Why We Bought a Fixer Upper in the Bay Area (and Don’t Regret It)
Buying a home in the Bay Area is not for the faint of heart. Prices are sky-high, bidding wars are the norm, and even “move-in ready” homes often look like they were frozen in 1987. When we started house shopping, we quickly realized we had two options: max out our budget for something that wasn’t really our style, or buy a fixer upper and put our energy into making it our own. We chose the fixer.
Spoiler: it was one of the best decisions we’ve made. Here’s why.
Buying a Fixer Upper Home
Scrolling Zillow or Redfin felt like a cruel joke. Beautiful mid-century homes with Eichler-esque lines, exposed beams, or even just decent natural light were listed at $800+ per square foot. Coming from the Midwest where you can still find homes around $120 per square foot, it made me want to slam my laptop shut.
But here’s the thing: location matters. The house we eventually bought was a little north of our dream area, but it was close to transit, quiet enough to feel like a neighborhood, and had potential. Even if it wasn’t perfect, it was something we could work with.
Why a Fixer Upper Made Sense for Us
Affordability in an expensive market
Even “budget friendly” Bay Area homes cost a fortune. A fixer gave us a way in without spending everything on the mortgage.Room in the budget for renovations
By not maxing out what the bank approved us for, we had money left to update the things that actually mattered to us ,like windows, the kitchen, and yes, bathrooms that didn’t feel haunted.Character and potential
We didn’t want cookie-cutter. The fixer had mid-century bones, natural light, and a layout we could improve over time.Long-term growth
It might not have been the prettiest house on the block, but it had the right location to gain value while we made it livable.
What We Knew Going In (and You Should Too)
Buying a fixer upper in California — especially the Bay Area — isn’t just about vision boards and DIY grit. It’s about knowing what you can live with, what you can’t, and what will actually sink your budget.
Expect cost surprises
Roof leaks. Window seals gone bad. Electrical issues, water issues. They will happen. Plan for it.Scope creep is real
Every wall you think about moving will cost 3x and take much longer than you imagine. HGTV is isn’t real!Read every disclosure
California sellers disclose a lot, and those papers are full of hidden gold. That’s how you learn about the roof leak from 2002 or the termite treatment from last spring.Define your deal breakers
We wanted a house with zero structural issues. Any cosmetic issues were fine by us.
The Ups and Downs of Fixer Life
Let me be honest: our house did not look “quirky” or “charming” when we bought it. It looked tired, dated, and in some cases, straight-up weird. But none of the problems were deal breakers. They were things we could fix with time, sweat, and a budget spread out over years.
And here’s the best part: our mortgage ended up way lower than most people we know. When the economy wobbled and life threw curveballs, we were grateful for that choice. Our realtor hated it (and didn’t hide it). Not sorry, Sheila
Was Buying a Fixer Worth It?
Absolutely. Buying a fixer upper in the Bay Area wasn’t just about getting a house. It was about creating a home that reflects us, not whatever beige trend the builder loved thirty years ago.
Would I recommend it? If you’ve got patience, a realistic budget, and a willingness to live with imperfection while you slowly fix things — yes. If you want instant perfection, a fixer will eat you alive.
If your dream house feels out of reach, a fixer upper might be the backdoor in. It’s not glamorous, it’s not easy, and it will test you. But it can also give you character, location, and the chance to build a home on your own terms.
👉 Want to see how we turned our fixer into a functional, beautiful home? Subscribe to the newsletter for updates and follow me on Pinterest for design ideas and renovation tips.
One Last Rant
We also know plenty of people who fell for the beautiful staging, you know, the trendy furniture, perfect throw pillows, and not a speck of dust in sight. Then they moved in and realized they couldn’t even fit all of their clothes in the bedroom. The truth is, even if you buy the “perfect” house, you’ll eventually discover things that drive you nuts. That’s just part of homeownership. The trick is preparing for those surprises instead of pretending they won’t happen. That’s exactly why we keep sinking funds for our house, because whether you buy a fixer or a staged-to-sell beauty, something will break. Here’s how we do it.
