New Home or Pre-existing Home? (cul-de-sac, daycare, new house)

[Mamilux]

If given a choice, which would you prefer to buy? Would you buy a new home or a pre-exiting one? Why? Difference in property taxes? Quality?

[teachbeach]

If it's not less than 5 years old, I would prefer new. Otherwise I'm pretty open to either. New because they usually come with builder warranty for at least a year, are up to code with electric, plumbing and other issues. Also, new homes tend to foster new and common relationships with neighbors who are also new to the block. I've never been in the situation where taxes are based on age of home, so I'm not familar with that concept.

[mirancs8]

For me pre-existing homes have more character then the new homes do. Many times each house are very different. New homes they all look like box cut outs of each other.

I guess it depends on what you are looking for. I like character.

[KristyLiz]

We are in the process of buying our fourth home, and aside from the one we currently live in, they have all been new construction.

There is no way around it, new is always nice - no one else has used the bathrooms, no lingering smells, no bad decorating to undo - but resale has it's advantages too - maybe some blinds on the windows, some landscaping, etc.

We are building again because we are not handy people - we have neither the time or money for home improvement projects - so we try to get everything we want in the house upfront (hardwood floor, corian counters, etc.).

I honestly don't know that there is a big difference in property taxes because they are based on the assessed value of the house, so if your resale were to cost you more, than I suspect the taxes would be higher, and vice versa.

Sure, building new doesn't come without its headaches too, but to me, it's worth it.

Good luck!

[KristyLiz]

Originally Posted by teachbeach

Also, new homes tend to foster new and common relationships with neighbors who are also new to the block.

I agree. This is huge for us since we move often.

[Mr Yuk]

I prefer older homes. They have more character, are more affordable, and plus, I hate sprawl. PA is one of the worst states in the nation for sprawl. And personally, I like established towns and cities...there is more friendliness and down-to-earth people as opposed to the materialism and greed of sterile cul-de-sac McMansion suburbia, where people are too busy chasing the almighty dollar to pay for the luxury SUV, the $400,000 house, the landscaping, and the 10 different extracurricular activities and daycare for the kids because the parents don't want to actually parent the kids themselves. They don't take the time to chat with the neighbors on the front porch, heck, they usually don't have front porches and hardly have to interact with the neighbors since they just pull the gas-guzzling SUV into the attached 3 car garage and go right into the house. And plus, you have more of a drive to get everywhere, burning more gas in that status symbol SUV, whereas in the city, I can walk to many stores, restaurants, school, and church, and most other things are only a short drive away. In the burbs, the kids have to ride a school bus to a sterile megaschool with 900 kids that is 5 or 10 miles away. In the city, my kids walk to a neighborhood school down the street with about 250 kids where you know the teachers and principal on a first name basis, and my kids meet other kids from the neighborhood to play with after school.

I'll stop myself here, because I could go on forever about my dislike of Cul-de-sac suburbia and its shallow materialism.

[TristansMommy]

Originally Posted by Mamilux

If given a choice, which would you prefer to buy? Would you buy a new home or a pre-exiting one? Why? Difference in property taxes? Quality?

I am considering a move to PA from LI and I think I will most likely look at a pre-existing home as opposed to a new one. First, the price tag will be less. I find it fun to make those decor changes and take the house and make it my own. Although right now builders are hurting so you could get a better deal on a new house too. Also, someone else also mentioned that the neighborhood is more established. I think people moving into new developements are at a disadvantage fitting in because a lot of the locals, from what I read, resent the builders moving in and building these homes.

But.. then it all depends on price, taxes and what is availalbe when I start looking. Good luck

[toobusytoday]

go Phillies, gee whiz, talk about stereotypes! I live in a development that's now about 20 years old. When we moved in 10 years ago, we had neighbors coming to our door with their whole families to introduce and food to share. When our kids were smaller we shared carpools for scouts and then marching band. There are six of us that co-own three snow blowers. A couple of months ago a friend of mine needed a punch bowl for her son's Eagle Scout reception and I called three neighbors until I found one that I could borrow. Around here, many of the neighborhoods play bunco once a month. I joined our neighborhood one that has been playing for 15 years! I was a work at home Mom for 20 years until my youngest started middle school and I've been heavily involved in all my kids school activites. Do not assume that people that live in an new homes are shallow and materialistic. It could be they earn more money and choose to live in a neighborhood where people are friendly. I think someone has been watching too much of Desperate Housewives.

I too am against sprawl and we have never owned a new home, we're not that fussy about decorating and would rather spend our money on our kids college educations or vacations then housing. However, the neighborhoods we have lived in were at one time someone's field or forest and that doesn't make me happy. Our justification is that instead of building a new home and continuing the sprawl habit, we've bought homes that were already built.

[Ohiogirl81]

I would want a pre-existing home. Why contribute to waste and sprawl when there are perfectly good homes already standing?

[MJCM]

Originally Posted by Mamilux

If given a choice, which would you prefer to buy? Would you buy a new home or a pre-exiting one? Why? Difference in property taxes? Quality?

I was under the impression that there was no building code requirements when older homes were constructed in PA? Is that incorrect?