Statistics have revealed that homebuyers select older homes over new ones in two out of three instances. However this is a choice that each buyer needs to make for him or herself. Some of the advantages to buying an older house include:

• More space for the money. Many older homes have more ample bedroom space. Often buyers will prefer a home with fewer rooms that are more spacious to a house with more rooms that are smaller.

• Nicer Landscaping. The lot of an older home is often planted with trees and shrubs by previous owners and therefore presents fewer landscaping problems.

• Better location. Buyers should not fail to weigh the shorter commuting distances to offices, schools, and other frequent destinations afforded by older neighborhoods.

• More stable taxes. Homes in established neighborhoods have fairly predictable assessed values (county tax valuation) since they've been bought and sold several times.

• More charm and individuality.  Today, many new homes in a subdivision are built following one of only a handful of plans.  Most homes in older subdivisions are unique in design, giving the neighborhood a lot of character.

• Higher quality of construction.  Slate roofs, brick and stone construction, plaster walls, hard-wood floors, and other high-quality materials that are fairly common-place in older homes -- are virtually non-existent in new homes.