Buy an older home or buy new construction?

[shaxs]

Hi everyone! This has been GREAT info. Im glad to see with a few minor upgrades we can increase the efficiency dramatically.

I want an open floor plan which in an older house, will most likely require some substantial remodeling. I'm justt afraid with this people our first house and moving from Cali to Texas, it might be more than I want to do? I don't know, all things I need to figure out myself. Maybe we can find one that someone else has upgraded

With that said, where would you'all recommend to look? We were in the DFW area for a week last year. We stayed in the Westin in Dallas and we quickly decided we didn't like Dallas as much as we did the mid cities/ Fort Worth side. We really liked how established Arlington was plus my fiancee wants to go to grad school at UTA. However, I heard traffic is horrific in Arlington. We toured that new model home in Saginaw and really liked it, but it seems as though there are not as many restaurants, shopping, retail up in that area. Someone on this board keeps posting pictures of Hurst and it looks awesome. So maybe the HEB area might be good? We also went a little south towards Joe Pool Lake area and liked it a lot too. However, traffic getting into there was bad and it was pretty sparse in shopping and grocery as well.

We LOVED the South Lake area, but we dont want to pay CA prices for a house Keller was really nice too, but again seemed little trafficky.

We will be coming back in June to look at areas and look for a rental (going to rent for a year first to learn the area). Thanks for all the help and input so far.

Jason

[Lakewooder]

You might try Northern Oak Cliff - Kessler Park and Stevens Park to rent an older home first (very 'established' and convenient to Arlington). Also I wish I could lure you to Lakewood - we have everything from turn of the 20th century to new homes here.

[shaxs]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

You might try Northern Oak Cliff - Kessler Park and Stevens Park to rent an older home first (very 'established' and convenient to Arlington). Also I wish I could lure you to Lakewood - we have everything from turn of the 20th century to new homes here.

Isnt Lakewood expensive? I thought that was the general assumption about that place. I know you talk wonders about it, so if it were in my price range I would most definitely take a look,

[midnightbirdgirl]

We are looking right now. And having a bit of land is important to us. It is really difficult, where we are looking (justin, haslet) to get much more than a 1/2 acre in new construction without being on the railroad tracks. So, resale for us, and a really good inspection!!
MBG

[shaxs]

I grew up on a 10 acre farm and some day I would like to have more space. But oh man, I remember the yard work! I think I will wait for some children who are old enough to do yard before I buy that big

But, a half acre would be nice now.

[changeofpace]

I would never have a home built by a major builder, in other words, cookie cutter home with just some different colors. A custom home builder is just that, custom homes, perhaps 2 homes a year and gives you your building plans so your home is not identically duplicated.

[shaxs]

But, I assume they are much more expensive. This will be my first house and I am only 25 and my fiancee 22. Maybe we should wait a bit to buy a custom custom home