Michael Cordray is a home restoration expert, television personality, and real estate investor from Galveston, Texas. He is best known as the co-host of Restoring Galveston on the Magnolia Network. Unlike most renovation shows built around speed and spectacle, Michael’s work is rooted in patience, preservation, and a deep love for historic architecture. He was born on March 18, 1982, and is 44 years old in 2026.

His company, Save 1900, rescues century-old homes that most investors abandon. Together with his wife Ashley Cordray, he has turned a $55,000 side project into a nationally recognized brand. Michael’s estimated net worth sits between $2 million and $3 million in 2026. His story proves that building a career around genuine purpose not profit is the most powerful business strategy of all.

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Biography Table

Detail	Information
Full Name	Michael Cordray
Date of Birth	March 18, 1982
Age (2026)	44 years old
Birthplace	Galveston, Texas, USA
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Zodiac Sign	Pisces
Height	Approx. 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Education	B.S. Maritime Administration, Texas A&M University at Galveston (2006)
Spouse	Ashley Cordray (married April 4, 2014)
Children	Three daughters Elle (2019), Emma (2021), Emory (2023)
Profession	TV Personality, Home Restoration Expert, Real Estate Investor
Company	Save 1900
TV Show	Restoring Galveston (Magnolia Network / Discovery+)
Estimated Net Worth	$2 million – $3 million (2026)
Instagram	@save1900 (600,000+ followers)

Early Life and Roots in Galveston

Michael Cordray was born on March 18, 1982, in Galveston, Texas a coastal city shaped by Victorian architecture, port history, and the long shadow of the catastrophic 1900 hurricane that remains the deadliest natural disaster in American history.

Growing up in Galveston was not just a geographic fact for Michael. It was a foundation. His father, Emil Cordray, owned rental properties throughout the island, giving young Michael an early and unfiltered look at what old houses demand and what they offer in return. Emil passed away on August 22, 2007, but his influence over his son’s career path proved lasting. His mother, Helen “Bootsie” Cordray, attended Ball High School and later worked at Valero Energy Corporation.

Surrounded from childhood by raised cottages, wraparound porches, and century-old woodwork, Michael developed an instinctive respect for historic architecture that no classroom could replicate. Where others saw disrepair, he saw character. That early perspective became the engine behind everything he would build.

Education and Early Direction

Michael attended Texas A&M University at Galveston, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Maritime Administration, graduating in 2006. At face value, that degree pointed him toward the shipping industry not historic preservation. But Galveston is a place that pulls people back, and his time studying on the island only deepened his attachment to it.

After graduating, he joined Kirby Inland Marine, one of the country’s largest tank barge operators, where he worked in a corporate role that sharpened his project management instincts. It was at Kirby that he met Ashley, the woman who would become his wife, business partner, and television co-star.

From Real Estate Risk to Purpose

In 2011, shortly after Michael and Ashley began dating, Ashley pushed forward with an idea that would change both their lives: buy a rundown Galveston property and restore it. The house was listed for $55,000 a figure that reflected its condition more than its potential.

They took the risk. The project was difficult, costly, and full of the structural surprises that come with coastal homes of that era. But when it was done, something had shifted. What started as a side project began to look like a calling.

Over the next several years, Michael balanced his corporate career at Kirby with an increasing focus on restoration work. In 2016, he made the decision to walk away from that stable income entirely and commit to building Save 1900 full-time alongside Ashley. It was the kind of bet that either defines a person or breaks them. For Michael, it defined him.

The Birth of Save 1900

Save 1900 is not just a company name it is a mission statement. The name references Galveston’s most defining moment: the 1900 hurricane that killed an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 people and leveled much of the city. Homes that survived that storm, or were built in its aftermath, carry a quiet resilience that Michael has built his entire business around preserving.

The company focuses exclusively on pre-1920s homes along the Texas Gulf Coast properties that most investors walk away from due to foundation problems, water damage, outdated systems, or decades of neglect. Save 1900 walks toward them.

Michael handled the construction and structural side of each project, while Ashley focused on design, interiors, and storytelling. Together, they built a reputation for craftsmanship and integrity that preceded the cameras by years. Their work earned multiple prestigious honors, including:

• 2016 GHF Sally B. Wallace Historic Preservation Award
• 2017 GHF Sally B. Wallace Historic Preservation Award
• 2018 Galveston Landmark Commission Preservation Award
• 2019 Galveston Landmark Commission Preservation Award

These accolades were not handed to a TV show. They were earned by a restoration company doing serious, community-changing work.

