Brie Cavaluzzi, Employee Volunteerism Specialist, Corning Incorporated — Southern Finger Lakes, NY
Brie Cavaluzzi grew up in Beaver Dams and Corning. Her husband Josh grew up in Horseheads and Elmira Heights. Between the two of them, they know this region the way you only can when you’ve spent your whole childhood in it — the back roads, the festivals, the particular pleasure of being a short drive from everywhere you want to be and tucked away from everything you don’t.
They left to finish their degrees. And then, like a lot of people who grew up in the Southern Finger Lakes, they came back.
“We’re small-town people that enjoy living in a quieter area while still being able to drive to busier cities if we want something more to do,” Brie said.
What they didn’t expect was the house.
A 1975 Home on the Brink of Foreclosure
When Brie and Josh first walked through the property — a 1975-built five-bedroom, three-full-bath home set deep in the woods outside of town — it was in rough shape. Holes in the walls. Serious floor damage. A second-story deck that had been partially ripped off the house. The smell of cat urine throughout.
The home was originally built to house two generations under one roof — the original owners and their aging parents — which explained its generous layout: two large living spaces spread across two floors, more room than most people ever dream of having. It was sold in 1995 and was later home to another large family for over two decades. By 2017, it had cycled through a handful of owners, and by 2024, it was weeks away from foreclosure.
Their realtor said the bank would never approve a loan for something that couldn’t pass an appraisal. The deck alone was a safety hazard. They walked away and kept looking.
They couldn’t stop thinking about it.
“It was so clearly well-built and had so much potential,” Brie said. “We saw it and thought — gosh, that’s a lot of work. But what a cool house this would be.”
So, just weeks before the bank was set to take it, they made a decision: they’d fix the deck before even being under contract. They did the work, put in an offer, passed the appraisal and inspection, and closed on July 1, 2024. They moved in on August 1st, after the first round of renovations.
“There were many more trials and tribulations in between,” Brie said. “But it was well worth all the hassle.”
Bringing a House Back to Life — Together
From the moment they closed, their people showed up.
Friends and family arrived to tear out walls and carpet. Together, they cleaned and painted every surface. They replaced walls, appliances, and electrical systems. They built a front porch and replaced the roof. During the last holiday break, Brie and Josh finished upgrading the hallway. The basement — with its beautiful exposed ceiling beams — is still a work in progress.
“Being able to work on this house with the help of those we love has been one of the greatest joys we’ve gotten to experience,” she said.
The house is starting to show what it always could have been. The living room has tall, double-paned windows that face the woods; in the afternoon, the sun hits them just right, and you can watch the birds come and go from the couch. One spare bedroom has been given over entirely to gothic interior design — all black and gold. The bathroom next to it is done in what Brie calls a “rainbow maximalist” vibe.
“I’ve gotten to treat each room as a chance to try something fun,” she said.
Even the more practical parts of homeownership — like spending two hours splitting and stacking wood on Christmas Day — feel like something worth doing.
“Not a day goes by that we don’t comment on how happy we are to enjoy this space together.”
What Coming Home to the Southern Finger Lakes Really Looks Like
The decision to come back wasn’t just about the house or even the family. It was about the kind of life the Southern Finger Lakes makes possible — the one where you’re tucked away in the woods but five minutes from town, where you can hike the Watkins Glen Gorge or Tanglewood Nature Center on a Saturday and catch Glass Fest or Sparkle on a Sunday.
“We spend so much more time outside now,” Brie said. “When I lived in Syracuse, there was far less green space readily available. Here, I have a garden to play in, and it’s easy to find accessible hiking trails.”
Both Brie and Josh stay deeply involved in the community — she volunteers with Tanglewood as a community educator; Josh sits on the Advisory Board at Corning Community College. For anyone considering a move to the region who worries there won’t be enough to do, Brie has a direct answer.
“Get involved with the local community. Volunteer with one of our many nonprofits, befriend the folks at a local coffee shop, or join a crafting group at the local library. It’s so easy to get to know people here and get involved.”
And for anyone scanning the housing market, her advice is equally practical: the Southern Finger Lakes lets you have it both ways. Remote and wooded, or right in town with trails at your doorstep. The options are real, and the prices aren’t.
“There are so many options here,” she said. “The beauty of this area is that you can achieve the dream of living in a quiet, remote place while still having the convenience of being close to town.”
Brie Cavaluzzi is an Employee Volunteerism Specialist at Corning Incorporated and a community volunteer with Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira, NY.
Thinking about finding your own home in the Southern Finger Lakes? Explore housing options, community guides, and real estate resources on our Housing & Real Estate page — or visit Help Me Move to get started.