1870s Piqua Historical Landmark, Triple Brick, 3,794 Sqft — $149,900

The walls on this place are triple brick. That alone is worth stopping on. Built in the 1870s and recognized as a Piqua Historical Landmark, 316 S Downing has been owned by four families in its entire life. The asking price works out to about $39 per square foot for 3,794 square feet across three levels. That math is hard to ignore.

Inside, the original details are still there and mostly intact. Wood plank floors, pocket doors, transomed doorways, natural wood trim, volume ceilings, two fireplaces. There's a butler's pantry. The handcrafted staircase is the kind of thing you cannot buy at a lumber yard. The main level has a living room, hearth room, parlor, study, formal dining room, and a full bath. The kitchen has ceramic floors, an exposed brick wall, and a large center island. Five bedrooms and a full bath sit on the second floor along with a dormer alcove, a bonus room, a second family room, and a laundry room. Above that is a semi-floored attic that works for storage now and could be something more later.

The wraparound porch is there. New windows have been installed. The brick exterior was recently painted and wrought iron fencing runs the perimeter. There's a newer HVAC system and newer gutters. The refurbished 1920s carriage house is 36 by 12 feet and comes with the property. Use it for parking, a workshop, or storage.

This house needs work. Renovations were started and left unfinished, and various materials, both old and new, convey with the sale. So you are walking into a project. The structure is solid, the bones are real, and most of what makes an old house worth having is still here. But you need to go in knowing it will take time and money to finish.

For someone who wants a landmark building with this much room, this much original material, and this kind of history, $149,900 in Piqua is a real number.