Michael Cordray is a Galveston, Texas-based real estate professional, historic-home restorer, entrepreneur, and television personality best known for Restoring Galveston. Alongside his wife, Ashley Cordray, he has built a career around bringing neglected historic properties back to life while protecting the architectural character that makes Galveston distinctive. His professional story connects real estate, restoration, television, and a strong attachment to his hometown.
The interest in Michael Cordray net worth comes largely from the success of his restoration business and his television career. Michael and Ashley founded Save 1900 after turning their interest in old Galveston homes into a full-time venture. Their work later expanded into television, real estate sales, hospitality, and additional property projects, creating several professional avenues for the Cordrays.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Cordray |
| Profession | Real estate professional, home restorer and television personality |
| Birth Date | March 18, 1982 |
| Age | 44 years old in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Galveston, Texas, USA |
| Education | Texas A&M University at Galveston |
| Graduation | 2006 |
| Degree Field | Maritime Administration |
| Wife | Ashley Cordray |
| Marriage Year | 2014 |
| Children | Three daughters: Elle, Emma and Emory |
| Business | Save 1900 / Save 1900 Realty |
| Best Known For | Restoring Galveston |
| Height | Approximately 5 feet 11 inches |
Who Is Michael Cordray?
Michael Cordray grew up in Galveston, Texas, a city with a rich collection of historic homes and a strong maritime identity. That environment eventually became central to his professional life. Texas A&M University records describe Michael as a Galveston native and note that he graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 2006. His education was in maritime administration, a field connected to the industry that shaped much of Galveston’s economy.
Before becoming a familiar television personality, Michael followed a more conventional professional path in the maritime industry. He and Ashley later began restoring properties while working full-time, gradually turning their shared interest in older houses into a business. In 2015, Michael left his full-time job so the couple could focus on their restoration and real-estate company.
Michael Cordray Age and Early Life
Michael Cordray is widely listed as being born on March 18, 1982, which makes him 44 years old in 2026. The date also has a memorable family connection because his youngest daughter, Emory James, was born on March 18, 2023, sharing her birthday with her father. Contemporary coverage of the birth specifically identified the date as Michael’s birthday.
His early connection with Galveston became an important part of his later career. Rather than building a restoration company around a distant market, Michael and Ashley concentrated on the island they knew personally. Their business philosophy is centered on saving older properties before they are demolished, with attention to original architectural details and the history attached to each house.
Michael Cordray Height and Physical Appearance
Third-party biographical profiles commonly list Michael Cordray at approximately 5 feet 11 inches, or about 180 centimeters. His appearance is familiar to viewers through Restoring Galveston, where he is frequently shown working directly on renovation projects rather than simply presenting the finished designs.
His television image is closely connected to his hands-on approach to restoration. Michael regularly appears involved in construction, property inspections, demolition decisions, repairs, and design discussions, giving him a practical presence on screen. His work often requires physical activity as well as knowledge of historic architecture, property management, and real estate.
Michael Cordray Wife and Family
Michael Cordray is married to Ashley Cordray, who is both his wife and professional partner. The couple met while studying at Texas A&M University at Galveston, began dating in 2011, and married in 2014. Their relationship eventually became the foundation of both their family life and their shared restoration business.
Michael and Ashley are parents to three daughters: Elle, Emma, and Emory. Elle was born in November 2019, Emma arrived in May 2021, and Emory James was born on March 18, 2023. The family has appeared together in social-media content and portions of the couple’s television-related life, while Galveston remains the center of their family and professional world.
Michael Cordray Career and Education
Michael graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 2006, studying maritime administration. His original professional direction was connected to the maritime sector, but his career eventually shifted toward real estate and restoration after he and Ashley began purchasing and renovating older Galveston properties as a side project.
The turning point came when Michael left his full-time job in 2015 to concentrate on Save 1900 with Ashley. Their early restoration work focused on neglected Galveston properties, and their distinctive approach attracted attention because they emphasized preserving historic character rather than simply modernizing houses for resale.
Save 1900 and Michael Cordray’s Real Estate Business
Save 1900 is one of the most important parts of Michael Cordray’s professional identity. The company describes its mission as restoring historic homes in Galveston according to the architectural styles that developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Cordrays have worked on properties ranging from modest cottages to larger historic residences.
Michael also works through Save 1900 Realty, where the company identifies him as a Realtor Associate. Current real-estate listings and transaction data show substantial activity connected to his professional work. Homes.com lists 77 closed sales totaling about $33.4 million in transaction value over the prior five years, illustrating the scale of his real-estate business even though transaction volume itself is not the same as personal wealth.
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Michael Cordray Television Career
Michael and Ashley first attracted television attention because of the restoration work they were already doing in Galveston. Their early project became the basis for Saving Galveston, and their television work later developed into Big Texas Fix and then Restoring Galveston. The shows brought their restoration philosophy to a much larger audience.
