AI-generated representative image showing a renovated Detroit bungalow with a colourful, Palm Springs-inspired exterior and mid-century modern design accents. Credits – Gemini
Evan Thomas told Seen magazine that houses selling for roughly $200,000 in Ferndale could be available for far less in Detroit. By May 2022, Pride Source reported that Bynum and Thomas had renovated nearly 30 homes. In a feature published by HGTV, Bynum said they typically spent about $45,000 on a house.
The Palm House’s design The pair were drawn to the contrast between Detroit and its suburbs. Their budgets varied by property. AI-generated representative image showing a modest renovated living room with Palm Springs-inspired colours, mid-century furniture and carefully chosen vintage decor. Credits – Gemini
It’s a smart way to stand out in a price category when a lot of properties look the same, and buyers comparing a $79,000 listing with other restored homes nearby will recall the one that felt like a home. The Detroit Land Bank Authority’s Own It Now program offers eligible vacant properties with a minimum offer of $1,000. The Palm House’s reported purchase price was also $1,000, but the program rules alone do not establish that this particular property was sold through Own It Now.
The homes are sold as-is, and buyers are required to renovate them and ensure they are occupied, according to the City of Detroit’s description of the program . Bynum gave the home a bright, palm-themed design intended to evoke a vacation getaway. The look combined tropical accents, colourful details and secondhand furnishings rather than reproducing Palm Springs’ desert architecture literally. Bynum often gives each property a distinct theme and incorporates thrifted objects and his own artwork into the design. A clear theme also helps at the point of sale. A low purchase price does not mean a home is ready to live in; the buyer must account for the repairs required.