
The question is not as easy to answer as it used to be. Once upon a time, newer homes were more expensive than older homes and were thought to be of superior quality. With the way times have changed, that’s not always true, but it’s not always wrong either.
Neighborhoods change as do the people living in them, and entry-level homes can’t compete with some of what the older homes can offer. It’s an interesting conundrum as you compare old vs new homes to decide what is the best path forward for your situation.
Advantages to Buying Older Homes

Depending on how old the home is that you’re looking for, it is entirely possible that the older home has stood strong for a century or longer. Even if it has been there for a few decades, you know that it has stood the test of time, so you can feel good about purchasing a home built by experienced craftsman from the days of yore.
Larger Lots
More Character
Advantages to Buying Newer Homes
New homes are new shiny things that attract your eyes, but with good reason. There is a level of comfort knowing that you’re the only person that has ever been inside that home. You know every nook and cranny, why a door got replaced, or that time a wall got repainted because your toddler got a hold of a Sharpie. You know the entire history.

Built-in Warranties
The Most Efficient
Code Compliance
Disadvantages to Buying Older Homes

As wonderful as older homes can be, there are some definite drawbacks to purchasing one of them. Many a homeowner has complained that it feels like there is always something else to replace or repair. The ground shifts over time which can result in foundation repairs or sloping floors that weren’t there fifty years ago.
Lack of Code Compliance
Smaller Storage and Living Spaces
Disadvantages to Buying Newer Homes
Newer homes tend to be called “cookie-cut” homes meaning that they look like every other home in the neighborhood. There is no customization and very little character. For first-time home-buyers, that may not necessarily be a deal breaker, though, because these homes are easier to build which means they also cost less.
By the same token, these homes will have a similar floor plan to your neighbor. If that matters to you, you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that someone else has a home nearly identical to yours in every way.

Trees Take Time
Far From City Life
Other Factors That Impact Old vs New Homes

Upfront costs can also make a difference in what you choose to buy. Older, or established, homes may cost less in your area than a shiny, new home. Newer homes may be less expensive depending on the area you’re looking at, so you need to compare the cost to what you can afford, too.
Home Histories
All the Latest Amenities
It’s Time to Buy Your Home
Buying a home is a fun, exciting time that is also stressful and chaotic. Things happen that you don’t plan for like a rescheduled home inspection, closing dates that are pushed back, or finding mold in a wall that you didn’t know about before you signed the dotted line. All of these things can be mitigated to some degree depending on the type of home you buy. When it comes to old vs new, you need to go in expecting there to be some problems in older homes that you’ll be willing to fix. If you don’t want to deal with those potential issues, go for a newer home instead. When all is said and done, you’re going to love your new home as long as you prepare yourself with realistic expectations. By weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each one, you’ll go in with open eyes, and you’ll be ready for whatever is thrown your way.