Jessie Lipskin, 30, decided to leave her New York City apartment and build her own home. After buying a Greyhound bus, she spent three tireless years transforming it into something that wasn’t just luxurious, but so much more…

This amazing story began back in 2015 when Jessie Lipskin was interested in packing up everything and downsizing. One day, when she was browsing on eBay, she stumbled across a 1966 GMC Commuter Greyhound bus. “RVs lacked the aesthetic I was going for, so I landed on a vintage bus conversion,” she said. Feeling lucky and opportunistic, Jessie ended up being the winning bidder, buying the bus for just $7,000. Despite being so excited about her radical purchase, she didn’t even have a driver’s license at the time.

What you’ll learn from this incredible story is that Jessie Lipskin isn’t any ordinary woman. Unlike other people who have given buses extreme makeovers in recent times, Jessie has a profound reason for her life-changing decision. As a vegan, Jessie pursued a more eco-friendly lifestyle and did extensive research on sustainable living. “I was working long hours in finance at the time and I felt like there was something else out there,” she said. Jessie is also a huge bookworm.

Jessie’s first exposure to sustainable living came after watching Garbage Warrior. The documentary focuses on architect Michael Reynolds, who takes recycled materials and builds “Earthships” out of them. “[It] really resonated with me,” Jessie said. “I began to consume everything I could read, more about sustainable lifestyles. Ultimately, a home on wheels seemed like a perfect solution: I could easily explore new places (finding a permanent place to settle, in the short term, was not a priority for me).”

For Jessie, it wasn’t as if she simply decided to live in a bus overnight. It was a gradual transition from her NYC lifestyle to a life of condensing and only holding onto the things that truly matter. “People waste a lot of time focusing on physical items: purchasing them, misplacing them, and subsequently looking for them. Most of these items, from my standpoint, felt superfluous to a meaningful life,” she said. “I relocated seven times, and by the end, just about everything I owned fit in my SUV.”

Having lived in Manhattan for most of her life, Jessie didn’t just want a simpler life, she wanted to see the world. In her mind, if she had a portable home, then she could be at home and visit new places at the same time. Over the past three years, Jessie has moved on seven separate occasions, allowing her to see a little bit more of the world, while also transforming the bus in a variety of different locations.

With compelling reasons behind her decision and an adventurous investment, Jessie was excited upon seeing her 1966 GMC bus for the very first time. Sure, it didn’t look like much. It was simply a bus that had transported millions of people over the years. In fact, it was an identical model to the bus that Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock drove in the ’90s blockbuster Speed. However, Jessie had a clear vision of exactly how she wanted the mobile home to look, both inside and out…

With the bus sold to her exactly how it was advertised on eBay, Jessie knew exactly what she was signing up for. She knew that there weren’t any neat features that she could utilize. The bus had been stripped down to its bones, with just a handful of seats remaining. Without haste, Jessie and her team stripped them away too. She wanted a completely empty vessel, which would help her begin its transformation from an old bus into her luxury, eco-friendly home…

As time went on, it was becoming clearer and clearer that Jessie had a lot to learn. “The big challenge was that it was very different from working on a home that’s fixed in one location,” she said. “I constantly had to account for movement, on top of that the angles of the bus and slanted style windows made it challenging to design the best possible layout and curved woodworking.” As a result of this, Jessie knew she’d need some help…

As she was constantly on the move during the reconstruction of the bus, Jessie was able to meet a number of helpful people along the way. However, it wasn’t easy finding the right people. “I love DIY, however, I don’t have experience with plumbing, electrical, carpentry needed for this project,” she said. Nevertheless, she managed to get help from a number of friends and contractors. Now that she had a support network, Jessie was able to begin the transformation.

Although Jessie got a lot of help from friends and local professionals, there was one group of people who were not so excited about her radical life decision – her family. “My mom thought I was crazy. She would tell all the people in her apartment building, ‘My daughter is buying a bus to live in,'” she said. “People thought it was a big undertaking but they thought if anyone could do it, it would be me.” Nevertheless, she would eventually earn her family’s support.

