Josh Hutson liked this little fixer-upper on Encino Drive in Fort Worth so much he bought it. And he fixed ‘er up.

Hutson, a Realtor with Keller Williams, lives two streets away in the Western Hills neighborhood. He spent about $32,000 remodeling the home.

“It was a smoker’s house for at least 30 or 40 years,” Hutson said. “You could see where the picture frames were hung because of all the tar on the walls. The cool thing is we did about six coats of primer and paint, and it’s a fresh white now.”

Add trendy barn doors, granite counter tops, a new roof, and electrical work, and you’ve got yourself a home.

Home is where the heart is

Built in 1973, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom abode boasts plenty of open space on a 9,278-acre lot.

It might also pique your interest that this affordable spot at 2912 Encino Drive, Fort Worth, has high-quality laminate floors and soft padding underneath the carpet.

“We priced it right,” Hutson said of the $175,000 price tag. “I know the neighborhood very well and there are a few homes in the area that are overpriced. I chose that neighborhood because it’s close enough to downtown and has all-brick houses under $200,000.”

The immediate area surrounding Western Hills gets a bad rap sometimes, Hutson acknowledged.

“If you want to scare people, tell them it’s off the Las Vegas Trail,” he said. “The area used to be sought after, and then crime got bad, but it’s scaled back now due to a larger police presence. The neighborhood itself is more of an up-and-coming neighborhood.”

To match that up-and coming reputation, Hutson asked his mother to step in and stage the home – “she’s a stager,” he explains – and he installed black hexagon tile in both bathrooms.

“It’s really trendy and cool, and it popped,” he said. “I like putting stuff in there that I like. The shower wall in the master bedroom is a very good-looking marble tile and I just personally like it. I was pretty satisfied with the look of this home.”

Back to school

Numerous options for education are in the area, including private schools St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School and All Saints Episcopal School.

Public schools are in Tarrant County’s Fort Worth ISD, and include Western Hills Elementary, Leonard Middle School, and Western Hills High School.

Realtor Josh Hutson with Keller Williams Realty listed 2912 Encino Drive, Fort Worth, for $175,000.