Dawn Boyer and Jim Stallings had been looking all up and down the Virginia coast for their dream retirement home year before last when they drove down from Richmond on Christmas Day to visit Boyer’s sister in Cobbs Creek. Stallings happened to pop onto a real estate website, and he saw a house in Gloucester that they thought might fill the bill.

SHERRY HAMILTON / GAZETTE-JOURNALDawn Boyer and Jim Stallings (on the roof) are working hard to turn this house in the Pinero area of Gloucester into their dream home.

They decided to take a drive by the property, located in the Pinero area, and it was love at first sight.

“We saw the creeks, barns, the lay of the land, the meadow, and Jim wanted to buy it,” said Boyer.

“It had everything we wanted, but the house needed a lot of work, so the realtor started negotiations,” she said. “The price was lowered so low it was a no-brainer.”

The couple’s bid was accepted on their anniversary, Jan. 6, and as soon as the bid was accepted, ...