Although she had the right people around her to put everything together, Jessie knew that ultimately, it was her vision. It was on her if the bus conversion didn’t work out. Therefore, she needed to make sure that everything was meticulous. “One of the hardest challenges was building walls and storage and closets in,” she said. “If the angle isn’t exactly the same every time you park [the bus], you might have an issue with opening a door or something like that.”

Once the scaffolding was done and the main framework of the new home was complete, Jessie and her team could move onto basic furnishings. She hired local carpenter Mike Slater, who made the customized woodwork for her place. She was so pleased with his contribution to the bus, she described it as “amazing carpentry” on an Instagram post. By the time that Slater was done, all the closets, boardings, and kitchen countertops were in place and ready to be used.

As you can see, Jessie was respectful enough to make sure that she wasn’t simply ignoring the fact that the home she was creating was once a bus. After keeping the license plate, as well as the plate that contained the details of who it was constructed by, to begin with, Jessie thought it was only fitting to display these plates inside her home. That way, she was honoring what had come before, as well as all the people responsible for giving her this bus.

Fast forward three years and after so much blood, sweat, and tears, Jessie was able to proudly look at her new home. While the young lady spent over $70,000 to complete the conversion, this might sound like a shocking figure. However, when you consider how much a standard apartment in Manhattan costs, it is clear that Jessie actually saved a lot of money in the process. Upon completion, Jessie was excited to finally share her masterpiece with the world…

While the interior would ultimately determine whether or not the bus transformation was a success or failure, the way that the exterior looked also mattered a lot to Jessie. The shape stayed the same, but Jessie had the bus completely painted over from head to toe. While it was already mainly white with a red, white, and blue stripe pattern running through its center, Jessie thought it would look cleaner if the home received an all-white paint job.

Funnily enough, one of the aspects of the bus conversion that Jessie was not so happy about was how big the interior of the new home felt to her. With the intention of downsizing, in many ways, this portable home felt even bigger than her apartment in Manhattan. “When I walk in, it feels huge,” she said. “It feels even bigger than my New York City apartment.” Consequentially, Jessie made the most of all the space she had…

Although Jessie has a complicated relationship with both her family and where she came from, she made a concerted effort to make sure that her new home reflected her personality, as well as her roots. For example, the young lady decorated the home with a number of family heirlooms, such as photos of her ancestors. Also, Jessie regularly uses precious china plates that her great-grandmother once used in her home on Delancey Street on the Lower East Side, New York.

Not only does the kitchen look like something out of a high-end brochure, but it also utilizes the environment pretty well too. It is equipped with all the amenities you’d expect from a modern apartment, including wooden countertops, an oven, stove, and a large sink. It also has tons of storage. There is even an energy efficient washing machine and a dryer in the kitchen area. Like a number of other parts of the home, the kitchen window boasts stunning views of Jessie’s surroundings.

It wasn’t just the communal areas that were given the luxury feel. Adjacent to the kitchen, the bathroom still had plenty of room to navigate in. “The bathroom has mahogany wood slotted flooring that drains for drying off post-shower,” Jessie said. “The shower drain connects to the floor drain and they both lead to the gray water tank which is mounted under the bus.” But probably the most fascinating aspect of the bus conversion could be found in Jessie’s bedroom…

Not only is the bedroom beautifully designed, but it also has an open window, providing Jessie with beautiful views. “I love not having a TV. I had the option to have a TV, but I really like waking up in the morning and hearing the birds outside my window,” she said. So if Jessie was so adamant that she didn’t want a TV, how exactly was she going to spend her free time in her new home?

After dedicating three years of her life to this radical transformation, Jessie now has “a little ‘library along the back of the bedroom,” with the long list of books she wants to catch up on. “I feel like I’ve been so busy these past few years that I haven’t read as much as I’d like. I have the time now to do that,” she said. “It’s nice to just cozy up in bed and just read a book.”

While Jessie has admitted that she could’ve done with some more storage space in the bus home, the limited amount has certainly made her more space efficient. “This is just one portion of the closet, it extends to the left and right a decent amount,” she said. “I’ve always been very organized and tidy and kind of tried to get rid of whatever I don’t need.” Despite these little nitpicks, Jessie has certainly taken more positives from the transformation than negatives.

