once aspirational and accessible. That beautiful house may need a lot of work and be hundreds of miles from where you currently live — but it’s for sale for $12,000 and maybe you’re looking for a new adventure anyway! In addition to the millions who make sure never to miss a post, there are also dozens of people who have taken the plunge and bought a house featured by Elizabeth and Ethan. Their desire to save all the old houses is resonating with everyday people who are invested in bringing these magical places back to life across the country. And this investment can go beyond just the individual houses, with many people eager to immerse themselves in the wider community they now call home.
There are so many people, Millennials in particular, who have felt left out of the housing market. With house prices rising, limited housing stock, and income stagnating, many younger people look to fixer-uppers as their only option for homeownership. This has become even more evident since the start of the pandemic. And with work-from-home options more available, there is more flexibility for people to consider moving out of expensive housing markets. Options for owning a home in New York City might be limited, but Syracuse, Elmira, or Oneonta just might have a cheap old house in your price range.
The beauty of what Elizabeth and Ethan are doing is not just in championing the restoration of old houses, but also forging a welcoming, collaborative community online. They have proven that you don’t need to be a trained preservationist or know everything about rehabbing a house to take on one of these projects. Nothing happens overnight. Restorations are hard work that can take years. But the work is rewarding, allowing people to make a home for themselves that feels truly their own. And Elizabeth and Ethan have built a place on the internet for lovers of old houses and DIY restorers to come together and celebrate the everyday places that make our communities so special. They are converting people into preservationists one old house at a time.
The League is honored to recognize Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein as Pillars of New York this year. We hope you will join us as we celebrate them during the 2022 Pillar of New York Awards on Tuesday, April 5. We’ll be celebrating in person at the Rainbow Room, but the presentation will be livestreamed for anyone who cannot join us in person.