From Lowell to Kyoto: A Quick World Tour of Sacred Spaces Turned Real Estate

Every so often, real estate hands you a listing that makes you stop and smile.

Right now, I’m marketing a church property at 404 N Hudson St in Lowell for $375,000—complete with stained glass and a working organ. It’s one of those properties that instantly sparks imagination: What could this become? What stories does it hold? What would you do with a space like this?

That question led to a fun idea: if this kind of historic, sacred space can become real estate here in West Michigan… what does that look like elsewhere in the world?

So I made a short video—70 seconds, fast-paced, and intentionally a little cheeky—highlighting three global examples that are genuinely hard to believe.

Why “sacred spaces” make such fascinating real estate

Whether you grew up going to church or not, there’s something universally compelling about these buildings:

• They’re designed with intention (light, acoustics, scale, symmetry)

• They often sit on meaningful land in the community

• They tend to have the kind of character you can’t reproduce with modern construction

• When they’re repurposed thoughtfully, the result is often stunning

They also come with practical considerations—zoning, historic preservation, deferred maintenance, and the simple reality that “beautiful” doesn’t always mean “easy.” But as a category, they’re a reminder that real estate is about more than bedrooms and bathrooms. Sometimes it’s about story.

Stop #1: Cork, Ireland — a church with a medieval tower (and the quietest neighbors imaginable)

The first global stop is St. David’s Church of Ireland in Carrigtwohill, County Cork, listed at €400,000.

This one is a history-lover’s dream because it comes with more than just the church building. The listing highlights a medieval stone tower and an historic graveyard on site. If you’ve ever wanted to own a property where the phrase “medieval tower” is a normal part of the conversation… Ireland understood the assignment.

Also: yes, the neighbors are exceptionally quiet.

Stop #2: Tuscany, Italy — a 1576 monastery with 60 rooms and 25 bedrooms

Next is Tuscany, and this is where scale gets ridiculous (in the best way).

This former monastery was built in 1576 and is listed with 60 rooms and 25 bedrooms. At that point, it’s not a house—it’s a facility. You don’t need a welcome mat; you need a front desk.

And the obvious dad-thought immediately kicks in:Who is cleaning all 60 rooms and 25 bedrooms?Because if the answer is “me,” then I’m out.

Still, if you’re the type of person who sees something like this and thinks “boutique retreat,” “wedding venue,” “hospitality,” or “once-in-a-lifetime project,” it’s easy to see the potential.

Stop #3: Japan — a 370-year-old temple you can literally relocate and restore

Japan takes the concept to another level.

This listing is for a 370-year-old Edo-period temple, originally built in 1652. And here’s the part that made me do a double take: the price is around $3 million, and it includes the full dismantling, relocation, and restoration into a residence.

In other words: you’re not just buying a structure—you’re buying the ability to move it, rebuild it, and preserve it as a home. It’s basically “new construction” compared to the 1576 monastery (and yes, that sentence feels strange to type).

It’s also the kind of listing that makes you instinctively lower your voice while you’re looking at the photos.

The real point of the video (and why I’m doing more)

This wasn’t meant to be a serious market comparison or a “where should you invest” piece. It was meant to be what real estate should sometimes be:

• interesting

• creative

• human

• and honestly… fun

The world is full of properties with stories, and I love highlighting the ones that make you pause and say, “Wait… that’s real?”

So I’m going to keep doing these.

If you watched the video, you know the question:

Where should we go next?Drop a country (or a type of building) and I’ll add it to the list.