You can take Jessie out of New York City, but you definitely can’t take New York City out of Jessie. As a New Yorker, through and through, the young lady went out of her way to make sure that there would be room in the bus for potential guests. At the front of it, there is an extra sleeping space, in case any friends or family choose to crash for the weekend. There have been recent developments regarding Jessie’s newly transformed home…

Make no mistake about it – Jessie wasn’t only interested in creating a beautiful home. She was excited to put her mind to the test and create amenities on the bus that have a bit of technological panache to them. Take the steps at her home entrance for example. When you open the door and press the electric button on the side, steps will open out so that you can enter and exit the bus. Press the button again for them to close.

If you compare how the interior of the bus looked when Jessie bought it a few years ago, compared to what it looks like now, it is completely like night and day. It was once a typical bus interior, which one could imagine hosted thousands upon thousands of schoolkids, amongst its many other passengers. However, those days are long gone, and what is left is the interior of a home that many would be happy calling their own. Jessie sure is.

In a sharp turn of events, Jessie ended up putting the bus-turned-home up for sale on Craigslist, for a whopping $149,000. The post is no longer online and as of October 2018, it appears that Jessie is still living in what is still a relatively new home. However, it appears that she will eventually move onto something else and admits that she has taken more from the entire experience than from the actual bus. “I’m giving it up,” she said. “But I’m gaining through the experience of having had it.”

Once again, Jessie’s bus has relocated and is now in the hands of Airbnb. For just over $100 per night, you can enjoy all the amenities that the bus-turned-mobile-home has to offer. However, probably the most amazing part of the experience is that the bus is nestled in the heart of Joshua Tree, a truly idyllic desert landscape. Jessie might not have been able to sell her bus for the right price, but Airbnb is a useful alternative and she has already had many guests.

While Jessie’s remarkable story has already traveled far and wide, capturing the imaginations of many other aspiring home renovators, there is another place where you can see her story from start to finish – her Instagram account. On “the bus tiny home,” you will be able to see the entire process Jessie underwent over the last few years. Scroll to the bottom of the account and you’ll see the early stages of the transformation, all the way up to its end results.

Every neighborhood has homes with sale signs in their front yard that seem to be perpetually there. There may be many reasons why these homes are left untouched. Some of them are just because of location, and others may be because they’re a little too rundown. But, there are also homes — or rather mansions — that have the same problem. These mansions are so expensive nobody wants to buy them, and here are a few examples of that.

The Hamptons are one of those places we’ve all heard of. This is a destination that many stars spend their summers in. For Matt Lauer, that meant taking time away from the hard-hitting world of journalism to visit this beautiful waterfront estate.

This property had problems selling from the get-go, with the ex-anchor having issues even getting it listed! That may be why it’s still set for so long, or perhaps it’s because it costs $44.8 million.

When you look at this sprawling mansion with its stone facade and sweeping greens, it’s hard to understand why it still sits empty. This mansion itself once belonged to a steel tycoon and comes with a ton of great amenities.

However, because of things like the home theater and the 11-car garage, the price tag on this mansion may just be the culprit of why it sits empty. After all, who has a spare $32.9 million lying around?

Connecticut is one of the most beautiful states in the US, and many well-off individuals choose to live there. This may be because it’s close to New York City or perhaps because of the beautiful nature surrounding the property.

This home, which is located in Farmington, has a built-in nightclub and an indoor pool, yet it still sits empty. It’s been unsold for so long that the owners have dropped the price tag from $14.5 million to a measly $5.9 million.

Who doesn’t want to live in a castle? This French provincial-style estate includes a terraced garden and medieval-style turrets, adding to the castle-like feel of the home. Built in 1926, there are a lot of beautiful accents to this home.

But, despite the fact it’s so beautifully designed, this home has been available since 2009 and is still on the market for $3.2 million.

When you think of luxury homes and mansions, many of us do not automatically go to Michigan, but this home is set in Bloomfield Hills. The home is a waterfront residence; it has beautiful views of Long Lake and features many as well as many other attributes, including six fireplaces.

The home sat empty for quite a while until eventually, the owners decided they needed to make some money off of it. So, they rented it for $25K a month.

