Buying a new home versus an old home

Window designs for homes.

There are distinct differences between new homes and old homes due to the changes in construction practices, lots on modern homes being smaller, attention to detail being less important these days, and so on. There are pluses and minuses to new homes and old homes so you have to carefully examine both sides when you’re getting ready to make a purchase. Let’s talk about old homes first.

The good stuff is where we’ll start. Old homes almost always feature superior construction. They were built during a time where profit was important but not the single most important thing in the wold. Nowadays the vast majority of constructions are done by major corporations whose only driving force is to generate profit. That means they will use the cheapest materials possible. The attention to detail will almost certainly be lacking as well. Older homes offer far more character and architectural variety. Nowadays there are a few blueprints chosen and then hundreds, if not thousands, of homes built from them. They all look the same because that’s what is cheap to build. Old homes are flooded with character. It starts outside but when you go indoors you’ll see plenty of it too, from arches to interesting window designs to decorative features around the house.

One of the greatest benefits of buying an old home is that the landscaping is going to be mature. The trees will be full grown and beautiful. Bushes will be at their full size. All the work someone did 100 years ago planting can be enjoyed by you. In a new place you’re the one doing the work and you rarely get the full benefit. The neighborhoods where old homes are located tend to be more established with long term neighbors that have no intention of leaving. A close knit group is important to a healthy lifestyle. In most areas, the older homes are also closer to the downtown areas where residents tend to flock.

Old homes are not all perfect, though. You’re always going to run into more maintenance in an old home. The foundation will need maintenance. The chimney will start to fall apart. Cracks will appear in the walls and ceilings. Damage will appear out of nowhere and surprise you. That’s just how it goes. Getting into the walls and under the ground to fix electric and plumbing in old homes is far more expensive. It usually has to be modernized and that can lead to all sorts of trouble and money flying out of your pockets.

It’s not necessarily a negative, but old homes tend to have smaller storage spaces. When they were built people didn’t have as much stuff because it wasn’t deemed necessary. Now the pursuit of stuff is a primary life goal for many people. Old homes often have terribly outdated kitchens and bathrooms that simply won’t work for modern folks. Those are the two most expensive areas of the house to remake. You could probably summarize most negatives of an old home with two words: more expensive. The question is whether that extra expense is worth the benefits you get.

Buying a new home comes with many advantages as well. There’s little maintenance needed if it’s a new construction and not much needed if it’s something built in the last ten years. Your roof will be good for a good long while and things like the water heater, foundation, chimney, etc, will be fine for many years to come. New homes also come with modern conveniences that many have gotten used to. That means stuff like high quality appliances already built in when you move and master suites where the bathroom is right off of the bedroom and it’s big and roomy so the lords of the house can do their business in comfort.

Newer homes tend to be far more energy efficient. This comes in the form of appliances and in some cases solar panels. It’s good to help the environment but it’s also good for your bottom line since those appliances cost far less to run. New homes are also a lot safer. As building codes are updated to reflect new awareness of safety needs the new homes are built to those codes. Safety issues change depending on where you live in the country and the codes reflect that. Old homes don’t follow those codes. New homes are almost always cheaper than old homes because they use less expensive materials and are typically built on cheaper land. New homes also tend to be bigger. That’s largely due to the modern desire for bigger everything. Nowadays the builders have to make them bigger if they expect to sell them for a good price. Adding extra square footage is not terribly expensive and it brings great value.

Most new homes built are of the tract home variety, meaning they’re basically built from the same floorplans. They have a few different ones to choose from but you’re really getting the same thing. Most would consider that a drawback since your home won’t have a unique feel. It will likely lack character, although you can easily give it that with what you choose to do once you move in. Some also find the sameness of the neighborhood to be comforting. It seems odd but everyone is different.

Did you know that houses settle? They slowly sink down a little bit. It takes some time but it happens to all new houses and it typically leads to cracks and stuff getting a little out of line. You’ll either have to live with it or pay to fix it. One of the strengths of an old house is the wonderfully mature vegetation you can enjoy. A new house has the opposite problem. It’s all new and even if they plant a tree that has already grown to a decent height it’s still going to take years for it to look good, perhaps longer. On the other hand, you’re the artist that creates all of it so perhaps that will appeal. Which type of house do you prefer?

Benefits of buying an older home. Old homes. 

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