10 Things You Know Before Buying a Vintage Home

Older homes can offer many outstanding benefits. Not only do you get to enjoy the historical charm, you also save money as older homes typically cost less than newer ones. Before you decide to buy one, here are ten facts you need to know before making your final decision. First let’s examine the benefits:

1) Lower Price – As you search through listings of homes for sale, you’ll find older homes selling for less than newer ones. This feature makes it an attractive option for homebuyers on a tight budget. However, the opposite can be true in certain metropolitan 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.

Now that we’ve gone over the advantages, let’s go over the disadvantages of owning an older home:

6) Improvement Costs – The appliances and fixtures in an older home have endured years of use and will require money to replace and upgrade. The water heater, light fixtures, and faucet handles will need to be replaced.

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.
Decor – An older home will usually feature old outdated colors, wall coverings, and flooring. Plan on spending extra money and time changing the decor to appeal to your individual taste.

9) Less Ergonomic Floor plan – Floor plans in an older home were designed with a different lifestyle in mind. Smaller rooms and a less ergonomic layout may make it difficult for you to install a wide screen TV or design a functional 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 Berkeley Realtors and Corona Del Mar Realtor to help you find one.