Today’s guest post is from Alex Berger of The Berger Bungalow.
New construction is popping up everywhere right now and, if you are a home buyer, you might be considering purchasing a home that is new with all of the new features. While this is a good option for some, it’s not really the best option for every single person out there. In fact, there are many benefits to buying an older home.
You might think about the fact that an older home might have more work to do, or more fixes to work on throughout the years, but that should not be the only thought that runs through your head. Hopefully, this article will help you see that there are pros to buying an older, historic home. Here are a few benefits of buying an older home:
Larger Yard
Now, I know that this is not always the case, but with a lot of older homes, your lot size will be much larger, you will have a better piece of property, and the yard that you do have will be much nicer. This is just due to the fact that newer homes that are being built are really being squished together. As a home buyer, you want the most bang for your buck, right? Well, with an older home, you are definitely getting more space (typically) and depending on the home, the area, and the age, you have a great chance of paying a little less, as well.
Quality Construction
This is a huge one and probably one of the top reasons why people opt for an older home over new construction. When it comes to quality, older home always outrank new construction. Why? Because people’s goals have changed. Everyone wants things done as fast as possible and for as little money as possible. This is unfortunate because unfortunately, although some new homes are great, a lot are poorly made.
My friend, Alex, purchased her home about three years ago and it is about 20 years old, so not new, but also not old (at all). Unfortunately, they have experienced so many issues from how the home was made. The builders of the home did a very poor job with many features in their home, but especially the plumbing. Since they moved in three years ago, they have had about five leaks already and with their last leak, they were told that all of their piping is put in incorrectly. It basically flows backwards in places where it should not be.
Anyway, long story short – this is just one example of how new construction TYPICALLY does not match up to old.
Better Locations
While new homes are popping up everywhere, a lot of the times they are not in the best locations. Older homes were typically built when there was more land available, so they have the best spots in town. A lot of the times, they are right smack dab in the middle of a town, within walking distance to coffee shops and restaurants. When choosing a neighborhood with older homes, chances are it’s more than likely in a well established and (most likely) safe and stable area. This is a fantastic thing for a homeowner!
Charm + Character
Obviously, older homes are bound to have more character and charm than new construction. Sure, new construction probably has the newest technology, but you can always add that in after the fact with a simple custom home renovation. Things such as mature trees, original crown molding, and built-ins are just jaw-dropping and definitely adds quite a bit of character to a home. Thankfully, if the charm and character was done right and maintained over the years, it will add a good amount of value to the home.
Opportunity for Improvement
Last but not least, older homes have more opportunity for improvement. New construction is already filled with the latest and greatest, depending on what you can afford. With an older home, you can add the latest and greatest features, in order to boost the value even more!
When you are shopping for a historic home, you want to use a realtor that knows what they are doing. For example, Erin King Jax Historic Realty really knows his stuff when it comes to historic homes and neighborhoods in Jacksonville. “Erin King is a Best of Zillow® REALTOR® who specializes in Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods.
Historic homes feel a bit like kindred spirits. For the past two decades, he has been passionate about telling their unique histories and restoring them to new life. Today, he helps other old home aficionados do the same.” He was featured as a “Rising Star” by Jacksonville Real Producers Magazine and loves to help his clients find their dream homes in historic districts such as Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, Springfield, Murray Hill, and San Marco.
So, there you go, the top 5 benefits of buying an older home!
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