HGTV describes Restoring Galveston as a series following Ashley and Michael as they restore homes in their hometown while preserving Galveston’s history and architectural styles. The program has featured properties facing significant renovation challenges, including homes requiring major structural, electrical, plumbing, design, and preservation work.
Michael Cordray’s Historic Preservation Approach
Michael Cordray’s restoration philosophy goes beyond simply repairing old houses and making them attractive for buyers. Much of his work focuses on identifying the architectural details that give historic Galveston properties their character, including original layouts, exterior features, woodwork, doors, and other period elements. Instead of removing everything old, Michael and Ashley often look for ways to combine those features with updated kitchens, bathrooms, electrical systems, plumbing, and other modern improvements.
This approach has become an important part of the Cordrays’ professional identity. Their projects show how older homes can be adapted for contemporary living while still reflecting the history of the neighborhoods in which they stand. For Michael, restoration is therefore both a business opportunity and a way to contribute to the preservation of Galveston’s distinctive architectural landscape.
What Makes Michael Cordray’s Career Unique?
What makes Michael Cordray’s career particularly distinctive is the way several professional interests have developed around the same location. His education began in maritime administration, but his path eventually moved into real estate, historic restoration, television, and hospitality. Rather than separating these careers, Michael and Ashley have built them around their knowledge of Galveston and its historic properties.
His television presence has also helped introduce a wider audience to the challenges involved in restoring older homes. Through Restoring Galveston, viewers can see the planning, construction decisions, design work, and unexpected problems that come with historic renovations. This combination of entrepreneurship and preservation has made Michael a recognizable figure in the home-restoration television space.
Michael Cordray Net Worth and Sources of Income
The Michael Cordray net worth figure is commonly discussed because his career combines several business areas. Third-party biography sources have placed his personal wealth in a range of approximately $1 million to $7 million, while other profiles have published figures for the Cordrays as a household. These figures should be viewed in the context of his documented businesses, real-estate activity, restoration work, and television career rather than as a disclosed financial statement.
Michael’s income-producing activities include real estate sales, property restoration, television work, renovated properties, hospitality projects, and business ownership. Save 1900 also operates restored properties for guests, while the Cordrays have expanded their Galveston activities beyond individual residential renovations. Their documented business activity provides the clearest picture of how Michael has built his professional wealth.
Michael Cordray’s Lifestyle and Business Interests
Michael’s lifestyle is strongly connected to Galveston, historic homes, family, and hands-on restoration work. The official Save 1900 story describes the Cordrays spending their time searching for old properties, restoring discarded materials, caring for beehives and chickens, and traveling for distinctive architectural pieces such as historic doors.
His professional interests also extend beyond ordinary house flipping. The Cordrays have restored properties intended for modern living while retaining historic details, and their work has included hospitality projects such as The Mansard House. This combination of preservation and business has helped Michael develop a career that is closely tied to Galveston’s architectural heritage.
Michael Cordray’s Social Media Presence
Michael and Ashley maintain their public social-media presence through the @save1900 account, which documents restoration projects, family moments, properties, and their work in Galveston. The account has become an important part of the couple’s public brand because their restoration journey was already being documented online before television producers became interested.
Their social content frequently connects the professional and personal sides of their lives. Followers can see restored properties, design details, behind-the-scenes moments, family activities, and updates connected with the Cordrays’ ongoing projects, making social media an extension of the story audiences see through Restoring Galveston.
Interesting Facts About Michael Cordray
- Michael graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 2006 with a background in maritime administration.
- He married Ashley Cordray in 2014, and they later became business partners through Save 1900.
- Michael and his wife have three daughters: Elle, Emma, and Emory.
- Emory was born on March 18, 2023, the same date celebrated as Michael’s birthday.
- Save 1900 focuses on historic Galveston properties, preserving architectural features while adapting homes for modern use.
Conclusion
Michael Cordray has built a distinctive career by combining real estate, historic restoration, entrepreneurship, and television. His journey began in Galveston and eventually developed into Save 1900, a business dedicated to preserving older homes. His work with Ashley also became the foundation for Restoring Galveston, bringing their preservation projects to television audiences.
The discussion around Michael Cordray net worth reflects the range of his professional activities, from real-estate transactions and restoration projects to television and hospitality. His documented business career shows a long-term commitment to Galveston, where he continues to work as a real-estate professional and advocate for historic properties.
FAQs
What is Michael Cordray best known for?
Michael Cordray is best known for Restoring Galveston, where he restores historic properties with his wife, Ashley Cordray.
How old is Michael Cordray?
Michael Cordray is 44 years old in 2026, with March 18, 1982, widely listed as his birth date.
Who is Michael Cordray’s wife?
Michael Cordray’s wife is Ashley Cordray. They married in 2014 and also work together in real estate and restoration.
How many children does Michael Cordray have?
Michael and Ashley Cordray have three daughters: Elle, Emma, and Emory, with Emory born in March 2023.
What business does Michael Cordray own?
Michael is associated with Save 1900 and Save 1900 Realty, which focus on historic-property restoration and Galveston real estate.
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