Buying A Home – 10 Facts About Older Homes You Can’t Ignore

by Sarah P. Shimanski on March 30, 2010

in Home Insurance

If you’re looking at buying an old home because you love the historical charm or because your budget requires it, there are certain benefits and drawbacks you need to know. Let’s examine the benefits first:

1) Reasonable Price – You’ll find older homes selling for less than a comparable newer home. In some metropolitan areas, the opposite can be true, especially in highly desirable areas where land costs are high.

2) Construction – The craftsmanship in an older home tends to be superior to a new home. It’s common to find heavier wood beams, denser walls, long lasting fixtures, and heavy duty doors.

3) Established Community – It’s easier to experience the ambiance of the neighborhood by walking down the streets of an established neighborhood. With new homes, you only have architectural drawings and empty dirt lots to look at.

4) Completely Developed Landscaping – Living in an older community allows you to enjoy the beauty of a mature landscape. Tall trees and fully grown bushes and flowers accentuate the charm of the community.

5) Character – Older historical homes feature more detailed architectural styling with detailed crown molding, custom built-in cabinetry, and rich hardwood floors. You won’t get these details in a newer home unless you’re willing to spend extra money to add these features.

Although there are many benefits to owning an older home, there are also drawbacks:

6) Replacement Costs – Years of wear and tear require you to invest money to replace worn water heaters, fixtures, appliances, and other upgrade costs.

7) Energy Efficiency – Older Homes are constructed of less energy efficient materials so you’ll spend more on energy costs to keep your home warm in the winter and cool during the summer.

8) Decor – Older homes tend to have outdated wallpaper, paint colors, and flooring. Be prepared to spend lots of time removing and upgrading the decor to suit your taste.

9) Floor Plan Layout – Older homes were built for a different time period so you’ll find smaller rooms and a less functional layout. Unless you plan on remodeling your home, you’ll have to use your creativity to fit a flat screen plasma TV or home office.

10) Lower Resale Value – Unfortunately, older homes tend to sell for less than a newer home of comparable size and features.

If you’re searching for the perfect starter home in Southern California, check out these local Anaheim Realtors and Anaheim Hills Realtors to help you find one.

Mentions about us on the Web;

Find more articles about

Home Insurance

Leave a Comment