Newer is Always Better - I Beg to Differ

This morning's Real Estate section headline read, "BUY NEW for a SAFE BET". I thought, really and of course read on. I understand that Nashville Tennessee is no different than any other city. The newspaper has to sell ads and builders are big advertisers. But the readers that live in houses buy those papers and they have to sell what my first Tennessee Realtor called their "pre-loved homes" someday. So here I am making the case for the pre-owned, "pre-loved homes".

First of all I have lived in both brand new and pre-loved homes. I loved my brand new home as much as my pre-loved home at least, by the time I sold it. Yep, I moved away just when the yard had some shade, the gardens were gorgeous and the neighborhood started looking like a neighborhood. My "pre-loved homes", had a lot of previous love in them. To the tune of close to two hundred years worth combined for 3 homes. Did they come with problems, oh sure, a few, but then so did my brand spanking new home. By the time the problems show up on the new home you can be sure you are out of warranty, and I was.

My 100 year old home had a converted to gas coal furnace that produced a more even and efficient heat than my brand new, named after a football stadium Dome, brand. The floors even after 100 years of settling didn't squeak and creak like the new home. The new home cost me about 350% more than the old home.

But enough about my personal experience. I sell homes, new and pre-loved, and will find a buyer whatever they want. However, when I am a listing agent, I sell a pre-loved house and I will tell you exactly why I would recommend buying one of these in a well established neighborhood. I am going to tell you counterpoints to the article's points.

1) Modern Conveniences - As if an older home can't get a face lift my 100 year old home didn't have the original icebox, and do you know what we found under the old carpet and vinyl? Oak and maple hardwoods in wonderful condition. Not just on the main floor but stairs, risers and second floor too.

2) Energy Efficiency - true, most new homes have these efficiencies, however we had insulation blown into ours and I already told you about that old furnace, which ran quiet, warm, even and inexpensive. There was a bit of work in the spring and fall changing from storm to screens, but those windows were better than anything offered today.

3) Healthier Indoor Environment - hogwash! We opened the windows to get good ventilation. The homes were designed to take advantage of north facing summer porches mature hard wood trees provided a canopy of shade that helped keep the house cool and air fresh.

4) Space - well, they may have a true advantage there. The closets were always an exercise in creativity to get more use out of the space. However, we did have full attics and basement storage.

5) Design - the new home folks think they have the edge here. Not so fast. If you look at what are the most popular it is the craftsman and main street look with open front porches and stoops. When we saw the grand open floor plan of the new home we bought we fell in love. Then we had to live in it. It was always a contest to see if the conversation in the kitchen would max out the volume before the TV in the family room. We went back to the separation of well defined rooms.

6) Enhanced Electrical Systems - true enough, new homes have the advantage. But homes built 5 years ago already have outdated systems. We are not far from being wireless and what wires are needed an good electrician can run with little difficulty.

7) Building Codes - these change and continue to change, today's best building practices may not meet tomorrow's standards. All that being said, I have yet to walk in a house built in the past 5, 10, 20 years that can compare to the integrity of my 100 old house. Codes are important, but they knew something about how to build a house to last back then.

8 ) Location, Location, Location - Are you kidding me? Give me the comfort and convenience of an established neighborhood ANY DAY, and twice on Sundays! Your new home could end up between two overgrown vacant lots if things turn sour.

9) Emotional Factor - The article says some like a home where nobody else has lived and built to their specifications. Trust me, after a year you will think of all the things you should have done differently. Ask somebody that bought an old house and redid it, there is a great deal of satisfaction in retrofitting the old and the new and making it your own.

Now, having said all that, doesn't mean I don't have my plans stashed away for the perfect house on the perfect lot. This is just my cautionary tale about just because it is shiny and new, doesn't mean it is better.