Michael Cordray: Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Love Life & Full Biography

Picture a worn-out 1893 cottage bought for $53,000. Now picture it selling for $315,000 after a full rescue. That kind of turnaround made Michael Cordray a name in home renovation. This Michael Cordray biography covers his age, wife, family, career, and net worth.

You will also see which facts are confirmed and which are only reported. Online bios often copy each other, so it pays to check. Here is the full story, from Galveston, Texas to national renovation television.

Quick Fact	Detail
Full name	Michael Cordray
Reported birth date	March 18, 1982 (not officially confirmed)
Age	44 in 2026, if the date is right
Birthplace	Galveston, Texas, USA
Education	Texas A&M University at Galveston, class of 2006
Degree	B.Sc. in Maritime Administration
Wife	Ashley Cordray
Marriage	2014 (reported by one source)
Business	Save 1900 and Save 1900 Realty
TV shows	Saving Galveston (pilot), Big Texas Fix, Restoring Galveston
Social media	@save1900

Who Is Michael Cordray?

Michael Cordray is an American restoration expert, real estate agent, and television personality from Galveston, Texas. He is a third-generation Galvestonian from a long line of carpenters. He and his wife, Ashley Cordray, run Save 1900, a renovation business that rescues historic houses. Many fans know him as the co-host of Restoring Galveston on Magnolia Network.

Think of him as a doctor for old houses. Where others see rot and mold, he sees restoration potential. The couple fixes structural repairs first. Then they keep original architectural features wherever they can. Ashley once explained that many flippers only chase resale value. Their goal is different. They want to keep Galveston’s architectural heritage alive.

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Michael Cordray Age

Michael Cordray age is widely reported as 44 in 2026. Sites list his birthday as March 18, 1982. However, no official record backs that date. Treat it as a reported birth date, not a proven one.

Here is a small clue. Texas A&M says Michael graduated in 2006. That timeline fits a slightly later birth year just as well. His Michael Cordray birthplace is clearer. Most sources agree he was born and raised in Galveston. Until he shares the date himself, a little doubt is smart.

Early Life and Education

Michael Cordray education began in his hometown. He grew up on the island and later enrolled at Texas A&M University at Galveston. There he earned a Bachelor of Science. His Michael Cordray degree is a B.Sc. in Maritime Administration. He graduated in 2006. That choice made sense, since Galveston is a port city on the Gulf Coast with deep maritime industry ties.

Carpentry ran in his family. Ashley has said Michael worked on a duplex between classes in college. That early hands-on practice mattered later. Ashley, who grew up in Spring, Texas, graduated from the same campus in 2009. The two met in Houston in 2008. They did not start dating until 2011. Their shared school became the base for their family life and later their business partner bond.

Michael Cordray Height, Weight and Physical Appearance

Michael Cordray height has never been confirmed by him. Some bio sites say he stands about 5 feet 11 inches and weighs about 168 pounds. Those estimated physical measurements come from low-quality sources. Nobody should treat them as fact.

On screen, he looks like a working builder. He wears practical clothes. He lifts, hauls, and climbs at construction sites. A tape measure never made it into the show, so fans only guess. For a renovation specialist, skill matters far more than size.

Family Members of Michael Cordray

Michael Cordray family is rooted in Galveston. Some bios name his parents as Emil Cordray and Helen “Bootsie” Cordray. That detail comes from limited sourcing, so readers should hold it loosely. Michael’s carpentry roots suggest a family with deep ties to building and to the island.

His closest circle includes his wife and their daughters. The couple often shows family life next to restoration projects. In one feature, they cooked in a Victorian kitchen while their toddler ate pasta nearby. They also run a family-run business. That mix of home and work defines their story. Still, they keep many private details off camera.

Michael Cordray Ethnicity and Nationality

Michael Cordray nationality is American. He was born in Galveston, Texas. That much is clear from many local news stories. Michael Cordray ethnicity is a different matter. No reliable source discusses it, and he has never shared it publicly.

Many search results claim to know more. Most of them guess. The safest answer is that his ethnic background is not documented. What he does highlight is his local history with the island. He calls himself a proud Galvestonian. That identity shapes almost every project he takes on.

Michael Cordray Career Journey

Michael Cordray career moved in clear steps. He started in the maritime sector, then shifted to real estate, restoration, and TV. The shift took courage. It also took a nudge from Ashley and a growing audience online.

