What is better to buy,an older home that is better built or a new home?

Answer 1

when my husband and I were house shopping - we looked at many homes - new and older. We found for the most part that a new home was not worth the money. Although there is "nothing" to do in a new home ie no repairs, fix ups etc, the craftsmanship was just not there. In order to get a home built with superior workmanship and upgraded flooring, fixtures etc, you would have to pay premium - up to 33% more of the original cost of the home. We settled on an older home (1964) that is well built and only needed cosmetic work. The property is more than 2 times the size of any new home we saw for the money, the landscaping is mature and the neighbourhood established.

Answer 2

Depends on what you want.

In some parts of the country you can get a much larger home (for the same price) if you buy new because there are so many sitting on the market and the builders really want them gone. Don't forget that there's usually a warranty on new homes, too.

You can buy an older home and fix it up the way you want it for a bargain, too. Some older homes are better built, but that's not always the case - just look at homes built very quickly in the 40's for migrant farm workers.

Just keep your eyes open for bank owned homes or foreclosures, and keep less of an eye for age of home, the inspector will be able to tell you if the home is in good shape.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It depends -

A new home won't need maintenance right away, but you'll have to shell out lots of money for draperies, landscaping, etc (if it's not already done).

How do you know the older home is better built? Some of the houses from the early 70's are junk - no insulation.

If you have a house that is older, it may need work, a new roof, hot water tank, furnace, air conditioner - depends on how old everything is. If it's really old, maybe new electrical, like if it was built in the 60's or earlier.

If the two houses were next to each other and the same in terms of square footage, the newer home would appreciate faster, and would be easier to sell.

Answer 4

a newer home is going to require less maintenance and have better facilities. a new home will have better insulation, and larger rooms.

older homes will more often be on more desirable pieces of land and many older homes have detailed designs that could not be feasibly duplicated these days.

are you an emotional buyer or a logical buyer? even within those parameters some older homes will appeal to a logical buyer and some modern homes evoke emotion. i would shop for homes in an area that you prefer and take the homes on a case by case basis. you have to weigh the options and see what works best for you.

in my case, i went with a new construction. it was the "bang for the buck" factor that swayed me. for the money i paid, you could never get my big rooms,cathedral ceilings,dual unit central air, etc. in an older home in my area.

Answer 5

I would be more inclined to buy the older home. The homes i see being built here are crappy. The foundations look weak. Plus, i think older homes are more unique than the ones being built today.

Answer 6

That depends on what you want. If you want a yard, you definitely want an older home. If you want a newer style floor plan, then go with a new home. If you want to go the route of new home buying, find out the credentials of the builders before you buy. If you choose to buy an older home, have a private inspection conducted that can find problems like pests and mold and electrical issues.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I personally like older homes. But you want the newer furnace and windows. Newer roof and siding, these are big ticket items if you have to replace them. New homes of course have new...everything... but the construction is usually done cheaper and with cheaper materials. You can jam a finger through 1/4 inch dry wall, but you can't punch a hole in plaster. Hardwood floors ,even under carpet, are alot stonger the ply or particle wood flooring. So I always like to buy an older home.

Answer 8

your better off with buying a older home as the market recent poll by agents showed over 500,000 new homes just sitting there. the market is to high with interest and the new home will cost you as people are having to sell homes cheap as 39 percent of the homes are over valued. its better to get a great deal on a older home as you won't lose the market value that is slow now and realestate is maxed out on its value now. cnn and cnbc market news has been talking about this for some time. alot of new construction is just sitting there. you might think they will give you a deal in a soft market, but you won't get any apprectiation values.

Answer 9

I myself prefer an older home, they do seem to be built better and have more class.But have it checked out just the same before purchase.

Answer 10

Geerally, a new home. They retain value more, becuase most people see "new" as "better", and are willing to buy those first-- also, construction might be 'cheaper' now a days, but in most cases its more advanced--- better electrical, plumbing, foundation, insulation, etc.