What about a compromise? A "newish" house that just needs some cosmetics like new carpet and paint is what we went with. We loved the area, the floorplan, and got a good deal because the owners had commited to build and needed the money quickly. We have been here for 5 years and have just had to do little things to make it more our taste. Remember that building can be very stressful on a family too. Renovations are very hard with little ones too- you have a 2yr. old right?..... Someday, I would like a brand new house. When we are too old to climb the stairs here, maybe we will build a little ranch house...

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Mommy to Bryce 2/20/2005 and Skye 3/4/2008

that can be a tough choice it really depends on alot of factors. how much work will an older home need and can you make it what you want. the other thing is the total cost in the long run. we have an older home built in 1900 and have been lucky we have only had to do minor repairs like fix a few pipes. we also put on new siding windows and a roof but that was not bad in the overall picture our house has gone up 200% of what we paid even with the cost of siding. also we could afford more square footage this way...so there are many factors to consider a pros and cons list would be helpful.

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

OK, now I am starting to lean more towards the "fixer-upper". It is a REAL old house that has been fixed by others, just not completely re-done yet. I think I can handle painting and then we will just have to live with the old kitchen and bathrooms till we save up the money to re-do those.

Yep, I have a two year old! He will be wanting to help out. haha
Anyhow, I am an interior designer by nature and from schooling! So, I found myself trying to plan my new house to look like an old house. So, why don't I just work with the real deal! This will be a nice little project for me while my son takes naps and DH is at work.

Anyhow, we are going to look at the old house again this weekend and then decide if we want that or to just build new.

I am even considering starting a blog if we get the "fixer-upper". I can post pictures and mark our progress with our future projects!

It's up to the individual really. Dh and I pondered the same thing and what we noticed about new vs buying old is that the older homes already had personality. There was something about them that made you already feel at home. Sure it's nice to have a brand spankin' new place but most times they are painted stark white and everything is so fresh and new that it's hard to imagine having children living in that space with you!

I also think that for us, buying old was the better option because we do move around a lot and would see more of a return on this house when we go to sell it. Also, the community at large is always growing and has more established neighborhoods making it more peaceful and comfortable. We also like TREES and grass. Not all new homes come with trees....they will eventually but not right away.

We also noticed that you pay more for new homes and get less square footage. And from some other models we saw, less workmanship. Everything is prefabricated and cookie cutter, not giving you something unique.

We went through the same debate at one time, and really what it came down to is how you felt inside the home. For us, having an older home meant we could put some work into it, some tlc and shape it the way we like it. We've done that before and it was so rewarding.

You also have to look at the foundation of the old house. Some were built really super well and some were thrown together...depending on the area and the era. Ours is a 1935 and it is rock solid! We had some fixing up to do, and still have a little, but it was well worth it considering the fact that new houses in our area are built with lesser quality materials and workmanship than the older houses were. To me, our old home is the best choice we made.

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A blog of your adventure would be really fun! I will have to remember that you are a designer... I'll send you pictures from my house for your opinion and then I can say.. "Oh, my interior designer picked that out..."

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Mommy to Bryce 2/20/2005 and Skye 3/4/2008

I prefer the details and custom features you don't see in newly built houses. Most of the new homes we looked at were very plain, all white, had no personality and cheap fixtures/flooring. I like my Cherry woodwork, hardwood floors built in bookshelves and little cubby cabinets in the bathrooms and laundry that would otherwise have been wasted space. The few houses we did look at with some of the features/details were way overpriced considering the quality. I know peopel that swear by new homes, I am not one of them.

I agree with you folks that old houses have some character that you just can not find or afford in a new cookie-cutter home. The house I am looking at has the arched door ways, built-in cabinets in dinning room and several built in book shelves. There is even an old swinging door from the kitchen to the dinning room. In the basement there are some old fashioned saloon style doors to a room with a really ugly bar. Haha.

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of this old house. I just don't need to be getting my hopes up yet because we really do need to look it over with an inspector and such before we actually buy it.

Hey Shannon/Bryce I'l help you with what ever you need! I will admit that my specialty was office furniture. I worked for a commercial design firm. I planned conference rooms and cubicles! BUT....I am obsessed with decorating my own home. My biggest tip is to do what makes you feel good. I love colors that are soothing and create some mood! Everyone is different. We all develope our tastes based on what we grew up with and what makes us feel the most comfortable. Naturally we all like what we see in magazines, but it all becomes a big mix. Your home tells a story about your life!

Also keep in mind that new homes may also require work! We built our home 10 years ago and there are a variety of things that have cropped up, that IMO, shouldn't have. Things like windows rotting, drywall tape just falling off, stuff like that. So you will probably still have things to fix in a few years. And our house didn't have much character. It's taken a lot of work and money to give it some.

Like everyone else it's such a personal question.

For me it wouldn't have any consideration with the house, it would be all about the land that the house set on/ would set on.