Who's Saving This Victorian Mansion in Decatur, IL?

The Powers Mansion in Decatur, Illinois — 7,730 square feet, seven bedrooms, six baths, a 1,300-square-foot ballroom, an elevator, extraordinary original tilework, and generations of architectural detail — is asking $275,000 for the right visionary buyer to bring it back to life. Reddit entered its Gatsby era immediately. Reddit also ran the rehab numbers and got nervous. The ghosts are included at no additional charge.

The Bones, and Also the Rotted Floor

The Powers Mansion is one of Decatur's most recognized historic homes, and the architectural case for it is genuine — the scale, the craftsmanship, the tilework that prompted one commenter to threaten a riot if anyone touches it, and an interior that reads as a Victorian time capsule of extraordinary ambition. A 1,300-square-foot ballroom and a period elevator are not features that appear in new construction. The listing calls it ready for a visionary buyer, which it is. It also needs a roof, windows, heating, cooling, possibly electrical work, and — per a listing photo showing a rotted floor beneath a hole in the ceiling — has some bones that are less good than advertised. Reddit's rehab estimate consensus landed somewhere between $275,000 and a million dollars, with the more sober voices noting that a complete rehab in 2026 dollars would have to hit seven figures. One commenter did maintenance on this house 25 years ago and always loved going by it. They hope someone saves it.

The Price, the Location, and the Ghosts

The practical debate in the thread was blunt. Decatur home values in the surrounding neighborhood run from $20,000 to $155,000 — this is not a market that supports a multi-million-dollar restoration investment, and the schools have a 2/10 rating. A California commenter did the math and concluded that even at $900,000 all-in, they'd be spending $300,000 to $900,000 less than a comparable square footage in their home market, which is a perspective that says more about California than Decatur. The ghosts received their own thread. Reddit's position on spectral tenants was divided but firm: one commenter said they'd name them and call them little friends at that price; another stated flatly that no tenants are permitted unless rent is paid in full, living or dead, not in this economy. The tile in photo fifteen, meanwhile, has a passionate and organized constituency prepared to riot on its behalf.

The Internet Has Thoughts

Naturally, this listing caught the attention of Reddit's r/zillowgonewild community. See what people are saying about it here.

Seven bedrooms, a ballroom, an elevator, extraordinary tilework, probable ghosts, and a rehab bill that could go anywhere — the Powers Mansion is waiting for its person. View the full listing here.