If you're willing to put in a little time and a whole lot of elbow grease, then abandoned buildings are a fantastic way to get your foot on the property ladder. Offering unique period features and bags of potential, these derelict dwellings could be transformed into breathtaking homes. From a former jail in North Carolina to a Victorian mansion in New York, these abandoned properties are well worth rescuing. Click or scroll through to see...

Described by The Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina as "one of the most high profile and distinctive buildings in downtown Dallas", this former jail is currently on the market for a mere $125,000. Part of the Dallas National Register Historic District, the unusual property likely dates back to 1847, when the Court House next door was constructed. 

Inside, you'll find 5,130 square feet of space and every room is brimming with eye-catching features, such as tin barrel ceilings, stunning tiled floors, brick fireplaces and sash windows complete with bars. It's thought that $19,000 would be needed to improve the jail's exterior, including new drains. Luckily, asbestos has already been removed from the building, taking any health risk out of the equation.

What's more, the jail's haunting cells, secure doors and steel staircases are still intact, meaning there are plenty of unique touches that would help to make this building one seriously amazing conversion project.

As well as all this inside space, the property also comes with a quarter-of-an-acre of land. What's more, because of the building's landmark status, the buyer would be eligible for state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits, making any renovation works even more affordable. So, if you're seeking an idyllic small-town property, then this former jail is definitely for you.

While you'd be right in thinking that a lot of real estate in California is reserved for the mega-rich, there are some affordable options out there for those unafraid of a little hard work. Take this detached family home in the city of Antioch as a great example. Although in a state of disrepair, the house is currently up for grabs for $499,000.

Built in 1986, the property sits on a 0.23-acre plot and boasts a spacious 10,010-square-foot interior. There are currently four bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as numerous living spaces on the ground floor. The front door leads inside a light-filled lounge with a double-height ceiling, which could make for an impressive space if given the right makeover.

With an easy open-plan layout, the house flows nicely and is anchored by large windows. The old-fashioned kitchen could do with being ripped out and replaced, or even upcycled like one of these shoestring kitchen makeovers. If you can see past the peeling floors, blue and purple painted walls and curtain valances, you might just be onto a real winner...

The home's bathrooms have been frozen in time and currently offer unsightly suites and ugly wallpaper. Yet, with the right bathroom inspiration, we're sure the space could be far more inviting. What's more, the house even offers a large private driveway, a two-car garage and a backyard with a swimming pool – although this has seen better days and might need to be redone. 

If charm, space and potential are what you're looking for, then the William T. Smith House is sure to win you over. Located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, the prestigious period property was built in 1835 and is now on the market with The Historic Preservation Foundation of North Carolina for just $60,000.

Nestled on a private two-acre lot, the house also benefits from 4,073 square feet of inside space. Steeped in history, the building once served as a Civil War field hospital and lies in close proximity to RDU International Airport, making it perfect for keen travelers. The home's interior is overflowing with period fixtures, including exquisite woodwork, Federal and Greek Revival mantels and decorative fireplaces.

One of the three surviving Smith family plantations, the house was built in a Federal two-over-two-room hall-and-parlor plan. The interior is a spacious blank canvas that's awaiting your ideas. From the entrance hall you'll find an authentic winder staircase with Chinese Chippendale railings, while paneled doors and antique built-in cabinets can be found throughout. As the real estate listing says, we "just don’t build them like this anymore!".

Though in need of complete rehabilitation, the extreme fixer-upper does come with an added incentive. The lucky new owner will qualify for historic preservation tax credits to help them with the costs of the renovation works. What could be better than that?

From the outside, the Weaver-Dallas House could definitely be mistaken for a spooky haunted hideaway, yet there's much more to this historic home than meets the eye.

For sale via The Georgia Trust for $199,000, the property dates back to around 1820 and features five separate buildings. As well as a cottage with Federal and Classical Revival elements, the almost one-acre garden also boasts two smoke houses, a garden shed and a 1930s car barn. 

Thought to be one of the oldest houses in the town, the pad has been owned by the same family since 1840. Located in the town of Thomaston in Georgia, the earliest version of the Weaver-Dallas House was said to have offered just one room, with a separate doctor's shop next door. Today, the main house features 15 rooms, including four bedrooms and three bathrooms. A grand entrance hall welcomes guests inside, while dual parlors would be perfect for hosting parties.

Every room comes equipped with eye-catching period features, such as built-in bookshelves, original fireplaces, timber floors and paneled walls. There's even a small stage upstairs that was reportedly used for puppet shows. As for the two smoke houses, these have already been converted into guest accommodation, which means the property could be turned into a comfortable family home or even a bed and breakfast.

If you're seeking a challenging fixer-upper that will allow you to put your own stamp on the place, then this dreamy house could be for you. For sale for just $5,000, this Jazz Age mansion can be found in the city of Syracuse, New York. Constructed in 1920, it is bursting with potential and offers an impressive 3,128 square feet of inside space. 

Though once a grand family home, the property has since been turned into three apartments, so some work would be needed to return it to its former glory. There are currently five bedrooms, three full bathrooms and three kitchens, so the pad isn't short on space. Beautiful details remain intact throughout, too, including elegant trims, timber doors, tilework, built-in cabinetry and parquet floors.