There’s nothing like buying a plot of land and getting three separate homes when you do. This 25-acre estate comes with not only the main house but also a guest house, as well as an apartment.

To be able to take advantage of this beautiful property, all you have to do is shell out $48.9 million. That seems very reasonable, don’t you think?!

Sitting on a historic road in Northville, Michigan, this private estate sits on almost five acres of land. The home itself is designed in a chateau layout. Inside this secluded mansion, you will find a beautiful stone fireplace, and it grants a spiral staircase that adds to its charm.

Even with all that, though, it seems like it has been quite a challenge to take the home off the market, and that just may be due to the $9.9 million price tag.

For some, having a home on the 18th hole of a golf course would be a benefit. But, maybe not with this six-bedroom estate that’s located in the beautiful countryside of Tennessee.

It has a beautiful antique-looking exterior with an interior that’s fitted with tons of beautiful features like a media room and a wine cellar. But, even with its close proximity to a beautiful golf course and its visual appeal, this mansion still sits on the market.

Who doesn’t want to have a home that has a beautiful outdoor pool and an open-air pavilion that can seat a ton of people? It seems like this estate that sits on the water was built for partying, and yet no one has partied in it for quite a while.

Not only do you have all of the wonderful amenities we’ve already mentioned, but you also have spa baths and a solarium, as well as a chef’s kitchen. All you have to do is pay $18 million.

Built in 1905, this historic mansion in San Jose, California, was almost taken off the market for a cool $47 million. However, that sale didn’t go through — and so, this home still remains empty.

This house is truly a part of history when it comes to California, and to own this piece of history, you simply have to shell out $36 million.

If you’re looking for a beautiful French country home in the Malibu area, then you may have come across the home of Mel Gibson. This home is outfitted with five bedrooms and five baths, and was originally put on the market in 2010.

It has a certain old-world feel, and yet it still sits on the market, but the price has dropped from its original $14.5 million to $12.8 million.

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have been together for years and have starred in several movies together. When not doing this, they like to relax in one of their many homes. One of these many homes was a beautiful Malibu beach house.

Designed with a Bali-like feel in 2011, this home went on the market for $14.8 million. Because they were unable to sell it, this Hollywood couple opted to rent it out for $95,000 a month.

Part of the land that measures over 750 acres, this barn-style home was once occupied by one of country music’s favorite couples, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The house has five bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. This home seems like it would go quickly.

But, that assumption would be wrong as it has been sitting on the market for quite a while, and yet no one has purchased it. We wonder why?

One of the most recent additions to the mansion real estate market is the Connecticut home of Tommy Hilfiger. Just placed on the market in 2020, this property features a beautiful mansion originally built in 1939.

Of course, you would imagine that — since it is the home of such an illustrious fashion designer — you can expect to pay quite a pretty penny. You would be guessing right as this home is on the market for a cool $48 million.

Michael Jordan was the “IT” player of the NBA during the ’80s and early ’90s. So, with his status, he had the ability to buy a pretty impressive mansion to call home. In 2012, the retired NBA star placed this beautiful mansion on the market.

Sitting on seven acres, this property was initially put on the market for $29 million — but it has since dropped down to $15 million.

If you have an extra $17 million lying around and have a devoted love for Jennifer Lopez, then you are in luck because you could purchase one of her former homes. Located in the Hidden Hills, her Los Angeles home was put on the market in 2015.

This house has a dance studio along with a recording studio, and since putting it on the market, the “Jenny From the Block” singer has had to lower the price down to $12.5 million.

In 2010, Sylvester Stone originally purchased this La Quinta estate. A mixture of Tuscan and Mediterranean styles, it has four-and-a-half bedrooms and five bathrooms. It also features hardwood floors and arched entryways.

Originally purchased for $4.5 million, Stallone soon found himself putting it back on the market at a reduced price of $3.87 million. At least he’s not taking that much of a hit.

Ellen DeGeneres loves to buy homes and renovate them so that she can flip them. One of these homes is this beautiful Los Angeles property. Though this may be one of her smaller properties, it seems like it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

In fact, this condo has been on the market since 2014 and hasn’t budged a bit. The condo started with an $8 million price tag and is now available for $5.85 million.

