When all was said and done, I’d transformed this house into a 3 bed, 3 bath 2,100 sq ft layout—completely reimagined from its original form.But the transformation didn’t come without battle scars.After a nightmare first investment (where I had to flip just to escape), I was already on the hunt for a new contractor.

I have one renter in the house with me and hope to spark my portfolio off of this house. 

🏡New popular restaurant developments like this can spark the area to create even more development.

The transformation made it one of the nicest homes in the area.

Here’s what to know:5,000 new homes, 8M+ sq ft of office, 500k sq ft of retail, and 75 acres of civic/trail space are all in the works.Certified “One Planet Living” community—prioritizing sustainability, equity, and mixed-income housing.Infrastructure (transit + bridges) will connect directly to Belmont and western Gaston County, opening up huge spillover potential.First homes (Westrow & NOVEL apartments) expected to deliver by late 2025.Gastonia’s FUSE District: From Mill Town to Mixed-Use HubGastonia has made major moves with the creation of the FUSE District—a sports, entertainment, and redevelopment zone centered around:CaroMont Health Park, a 5,000-seat stadium hosting the Gastonia Ghost Peppers and concerts, soccer, and more.Franklin Yards, a $50M+ project adding 280+ Class-A apartments and retail to the mix.Historic mill conversions (Loray, Osage, Trenton) transforming into lofts and commercial space, creating an urban, walkable feel.The Social District allows visitors to walk between restaurants, breweries, and bars with drinks in hand—great for tourism and local nightlife.A few FUSE favorites:Durty Bull Brewery, Cavendish Brewing, The Rooster (live music), Double Barrel Saloon, and more.Nearby Towns to WatchMcAdenville – aka “Christmas Town USA” – draws 600K+ visitors each holiday season.

Sparks, Reno, Spanish Springs etc, as there is with any metro area.Thanks Brad!

And if you are working another full time job and trying to oversee that transformation, it can be tough!  

It takes a special kind of optimism-starved brain chemistry to look at an advancing technology that’s transforming medicine, education, accessibility, and creativity — and go, “ehh, it’s just a toy.”

The transformation turned a distressed asset into a high-performing, cash-flowing property.What was the outcome?

To spark more interest you have to now do something different to turn heads back to your listing.