Restoring Galveston and Television Breakthrough

Save 1900’s reputation eventually caught the attention of television producers. In 2019, Michael and Ashley’s show premiered on HGTV’s sister channel, DIY Network, under the title Big Texas Fix. The series documented their renovation projects across Galveston Island and struck an immediate chord with viewers hungry for something real.

The show later migrated to the Magnolia Network the lifestyle platform built by Chip and Joanna Gaines and was rebranded as Restoring Galveston. It was a natural fit. Magnolia’s audience was already drawn to renovation content with emotional depth, community values, and authentic storytelling. Michael and Ashley delivered all three.

By the time the show reached its fifth season, Michael had appeared in 63 episodes according to IMDb. The series became a consistent reference point for viewers who wanted renovation television that respected both the houses and the people watching.

On-Screen Dynamic with Ashley Cordray

One reason Restoring Galveston resonated so deeply with audiences was the relationship at its center. Michael and Ashley were not performing a partnership they were living one. Viewers could see the genuine trust between them, the easy shorthand of two people who had already built something real together before the cameras arrived.

Michael’s calm, steady demeanor balanced naturally with Ashley’s creative energy and expressive personality. He handled structure; she handled vision. On screen, that division of roles felt honest rather than manufactured. Their occasional disagreements about timelines, budgets, or design choices landed as believable rather than scripted. That authenticity is rare in renovation television and remains one of the show’s defining strengths.

Major Projects and Defining Moments

Over the course of his career, Michael has taken on some of Galveston’s most challenging and meaningful restoration challenges:

1. First House Flip A $55,000 distressed property that launched the entire Save 1900 story and confirmed that restoration was not just a hobby.
2. Gustave Mayhoff Cottage Their personal family home, a historic Galveston property that took two full years of renovation, from 2020 to 2022, before the family could move in.
3. The Mansard House A historic 1912 boarding house purchased in December 2022 and converted into a boutique hotel, expanding Save 1900’s footprint beyond residential restoration.
4. Historic Hot Dog Stand Restoration A community landmark revival that demonstrated Michael’s commitment to cultural preservation beyond private homes.
5. Local Dogs A food concept opened inside a restored 1922 filling station, blending historic preservation with small business entrepreneurship.
6. Cordray Drug Store Repurposed as an ice cream parlor, another example of Save 1900’s community-first approach to adaptive reuse.

Each project added depth to Michael’s growing legacy as a preservation advocate and demonstrated that his vision for Galveston extends well beyond individual properties.

Personal Life and Family

Michael Cordray met Ashley while they were both working at Kirby Inland Marine. They began dating in 2011, and the relationship moved quickly within months, they were already tackling their first renovation project together. They married on April 4, 2014, and in August 2023 renewed their vows in a second ceremony.

The couple has three daughters:

• Elle, born November 2019 (8 lbs 6 oz, 21 inches)
• Emma, born May 2021 (9 lbs 5 oz, 21.25 inches)
• Emory, born March 2023

The family continues to live and work in Galveston, staying rooted in the same community they actively help preserve. Michael is widely described as private, family-oriented, and deeply grounded qualities that clearly shape both his personal choices and his professional brand.

He is locally known as “BOI” Galveston slang for “born on island” a distinction that carries real weight in a close-knit coastal community where outsiders are easy to spot.

Net Worth and Financial Growth

Michael Cordray’s net worth as of 2026 is estimated to fall between $2 million and $3 million, based on multiple credible biographical sources. His wealth is not the product of a single income stream but a carefully diversified portfolio built over more than a decade.

His primary income sources include:

Income Stream	Description
Television Contracts	Fees from Restoring Galveston (Magnolia Network / Discovery+)
Property Sales	Revenue from restored homes sold through Save 1900
Rental Income	Properties listed on platforms like Airbnb
Boutique Hospitality	The Mansard House hotel revenue
Small Business	Local Dogs, Cordray Drug Store ice cream parlor
Real Estate Brokerage	Save 1900 Realty operations
Media Appearances	Speaking engagements and brand partnerships

Historic restoration is not a fast path to wealth. Projects regularly encounter unexpected foundation issues, structural damage, hazardous materials, and permitting delays. Michael’s financial growth reflects patient, equity-focused thinking rather than quick-flip profits.

