I am a person who collects abandoned properties like other people collect abandoned pets.

I cannot resist "just one more" when I see broken windows, overgrown vines, and crumbling mortar. But what I am actually seeing is cool housing, cute cafes, or a new retail business. So far its worked pretty well, and VRBO has helped me find even more uses for historic buildings that beg for help as I drive past.

Luckily my structural engineer husband has a lifetime of construction experience to help the renovations along, and my corporate world sister has embraced my type of investments for her portfolio. The three of us have done houses, apartments, office buildings, and a Queen Anne Victorian; we are currently working on a mini stone castle and an abandoned bourbon distillery.

We love sharing our appreciation for historic properties with the residents of Lexington, and now we get to share them with the world. We have embraced the vacation rental concept for a full year now, and have enjoyed every moment of it.

Teri Kelly purchased this apartment in 2007

316 Hampton Court was one of our first big investments. Down to two renters (a hoarder and a couple who were apparently using an apartment as their secret love nest behind their spouse's backs), the Howard was a sad sight from our backyard. It took two trips over, but we finally figured out how to find this hidden gem, tucked behind a massive apartment building on one side and an antebellum house on the other.

We instantly appreciated its unique architecture and decided to try to purchase and renovate it. The owner said sure, but we would have to purchase the 8,000 sf house in front as well, which we promptly did. A year later we finished the main part of the building's renovation and one condo and put it up for sale. Which it did not. The housing recession had hit so we put it up for rent. Renting turned out to be an easy task, so two years later we had five condos all rented for the next six years.

In 2013 we bought another house on Third Street, and fixed up the bottom apartment and had a friend move in. Then we started redoing the second floor apartment, and went a little further with the redo. It was looking so cute we decided to try vacation rentals. We furnished it and listed it on VRBO, hoping to at least make enough to make the renovation and furnishing worth it.

It was an incredible success. It has enabled us to keep up with some of the other property's bills much easier. So when #4 in Hampton Court became available, I decided that it too should become a VRBO property.