Michael Gray has spent more than 10 years turning a derelict house in Detroit into a cozy home for him and his family.
In November 2009, Gray, who's now 70, purchased an abandoned home from his nephew for only $1,500. After years of renovations, he's transformed it into a dream home for his wife, Cynthia.
"It was all built with love," he told Insider.
Before purchasing the home, Gray was homeless and living in his niece's basement. Despite having a degree from Spring Arbor University, Gray struggled to find work due to Detroit's tough economy.
"I wasn't able to get a job because I had worked in drug treatment," he said. "But the city went bankrupt and the only way I would've been able to get another job would've been to move to Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York to make that type of money. And I wasn't going to do that."
Gray told Insider that he was hit by a car while riding his bike in 2008, and the settlement money helped him buy the property. When he bought the house, it was uninhabitable and had mites, spiders, and mice.
Gray has framed before pictures in every room to remind himself of how far he's come in his renovation. The house is now unrecognizable, and he sees it as a "generational home."
"After I'm dead and gone, this will be a generational house for our family members to always have a home to come to," he said.
Gray's most recent renovation has been his basement, and he anticipates the house being done no later than 2024. He spoke with Insider and walked through the restoration process.