How to decide between an old or new house

Article Submitted By – Jerry Armen

Some prefer the fresh glue smell of a new home, while others nestle up to a moldy fragrance that emanates from the walls of an older house. They both have their charms and their pitfalls. How can you know which is best for you?

When you buy a new home, it will be situated in the suburbs or in the nearby countryside. There are newer schools in the area, but you will have the headache of the daily commute if you work in town. Older homes are often situated near the middle of town, but the neighborhoods might not be as desirable.

On the financial side, an older home will require remodeling from the outset. However, the newer home’s price is rarely negotiable. Instead of remodeling costs, you may find a hidden association’s fee and strict guidelines against exterior structures or remodeling at all. Do your research before you buy a newer home.

The older home is ready with open, moldy arms for you to move in immediately, while the newer home demands unending patience. If you are one of the first to move into the neighborhood, expect the early morning symphony of hammers and dodging nails in the road for a long time to come.

Sorry to slap you in the face with the raw truth, but you will have to wake up and make your choice soberly. Neither one is a bed of roses, but once you have made your bed, you must lie in it, as they say. If you want quick and charming, but a cleaning exercise, the older home is for you. If you want everything done for you, but you are patient enough to tolerate the commute, day in and day out, along with the cacophony of hammers, then the new home is your cup of tea.