Archives for April 2019

Older homes also tend to have larger lots. That translates to larger yards perfect for kids to play in or have families spend time outside. It also means that the home likely has a garage or a neighboring alleyway. The extra space between homes is also nice because no one wants to feel like their neighbor is looking into their home from the kitchen window.

Homes that have been around a while also tend to have more character than their more contemporary counterparts. Imagine a Victorian home, and you can picture the carved details in the walls, the staircase, and all the other little things that meant something when they were originally done.

A new home also has a bunch of different warranties in place. You’ve got a warranty for the A/C unit, the heater, the roof, the plumbing, the walls, the structure – everything. Builder warranties are excellent as you find those smaller and sometimes more significant issues that pop up when you own a brand new home. Since it’s all covered under warranty, you don’t have to pay to fix any of those things.

New homes are also built to be efficient, which is a huge step forward from older homes. Some even have solar panels incorporated into their design to encourage a lower energy use. Everything is insulated, and windows are often dual-pane to keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer.

Builders follow the most updated codes to keep your home compliant. That means that you won’t need to do any updates on your own or hire someone to make them happen. Your new home comes to you ready to go, lock, stock, and barrel.

Other changes that older homes have to contend with include wiring and plumbing. Since the homes were first built, there’s a good chance that there have been updates to the electrical or plumbing code. To get an older home up to code, that means that you may have extensive replacements to make.

Remember, too, that these homes were built in a different time. Homes built in the early 1900s were designed with a different philosophy in mind. It was a time when people didn’t have quite as much stuff to store which means fewer closets, spaces for storage, and possibly not even a garage. Another interesting change since the times these homes were built is in relation to the size of a family. Large families were the norm back in the day, and still, these houses that are older are generally smaller than a modern home. They tend to have fewer rooms, so it may or may not work for your family’s arrangement.

Landscapi​​ng also takes a hit on newer homes. Because the developments are new, the time has not been there to allow for vegetation to take root and grow. Older neighborhoods have beautiful trees and lush vegetation that has happened naturally over time. Newer homes need a homeowner that can afford to do that, and unfortunately, that’s not usually the case.

If you want to live near the hustle and bustle of a larger metro area, then you’ll be disappointed in the location of a newer home. They are not typically built somewhere near a busy downtown scene. Instead, they’re usually a good distance from anything like that. When you consider the proximity of a bustling downtown area to old vs new, older homes win in this category.

Also, consider the track record for the older home. You can see its history and how much it has appreciated over the years. That home could be a solid investment that will pay for itself in the years ahead. Newer homes don’t have that kind of history, and it’s far more of a risk in terms of investment. You have no idea if the property value is going to shoot up or go down as more people move to the area. It’s a gamble if investment value is a priority in your search.

If you want the newer amenities inside of an older home, you’ll need to be ready to take that challenge on, too. There’s nothing that says you can’t hire someone to renovate an older home and bring in the latest innovations to make your dream home a reality.