This charming old Victorian is on the market for just $109,000 (& it has SO much potential)

If you've ever dreamed of restoring a gorgeous old home back to its former glory, we've found your subject. Located near the Mississippi River and mere blocks from downtown Burlington, Iowa, this charming Queen Anne two-story home has all the space a family needs in 2021. And the character doesn't hurt, either. 

Built in 1880, the home has a great deal of its original charm, from its all-natural woodwork to both a balcony and turret. On top of that, the home looks like a dreamy Victorian reminiscent of a bygone era, with a picturesque wrap-around porch, gold and burgundy painted exterior, and intricate moldings. In other words, they don't make 'em like this anymore.

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Listing agent Deb Fowler of Century 21 said the property need a few updates to be modernized, but the home has strong bones for whomever chooses to make this their nest. 

The home is a classic Queen Anne, a style that was prominent in the United States for approximately three decades, from 1880 to 1910. While the name may call to mind the Queen Anne style architecture in the United Kingdom, the Americanized version focuses on elements such as a wrap-around front porch, overhanging eaves, and spindle work. Since their inception, Queen Anne style homes have found a following for their “decorative excess” and calling to mind features of the Victorian and Romantic eras. In the 21st century, this home style has seen more of a switch to commercial properties in place of single-family dwellings — which makes a find like this all the more special.

Now, 140 years after this home was first built, the Queen Anne style home’s elements shine through as exciting additions.

Let's take a tour, shall we? 

Upon entering the home, you’re met with a gorgeous balustrade staircase with wood millwork, meticulously hand-carved in an elegant pattern reminiscent of art deco. Our first stop would be sanding the woodwork down to its all-natural glory. 

Immediately to the left, you’ll enter the home’s sitting room and living area, with a gorgeous fireplace for those chilly Iowa winters and Craftsmen-style colonnades to further tie the space together. 

The living area also has built-in lamps reminiscent of years past, sliding pocket doors, and stained glass window fixtures to shine some pleasant Iowan sunshine inside. Plus, we'd bet there's hardwoods under all that carpet...

Walking through and past the four-seater dining room, the kitchen — decidedly very 1980s — has clean white-and-brown cabinetry, with an additional kitchen island and seating for two. (Most importantly: Its large-size packs plenty of potential for updates.)

Fowler recommends the future homeowners to make use of the outdoor space, with a wrap-around porch, outdoor patio and grassy backyard for all sorts of get-togethers. The outdoors space also has a two-car shelter and a storage shed, with additional space for a garage if desired. 

Upstairs, the home features three bedrooms, a balcony, full bath with double vanity and tile, and a laundry room. What caught our eye first however, is the architectural detail (Those arches! That trim!).  The master bedroom features and open-style closet, which once again harkens back to the '80s, but it can easily be closed off to form a spacious, separate master closet. 

Add-ons to the already large and impressive home include a walk-up attic (which could work as an additional bedroom), a downstairs half-bath, and a lower level with updated furnace, game area and ample work space.

In Burlington itself, the town has approximately 25,663 residents and serves the county seat for greater Des Moines County. The town has a great deal of year-round cultural arts activities, including the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra (opens in new tab), Burlington Riverfront Entertainment (opens in new tab) and the restored art deco Capital Theater (opens in new tab), right in downtown. Additionally, the area is known for its 200-plus acres of green space, including Dankwardt Park, Flint River Trail and Starr's Cave Nature Center and Preserve.

For all that the area has to offer, Fowler is sure that this home is a terrific find for both locals and others interested in moving for more land at less cost.

“It’s a wonderful character home — people coming from other parts of the country will see a lot of value in the square footage alone,” Fowler said.

The house is currently listed for $109,900; private viewings can be set up through Century 21’s property listing (opens in new tab).