Taking a home that once belonged to a Hollywood legend, Helen Hunt made this Hollywood Hills estate her own. But, in 2002, she decided she would place it on the market with a price tag of $9 million.

Though that seems like a high price to pay for this newly refurbished Hollywood estate, some have been interested in it — but only at a lower price.

When you say the word hedge funder, many things probably come to mind, including having several lavish estates. Steve Cohen sits on several great properties, including this Manhattan duplex penthouse.

In 2013, this businessman decided he wanted something new and put it up on the market for $115 million. But eventually, he realized that might be a little too steep, so now it’s available for $57.5 million.

American entrepreneur Alan Wilzig owned a fabulous Tribeca townhouse. This subdued and classic-looking home was put on the market in 2014 for $44 million.

After sitting on the market for a little bit in 2018, the financial businessman reduced the price to $18.75 million. Doesn’t that just seem like a bargain?!

Sometimes finding the right home is like buying a piece of history. Originally built in 1770, this mansion is made of stone and has beautiful gabled roofs. Because of this history, in 1984, it was declared a building that was to be preserved.

That coupled with the $825,000 price tag may be why this mansion seems to be unsellable. There may also be rumors that the house is haunted, which could also be part of the problem.

If you’re into ’70s history, then you may have heard the name Halston in conjunction with Studio 54. This amazing and spacious penthouse once belonged to Roy Halston Frowick and has had several famous names walking its corridors.

In 2011, this minimalistic-designed penthouse went on the market at $38 million. However, after not selling as quickly as they thought it would, the price tag was reduced to $24 million.

If you’ve ever wanted to live in the Beverly Hills area and you have $129 million available, you could be the owner of a beautiful Mediterranean-style mansion.

This mansion has 12 bedrooms and 23 bathrooms, a reflecting pool, and an entertainment complex. In 2014, the house went on the market at quite the markup, seeing how that owner only paid $35 million for the home.

Looking for a little southern charm in Savannah, Georgia? Then, you might be interested in the Aiken estate. This home was built in 1855 and was the home of famous American poet Conrad Aiken.

In 2015, this beautiful historic home went on the market for just $1.3 million. However, it has remained unsold for quite a while. The truth is, though, most people don’t think it’s the price tag that’s keeping someone from buying it — but rather the fact that it’s rumored to be very haunted.

For those that are a little more outdoorsy but still want a lavish lifestyle, this home on Lake Superior might just be a great fit for you. This home, which had 400 workers and 22 different architects on the project, has been empty since the ’50s.

When it initially went on the market, it was placed at $40 million, and after a little bit of time, that price dropped to $20 million.

So, Neverland ranch has been on the market since 2015 and was originally built in 1981. Of course, most people know the name because it was once the home to Michael Jackson. After he died, the property wasn’t taken care of and fell into disrepair.

But, in 2015, the property was renovated and placed on the market at $100 million. Not only because of the price but because of the allegations against the “King of Pop,” this property has remained unsold and is now only worth $31 million.

The SK Pierce mansion may not be as expensive as some of the other properties, but it’s just as hard to get off the market. This home was originally built in 1875 and is a beautiful, albeit eery-looking Victorian home.

Eery is the keyword because part of the reason why this home — that only costs $329,000 — is still empty is due to the fact that many people have experienced some pretty scary occurrences within its walls.

Having a home that’s filled with old Hollywood glamor is very appealing to many people. Often, homes described as this have beautiful tactile textures and artisanal ornaments that make the property feel more grandiose.

The home is designed with seven bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, and it features a rooftop deck. This home, which went on the market in 2017 for $29.5 million, has sat without a new owner for several years.

Actress, model, and reality television star, Denise Richards has led a pretty interesting life. Arriving to Hollywood in the ’80s, she has found herself attached to such names as Charlie Sheen. She has lived in many homes, including this beautiful mansion.

In 2015, she placed it on the market for $7.7 million, and it spent quite a bit of time waiting for someone to purchase it. Instead of buying outright, many people have rented it over the years, including Angelina Jolie allegedly.