Good news for HGTV enthusiasts longing for Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein’s return! Although the network hasn’t yet disclosed the exact premiere date, the couple has confirmed through various local news channels that their revamped series will grace screens in April 2024, sporting an exciting twist.
Following HGTV’s announcement in May 2023 about the show’s revival, fans were invited to participate in renaming the series. After a nationwide polling process, the eight-episode show will now be titled “Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House?”
Here are the essential details you should be aware of:
Rebooted Show Will Tap Into How the Finkelsteins Have Inspired a ‘Cheap Old Houses’ Movement
The Finkelsteins are embarking on a global mission to salvage historic houses. With an Instagram following of 2.7 million, their page regularly showcases old homes for sale, many priced under $100,000.
Their preservation efforts have catalyzed a movement, as reported by the Times Union, inspiring countless individuals to acquire and conserve historic properties. Last October, the couple unveiled “Cheap Old Houses: The Book,” spotlighting photographs and tales of meticulously restored old homes across the United States.
Now, with their revived series, “Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House?,” the Finkelsteins aspire to ignite a wider passion for historic home preservation.
In 2023, HGTV announced that each episode of the revamped show would feature the Finkelsteins guiding homebuyers through tours of two houses, both priced under $199,000 and brimming with historical significance and architectural charm. Once a choice was made, designer Jennifer Salvemini and architectural designer Scott Reed would collaborate with the Finkelsteins and the buyers to restore the selected property.
Filming for the series took place in autumn 2023, as per Albany’s News10, with the Finkelsteins aiding buyers in the purchase, preservation, and restoration of historic properties within a 90-minute radius of the Capital Region in upstate New York. The area boasts numerous historic homes dating back to colonial times, according to Albany Traveler.
‘Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House?’ Won By a Landslide in the Finkelsteins’ Naming Poll
In May 2023, upon HGTV’s approval of their revamped series, the Finkelsteins engaged fans in renaming the show, offering three choices for voting. After weeks of polling and thousands of votes cast, they took to Instagram to announce the winning title: “Who’s Afraid of a Cheap Old House?”, which garnered 73 percent of the votes, triumphing over “Who Wants to Buy a Cheap Old House?” and “Desperately Seeking a Cheap Old House.”
Expressing their gratitude for the overwhelming response, they wrote, “We’re blown away, humbled and so grateful for this community’s continued support ❤️”.
As reported by the Times Union, the Finkelsteins are actively embodying their ethos. They recently relocated from the Hudson Valley to restore Elizabeth’s “dream home” in a rural area near Saratoga Springs. Simultaneously, they are renovating a historic farmhouse they acquired for $70,000.
Elizabeth conveyed to the Times Union their mission to challenge the conventional notion of happiness epitomized by the ‘McMansion’ ideal in America. She emphasized that many people believe they cannot afford a home that aligns with the American Dream.
“It’s really huge for us to give people a sense of hope that they can find purpose through a house, that they can afford a house,” she expressed.