Do you think a house built in 1991 is too old? (new home, buying)

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by ruined

I guess I'm not the best one to answer this question but to me, 1991 is too new. Waaaay too new.

Styrofoam houses FTL.

Exactly. I look for everything 60's and under. At least they knew how to build a house for the desert. I think if i ever came upon some land in the Phoenix area, i would build a cement brick house and a flat roof.

[SoHoVe]

Out West people really are biased toward NEW/NEWER housing...for some reason there is status in owning a NEW home, even a tract home. I think it comes down to a lack of consumer education. A poorly built new home can wreck more havoc on your wallet than a well maintained older home. I think its a safer investment to go with a house in a nice older established neighborhood. With brand new housing you really don't know how the neighborhood will pan out. As someone else said "LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION".

To the OP...I understand your question and really I think if you are planning on staying in the house as long as you say its not really a factor. Also if the house you are looking at has been well maintained most likely many of the builder spec low end items have already been upgraded or otherwise addressed.

General statement: I would much rather live in a home that was 60 years old today, then live in a 60 year old home that was built today.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by SoHoVe

Out West people really are biased toward NEW/NEWER housing...for some reason there is status in owning a NEW home, even a tract home. I think it comes down to a lack of consumer education. A poorly built new home can wreck more havoc on your wallet than a well maintained older home. I think its a safer investment to go with a house in a nice older established neighborhood. With brand new housing you really don't know how the neighborhood will pan out. As someone else said "LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION".

To the OP...I understand your question and really I think if you are planning on staying in the house as long as you say its not really a factor. Also if the house you are looking at has been well maintained most likely many of the builder spec low end items have already been upgraded or otherwise addressed.

General statement: I would much rather live in a home that was 60 years old today, then live in a 60 year old home that was built today.

I do see a parallel between the plastic appearance between many people here and their homes and vehicles.

[country pride]

Originally Posted by ruined

I guess I'm not the best one to answer this question but to me, 1991 is too new. Waaaay too new.

Styrofoam houses FTL.

What they said. Its not a matter of being biased, but 91 is still pretty new. And personally, from working in construction, most of the newer track homes are not only all alike, but were built according to production, not pride. Ive been sent on service calls in those newer track-type homes than in older ones (outnumbered) and some of the made me wonder how they even passed building codes.
Whats wrong with originality?

[country pride]

Originally Posted by Wyoming Darrell

Just curious, why? Is the weather that hard on a house there? I thought the houses in that climate would actually last longer than the houses in cold or wet areas.

If youre talking about the Phx/outskirts areas, yes it can be brutal. Ive lived just outside of Phx for just over 8 years. Those E-Crete houses are great for that though, they actually help keep the a/c bills down. In fact, out on the rez, many of the homes are made from E-Crete specifically for that reason.

They should (if they already dont) look into using that for some of those homes in the wet/cold areas, theyre great. Its not block or brick, its actually a bit lighter, but thicker, no insulation necessary, and easier to build with.
You can put up any type of exterior you might like. Stucco (personally I hate stucco) or siding.

[cap1717]

TW Lewis is known as a quality builder. . . but I'm with those who would prefer one built in 1891!

[rumandcoke]

1991 is too old. Get yourself a newer house if you can. New homes are designed more to fit today's lifestyles. Many have new kitchens, very spacious living rooms, and large bedrooms. I've noticed that a lot of older homes smell musty, have smaller rooms, and you have to pay an arm and leg to keep the inside of the home looking up to date.

[Robhu]

My house was built in 1914 according to official tax records.
I've lived in it for almost 21 years.
Sure, I've had to make some repairs and it has been updated by other owners through the years.
Someone moved the plumbing inside and replaced the coal furnace with a gas boiler hot water radiator heating system. (The most efficient heating system there is)
But it is built out of real rough cut hardwood instead of pine or pressed wood sheets.
It has survived northeast Ohio winters, thunderstorms, high wind, and other forces of nature for about 95 years.
My neighbor built a new house on an empty lot next to me about ten years ago. He has more problems with his "new" house than I do with mine.
I'll take mine over his.
They don't make em like they used to.
This old house has longevity and personality and old fashioned strength and will probably still be standing long after I'm gone.
My wife and I love our old house. We have 6 kids. They were all in or approaching teenage years when we bought it. They all want this house after we are gone even though some of them already have their own newer houses.
Don't know how that's going to work out. Sure would like to keep it in the family but how do you split it 6 ways without selling it and just dividing the money.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by rumandcoke

1991 is too old. Get yourself a newer house if you can. New homes are designed more to fit today's lifestyles. Many have new kitchens, very spacious living rooms, and large bedrooms. I've noticed that a lot of older homes smell musty, have smaller rooms, and you have to pay an arm and leg to keep the inside of the home looking up to date.

The OP is talking 1991. Musty? Smaller rooms? No, I don't think so. Of course new homes have new kitchens. Many homes from the 1991 time frame have "new" kitchens too, thanks to remodeling that someone else paid for.

As I said before, my house was built in 1986. The rooms are of good size, (I have both a large living room AND a family room, and a dining room to boot) it's not musty, and thanks to replacing appliances, the kitchen is just fine, thanks.

As far as "looking up to date" otherwise, some of the features of 80's and 90's homes are just fine. I guess I just don't understand the thinking that every house has to look brand new.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by observer53

The OP is talking 1991. Musty? Smaller rooms? No, I don't think so. Of course new homes have new kitchens. Many homes from the 1991 time frame have "new" kitchens too, thanks to remodeling that someone else paid for.

As I said before, my house was built in 1986. The rooms are of good size, (I have both a large living room AND a family room, and a dining room to boot) it's not musty, and thanks to replacing appliances, the kitchen is just fine, thanks.

As far as "looking up to date" otherwise, some of the features of 80's and 90's homes are just fine. I guess I just don't understand the thinking that every house has to look brand new.

I have a feeling they were referring to the design of the kitchen (i.e. newer kitchens are designed to open to the living areas, whereas older kitchens are designed to be sectioned off separately). Other than what I brought up regarding windows, appliances and fixtures, it's not a big deal. Although, I like the fact that my house is wired for surround sound, 4 rooms of audio, security system, and wired for modern conveniences such as tivo. Most older homes only have enough electrical outlets to meet code, and maybe a cable outlet in the family room and bedrooms.

Keep in mind, you can get a new home and pay the builder to do shear wall throughout the entire exterior, and this is probably as stable as any block home built in the 1960's. Of course, the post tension slabs used now just makes it that much stable. In any event, it's not like these house are blowing away. They are engineered to last in the Arizona climate, and block is over engineering.