Year	Milestone
2006	Graduates from Texas A&M at Galveston
2015	Leaves his corporate job
2015–2016	Save 1900 begins (sources differ)
2017	Saving Galveston pilot airs on HGTV
2019	Big Texas Fix premieres on DIY Network
2022	DIY Network becomes Magnolia Network

Early Career

After college, Michael took a corporate job in the maritime industry. One biography names Kirby Inland Marine as his employer, though that detail is weakly sourced. Ashley has also been linked to a customer service role there. Meanwhile, the couple bought and fixed old houses on the side. It started as a weekend habit, but it grew into much more.

Founding Save 1900

The couple launched Save 1900 around 2015 or 2016. Sources disagree on the exact year. The name points to the Galveston hurricane of 1900, the deadliest storm in US history. The Save 1900 company buys neglected historic properties, repairs them, and then sells or rents them. Michael quit his corporate job in 2015 to focus on the work. Ashley said the last project before that was rough. They kept going anyway.

Breakthrough in Television

Instagram changed everything. HGTV found the couple online one month after Michael left his job. A pilot called Saving Galveston followed in 2017. Then Big Texas Fix premiered on DIY Network on April 6, 2019. The television career began there. Today the show lives on Magnolia Network as Restoring Galveston.

Rise as a Home Restoration Expert

The couple grew from small flips into a real estate business with several arms. Save 1900 Realty sells homes. They also run The Artisan Galveston venue, Cordray Drug Store ice cream, and The Mansard House hotel. Each venture supports historic community preservation. As a restoration entrepreneur, Michael now shapes Galveston’s historic housing stock, one block at a time.

TV Shows, Films, Web Series and Media Appearances

Michael Cordray is best known for three TV shows tied to one island. The Saving Galveston pilot aired on HGTV in 2017. Big Texas Fix followed on DIY Network in 2019. Then Restoring Galveston carried the format to Magnolia Network. Each episode follows a simple plan. The couple buys a neglected historic building, solves surprise problems, and sells it. They filmed eight houses in six months for the first season. No films or web series are documented for him.

Here is a case study from the show. The “Mystery House” is a raised cottage built in 1893. Michael bought it for $53,000 without seeing the whole interior. The couple spent about $100,000 on renovation planning and repairs. They listed it at $250,000. In the end, Michael says it sold for $315,000. He joked that nobody knew what to do with the place at first. In his words, “we didn’t know what to do with it.” That story shows how property resale can reward careful property restoration.

Show	Network	Year
Saving Galveston (pilot)	HGTV	2017
Big Texas Fix	DIY Network	2019
Restoring Galveston	Magnolia Network	2022 onward

Michael Cordray Love Life, Marriage and Children

Michael Cordray personal life is tied to one person. Michael Cordray wife is Ashley Cordray, his business partner and TV co-host. Their love story started in school, grew through shared goals, and now fills their screens. Many fans love how real they look together.

Relationship with Ashley Cordray

They met in Houston in 2008 after studying maritime administration at the Galveston campus. Dating began in 2011. Soon after, the pair dreamed of moving home to save classic houses. Ashley once said they found their first house the very next day. Michael’s trade skills matched her design eye, and Save 1900 grew from that match.

Marriage Life

Michael Cordray marital status is married. One biography reports their marriage began in 2014. On the show, Michael handles most construction work while Ashley leads design. They bicker like any couple. Yet they share a clear husband-and-wife business partnership. They keep some private moments off social media, which fans respect.

Children

Michael Cordray children are daughters. Published coverage names Elle. Some sites also list Elle Lane, Emma, and Emory James, but those names are unverified. One 2021 magazine piece mentions only two children. Because of this mix, it is best to avoid repeating unsourced name lists.

Michael Cordray Awards and Recognition

The couple has earned real preservation awards. The Galveston Historical Foundation gave them the 2017 Sally B. Wallace Preservation Award in the rehabilitation category. It honored their work on the 1913 John and Artie Gilbert House at 3608 Avenue O. Judges looked at historic integrity, original materials, and community impact. The Galveston Landmark Commission also recognized the same house.

Some bio sites list more honors, including a 2016 Wallace award and Landmark Commission awards in 2018 and 2019. Those claims are less well documented, so they deserve a caution flag. Even so, the pattern is clear. Local experts respect restoration craftsmanship and the couple’s focus on restoring homes instead of demolishing them.