Yet there's plenty of work to be done and you'll need to do your research in order to avoid buying a money pit. From crumbling plaster to broken windows, rotten woodwork and even plants that have burrowed their way inside, the new owner of this abode will need to put in some serious elbow grease. Yet the possibilities are endless: transform the building into a fabulous family home, develop its three apartments for resale, or create your dream B&B in the heart of Onondaga County.

There are plenty of eye-watering interior design choices throughout the home, which certainly add to its charms. Yet if you could overlook the purple paintwork, moldy bathroom suites and crumbling walls, you could really be onto a winner. It's estimated that the renovation work would cost around $120,000, which means for less than $130,000 you could get your hands on a truly spectacular family home. We don't know about you, but we're sold!

Known as Gordon-Brandon House, this Greek Revival cottage can be found in the town of Milton, North Carolina, a 19th-century commercial boomtown that was once home to factories, a foundry, a roller mill, and plenty of taverns. Situated on a secluded wooded lot that spans almost two acres, the once-grand residence was built in around 1850 by Field Gordon, who happened to own a local saloon.

This historic photograph shows how the property once looked. Grand and glamorous, Gordon-Brandon House would once have been the pride of the area. For sale with Preservation North Carolina, an organization dedicated to saving the architecture of the state, the property has changed hands several times over the years and was last bought in 2000 by an absentee owner who allowed the building to suffer years of neglect.

Offering 1,968 square feet of inside space, the generously proportioned home boasts plenty of original details, including its three-bay wide porch that's decorated with four large beaded posts. Inside you'll find double-leaf doors, original sash windows, delicate architraves, beaded baseboards, Greek Revival mantels and pretty moldings. The building is arranged in a center hall plan, with a large room on either side of the entrance. 

With enough space for at least two bedrooms and one bathroom, there's also several lounge areas and a spacious kitchen. The Gordon-Brandon House is eligible for tax credits, which means the lucky new owner will gain financial assistance to bring the building back to its former glory. Plus, with a mere $32,500 price tag, this historic home is also an absolute bargain. Before long, you could have a newly renovated home that even Chip and Joanna Gaines would be proud of!

If you don’t have much in the way of a budget, then perhaps this Victorian mansion will fit the bill. For sale with the Greater Syracuse Land Bank for just $1,000, the derelict dwelling is in need of some serious TLC. Built in 1890, the property sits on a 5,000-square-foot parcel and offers a once-elegant interior that’s just waiting to be rescued.

Located in the city of Syracuse in New York State, the rundown residence spans just over 2,000 square feet and has been split into two. In order to bring the house back up to scratch and turn it back into a single family home, it’s estimated you’d need $200,000 in the bank – which isn’t bad considering its scale and current state. 

The striking abode comes with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, spacious formal living rooms and plenty of characterful period features. From original pocket doors to Palladian windows, intricate plaster detailing, coffered ceilings, rounded rooms and a substantial wrap-around porch, there’s much to love about this abandoned home. 

Over the years the house has suffered major water damage and is in need of foundation reconstruction, meaning this fixer-upper is not for those seeking a quick and easy project. Yet, given a little care and attention, the abandoned all-American house could be the stuff of your real estate dreams.

Doesn't this look just like a real-life doll's house? Sitting in a two-acre lot in Vernon, Indiana this Queen Anne-style home overlooks the beautiful Muscatatuck River. On the market for $120,000, the three-story house was built in 1884 by carpenter Robert Leavitt and has been deserted in recent years.

Built around 1847, this crumbling wood-clad home in Dallas, North Carolina, has seen better days. For sale for just $125,000, it's a pretty fixer-upper best suited to an ambitious buyer with plenty of renovation experience.

What once may have been a sizable bedroom is now a shell of a room with a moldy ceiling and wood-clad walls in need of serious attention. However, if you can see past the obvious issues, the room could be an attractive space once more, thanks to the large windows and airy proportions. 

Have you ever dreamt about owning a historic home in Brooklyn, New York? Well, now might be your chance. Provided you have $4.5 million in the bank, this dreamy landmark property could soon be yours. For sale with Corcoran, the striking structure was built in 1873 for the Coignet Stone Company and was used as their headquarters for many years.

Prominent and spectacular in equal measure, the abandoned commercial building can be found on the corner of third avenue in Gowanus, Brooklyn, between the sought-after neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens and Park Slope, where many celebrities have chosen to settle down – including Emily Blunt and John Krasinski.

Spanning three floors, the Gowanus building benefits from plenty of eye-catching period details that are just waiting to be brought back to life. From its oversized windows to its exposed brickwork, 12-foot ceilings and natural timber floors, there’s much to admire about this abandoned building. There’s even a huge cellar with an 11-foot ceiling, which could easily be turned into a killer basement conversion.

Currently the building offers a spacious foyer with a timber staircase, three offices, a kitchen, two bathrooms and a bedroom, but after some modernization and a reconfiguration of the layout, the house could easily accommodate four bedrooms. Although not for the faint hearted, or those with a small budget, this landmark building would make for one seriously spectacular family home.

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