Thinking of purchasing an older 1980's home, I need some positives and negatives

[johns55]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

OP..plz keep us posted. There are so many older homes around here, and so many in great locations, that I think a lot of potential buyers can learn from your entire experience, all the way through the end.

I will. I enjoy threads of people making there way through such a large move. Updates will be coming

[craigiri]

Originally Posted by johns55

Hi Lisa and thanks for your input. I do have a real estate agent. The reason for the thread is to get some different opinions on older homes. I have a lot of experience with remodeling as I've done a few of our homes. Florida is a different animal for me, all of my homes have been in the North East. Just looking for different opinions on positives and negatives of buying and possibly updating and older home in the hot climate of Florida. The newer 2010 and later homes are better built, but my wife and I do not like the developments that most of them are in. Homes are way too close together, fees are usually higher than I would like, and they have many amenities that my wife and I will probably not use. Thanks again.

Just for some relativity on winds, my understanding is that our area (most of it, anyway) from Sarasota to Tampa has never experienced winds in excess of 80 MPH in recorded weather history. It certainly has not experienced this since any major development started.

Our house was built in 1953 and has never been damaged in any way by winds.

Some of this is common sense. If one lives in an open flood zone where the winds can blow without being impeded, they are obviously subject to more problems.

As mentioned, insurance is higher on older home.....and a LOT more than 20% higher. More like 100% higher....but if one is confident of the construction, etc. they can choose a high deductible for hurricane damage. There are even some people who "self-insure" - choosing to own their properties cash and take their chances.

As far as "better built" - I have been a contractor since the 1970's. Many of the newer houses (and some older) are built exactly as you would build a house in North Carolina or Pennsylvania or anywhere else.....that is, they have very few features (other than tie-downs) that make them proper for the Tropics. The truth is that you will only know about these "latest and greatest" houses after they are a couple decades old.

Personally if I didn't find this older house at a good price I'd have probably built new or totally taken a house down to the studs and rebuilt. Then I would have chosen materials that can actually survive the tropics without mold, bugs, leaks, etc.

As a default - this being Florida - we have to assume most developers are here today and gone tomorrow, leaving the HOAs or homeowners or others to deal with any deficiencies later on.

[johns55]

It looks like it's time to bring this thread back up from the dead. I have purchased the house in question. I hope it was the right decision. My wife and I love the location and the bones of the house. I have started a total renovation of the house. All interior surfaces will be touched. It needs no work on the exterior. I figure I'll use this thread to update everyone on the problems associated with this kind of renovation.



The house is in an X flood zone and faces south/west. Let's see if I've bitten off more than I can chew

[johns55]

Ok, almost 2 years later, I never updated the thread It took me 1 year and 10 months to complete the renovation. The house is done and the most important thing is, my wife is happy. No walls had to be taken down or moved, but, was it a lot of work. I feel if you have the money or can do it yourself, renovating an older home is a good way to go. Lot size, layout, and maturity of the neighborhood can be positives. There are definitely negatives, but I'll leave that for another time. I'm basking in the love we have for the house and area. Thanks to everyone for your comments and guidance.

[beach43ofus]

Thx for the update johns55.

Most people lack the experience to update/renovate a home...like me.

I could do the demo part of it, but then, I'd be useless.

I'd have to hire it all out, and in thislabor shortage, that is too scary for me.

I do love the older larger lots w/ mature trees in a HOA 'hood...impossible to find now, even in the Exec home segment.

I wanted to buy in Deer Creek (next to Costco) & do a renovation, but my wife thought new build would open up more doors for meeting new friends, and she was right about that.

I'm glad you are both happy...and you saved a ton of cash too.

[johns55]

You are right about the cost. If you can't do it yourself, it'll get pretty expensive fast. The only other thing is, we have so many friends in the neighborhood that it's crazy. My wife walks every morning with some people from the neighborhood down the street from us. We go to their weekly get together outside. Our street has a monthly get together outside that we go to. We actually have to cut back