Favorite Things and Interests

Michael Cordray loves historic architecture, Galveston history, and real estate. He also enjoys vintage home design and coastal architecture. At home, the couple likes to cook. One feature praised their Victorian kitchen, which had a 17-foot marble island. Ashley called it her dream kitchen.

He also loves supporting local businesses. The family’s ice cream shop and hotel show that passion. For Michael, a house is more than wood and nails. It carries community history. Each beam tells a story about who lived there and what the island survived.

Lifestyle, Habits, and Daily Routine

A typical day mixes property inspections, renovation planning, and meetings. Some days he swings a hammer at construction sites. Others include design talks or real estate transactions. When cameras roll, filming fills even more hours. The work is physical, so no gym routine seems needed. No verified fitness plan exists in public sources.

The family lives in the Gustave Mayhoff Cottage, an 1887 house they restored. Renovation began in 2020. The couple moved in after about two years of work. Michael once joked about how much they loved the finished product. They loved it enough to move in. That choice shows his faith in historic preservation and in practical modern living.

Controversies

Michael Cordray has no major verified controversies. Local news stories focus on his projects and his business. Reality television personality drama is rare in his case. Instead, the couple mostly shows hard work and happy endings.

Be careful with gossip sites. Some use “controversies” as a search trick to attract clicks. They rarely give proof. If you read a bold claim, look for a named source. When none appears, skip it.

Michael Cordray Net Worth Growth

Michael Cordray net worth is not public. Online guesses range from $2 million to $5 million. None come from verified financial records. Michael Cordray earnings likely come from several streams, which helps explain his wealth.

Income Source	How It Helps
Restoration and resale	Profit from property appreciation
Save 1900 Realty	Commissions on sales
Rental properties	Steady property investment income
TV work	Television income
Hospitality ventures	Revenue from the hotel, venue, and ice cream shop

His wealth is better seen as a blend of work. TV pay is only a piece of it. The bigger part is property acquisition and resale, plus the local ventures. As a real estate investor, he keeps his money tied to the same island he loves.

Interesting Facts About Michael Cordray

Some facts about Michael Cordray surprise fans. He studied ships, not buildings. His company’s name comes from a storm that shook the island long ago. Instagram helped land his first TV pilot. The next table sums up the best ones.

Fun Fact	Detail
Degree	Maritime administration, not architecture
Name origin	Save 1900 honors the 1900 hurricane
Discovery	HGTV spotted the couple on Instagram
Show names	Three titles for one story
Roots	Third-generation Galvestonian
Home	An 1887 cottage they restored themselves
Philosophy	Keep original character instead of flipping fast

Social Media Accounts

Michael Cordray Instagram is shared with Ashley under @save1900. At last check, it had about 92,000 followers. The bio lists Restoring Galveston, The Artisan Galveston, Cordray Drug Store, The Mansard House, and Save 1900 Realty. Posts show before-and-after photos, filming moments, and family glimpses.

The same handle exists on X, once called Twitter, with its bio calling the pair “serial house flippers obsessed with history.” The account has been active since 2017. Michael Cordray social media is a good place to follow new projects and to see how a rundown house becomes a home.

Platform	Handle	What You Find
Instagram	@save1900	Project photos, TV updates
X (Twitter)	@save1900	Short updates, show news

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are Michael and Ashley Cordray worth?

Online estimates place their combined wealth at roughly $2 million to $5 million. No verified financial records back these figures, so treat them as guesses based on Save 1900, real estate sales, and TV income.

How old are Ashley and Michael Cordray?

Michael is reported to be 44 (born March 18, 1982), and Ashley is reported to be 39 (born February 21, 1987). Both birth dates come from bio sites rather than official records.

Who were Michael Cordray’s parents?

Some bio sites name them as Emil Cordray and Helen “Bootsie” Cordray. The sourcing is thin, and Michael hasn’t confirmed it publicly.

How old is Ashley Cordray?

Ashley is reported to be 39 in 2026, based on a February 21, 1987 birth date. That date comes from a lower-quality bio site, so the age is an estimate.

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Conclusion

Michael Cordray moved from a corporate maritime administration job to a full television career. With Ashley Cordray, he built Save 1900, a realty firm, and several local ventures. Awards and fan love followed. This Michael Cordray biography shows how a side hobby can become a restoration legacy.

A few details stay unclear. His exact birth date, ethnicity, and children’s names are not fully confirmed. His true net worth remains a guess. Yet the houses he saved are easy to see. They still stand along Galveston streets, ready for another century.