We bought an old house in New Jersey for $550,000—take a look inside

When Amanda DeRise's father sent her a listing for a 140-year-old six-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, her first thought was that it needed a lot of work. Her realtor even called it a "money pit." But Amanda, 32, and her husband, Vincent DeRise, 34, saw potential in the home. In 2024, they purchased the home for $550,000 and have spent $172,000 on renovations so far.