The dilemma of whether to buy a new home or an old home is one that many people face. Do you want the charm of an older home or do you want the conveniences of a new home. That is the question.
Here are a few things to think about to help you decide whether you want to buy a new home or an older home.
1. Sometimes an older home will be in a historical district which will make the home more valuable. Whereas, in some areas, an older home will be located in an old, run down part of town.
2. If you have children, you may want to make your decision based on how good the school district is.
3. Perhaps you want to live in a very sought after neighborhood.
4. Do you like the "charm" of an older home. Some turn of the century homes have quite a bit of charm, some great aesthetic detail and are very desirable.
5. Some people like older neighborhoods due to the large amount of mature trees and other characteristics found there.
6. Do you prefer well developed parks and recreation areas? Then perhaps you should choose an older neighborhood.
7. Does being a part of an active community interest you? Usually an older more established neighborhood will have things like a crime watch program, block parties and other resident participation events for you to attend - many times free of charge. You may not find these things in a new neighborhood. People have not lived there very long and therefore don't know each other. In addition, programs like these have not been established yet.
8. Sometimes an older neighborhood will have longstanding neighbor conflicts or can have properties in disrepair that can be spotted throughout the community.
9. An older neighborhood can sometimes have ongoing issues with crime, traffic or noise.
10. A newer neighborhood has not settled in yet and it cannot be determined how it will evolve over time.
11. Newer neighborhoods sometimes offer things like dog parks, a community clubhouse, recreational facilities, schools, stores, wide streets, plenty of parking and public transportation etc.
12. A new home does not have any history - it is a blank slate. A blank slate can be good but it also means that there may be issues that have not been discovered yet.
13. When you buy a new home, you have to pay extra for the upgrades you want. But a pre-owned home already has the upgrades that someone else has already paid for.
14. An older home may come with a list of issues left by the previous owners. Things such as toxic substances from illegal activities like the manufacture of drugs etc.
15. A newer home will generally have more conveniences than one that was build 100 years ago. Such as newer appliances, newer plumbing and electrical, a central hvac system, insulation etc.
16. Newer homes are generally bigger than an older home. They will usually have more square footage, have bigger rooms, more windows and higher ceilings.
17. Last but not least - and this one is a biggie - Maintenance! An older home, depending on its age, will require much more maintenance than a new home that has a warranty. However, you may be lucky enough to find an older home that has been completely remolded and if that is the case then you have found the best of both worlds.
Talk to your realtor and let them know that you are undecided and ask them to help you with your decision based on your wants and needs. They will be able to provide you with several homes to look at to help you make your final decision.
I
specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia.
I
have over 25 years experience in the real estate industry. As a Broker/Owner with Exit Realty Talbot
and Company, I bring special tools and solutions that enable me to exceed the
expectations of my clientele. If you
are considering listing your property in Loudoun County or the nearby areas,
ask me about our latest internet marketing systems. I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. I am experienced in listing and selling
short sales. For information on the
short sale process, please visit www.LoudounShortSaleSolutions.com.
My past awards and designations include – 2003
President of the Dulles Association of Realtors, 2003 Dulles Area Assoc Realtor
of the Year, Salesperson of the year 2000 Dulles Area Assoc of Realtors, Top Producer awards from both the Dulles
Area Association and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. I am a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate
Network.
I
have lived in Loudoun County since 1979.
I am married with two grown children and two grandchildren. My son in law is my business partner in real
estate. I love to jog in the mornings
and spend time relaxing on my Trawler during the summer months.
Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Real Estate Sales and
Solutions – Helena Talbot, Broker. I specialize in helping buyers and sellers
invest in real estate in the Northern Virginia area to include Loudoun County
and surrounding areas including Fairfax, Clarke, Fauquier, Prince William Counties.
Our local neighborhoods include Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Potomac
Falls, Brambleton, Broadlands, Lansdowne, River Creek, Belmont Country Club,
Beacon Hill, Shenstone, Waterford, Lovettsville, Purcellville, Hamilton, Round
Hill and Bluemont.
Cell 703.727.9885 Office
703.574.3800
Free iPhone/Android Mobile App to search Northern
Virginia real estate. 2 easy ways to
get the App: Text “Exit9” to 87778 or
enter http://87778.mobi/Exit9 into your browser.
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