Business Interests and Investments

Beyond the flagship restoration business, Michael has diversified into several adjacent ventures that extend Save 1900’s footprint across Galveston:

• Save 1900 Realty A real estate brokerage arm supporting the full transaction lifecycle of their renovated properties.
• The Mansard House A boutique hotel built inside a restored 1912 historic boarding house, appealing to the growing heritage tourism market.
• Local Dogs A food and beverage concept housed inside a restored 1922 filling station, combining adaptive reuse with community commerce.
• Cordray Drug Store A reimagined historic space now operating as an ice cream parlor.
• Airbnb Rentals Select restored properties available for short-term vacation stays, generating ongoing rental income.

Each investment reflects the same underlying philosophy: preservation is not just ethical it is economically sustainable when executed with care and vision.

Public Image and Cultural Impact

Michael Cordray occupies a rare space in renovation television. He is not a celebrity who renovates. He is a renovator who happens to be on television. That distinction shapes everything about how audiences perceive and trust him.

His work has elevated public awareness of historic preservation in ways that go beyond any single house. By showing the true complexity of restoring century-old homes the costs, the compromises, the unexpected discoveries he has helped normalize a more thoughtful approach to residential development along the Gulf Coast.

The @save1900 Instagram account, shared with Ashley, has grown to more than 600,000 followers as of May 2026, giving the couple a significant platform for community engagement, project documentation, and preservation advocacy.

Within Galveston itself, Michael’s impact is tangible. Properties that might have been demolished for new construction have instead been restored, returning neighborhood character and historical continuity that cannot be rebuilt once lost.

Challenges and Controversies

As of 2026, Michael Cordray has no significant controversies or public scandals attached to his name. His career has been defined by transparency, community focus, and a consistent work ethic that has kept both his professional reputation and audience trust intact.

The challenges he faces are largely inherent to the work itself. Coastal restoration is expensive and unpredictable. Old-growth wood, settlement foundations, and hurricane-related damage can turn a promising project into a financial strain almost overnight. Managing those risks while maintaining quality and doing it on camera, with full transparency reflects a level of professional integrity that audiences recognize and respect.

His decision to leave a secure corporate career in 2016 to pursue restoration full-time was a significant personal risk. In hindsight, it paid off. But the courage that decision required says something important about who Michael Cordray is.

FAQs

How old is Michael Cordray in 2026?

Michael Cordray is 44 years old in 2026, born on March 18, 1982, in Galveston, Texas.

What is Michael Cordray’s net worth?

His estimated net worth is between $2 million and $3 million as of 2026, earned through TV work, real estate, and business ventures.

Who is Michael Cordray married to?

He is married to Ashley Cordray, his business partner and co-host of Restoring Galveston, whom he wed on April 4, 2014.

What is Save 1900?

Save 1900 is the restoration company Michael co-founded with Ashley to preserve and renovate historic homes built around 1900 in Galveston, Texas.

Where does Michael Cordray live?

He lives in Galveston, Texas, where he was born and raised, and continues to work and raise his family.

What show is Michael Cordray on?

He co-hosts Restoring Galveston on the Magnolia Network and Discovery+, formerly known as Big Texas Fix on DIY Network.

How many children does Michael Cordray have?

Michael and Ashley have three daughters: Elle (born 2019), Emma (born 2021), and Emory (born 2023).

What degree does Michael Cordray have?

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Administration from Texas A&M University at Galveston, graduating in 2006.

What awards has Save 1900 won?

Save 1900 has received multiple GHF Sally B. Wallace Historic Preservation Awards and Galveston Landmark Commission Preservation Awards between 2016 and 2019.

Is Michael Cordray Hispanic?

No. Despite Galveston’s large Hispanic population, Michael Cordray is Caucasian and American by nationality.

Conclusion

Michael Cordray story is not really about television. It is about what happens when someone builds a career out of genuine belief in something. He grew up in Galveston surrounded by homes that needed saving, made a quiet promise to that city somewhere along the way, and has spent the better part of the last decade keeping it.

Through Save 1900, Restoring Galveston, and a string of community-focused business ventures, he has demonstrated that historic preservation and financial success are not opposing forces. Handled with patience and purpose, they reinforce each other.

In 2026, at 44 years old, Michael Cordray remains one of the most trusted names in American renovation television not because of what he says on camera, but because of what he does when it’s off.