Over the last while, many people have ventured out to the country to buy a home. Why not? Most jobs are hybrid now. You can leave the hustle and bustle of the city, and really get down with nature. You can’t help but love the quiet and the quirkiness that sometimes the country brings. If you can have a giggle at goats and chickens running freely on your neighbour’s lawn, this lifestyle might be just what you are looking for.
Perhaps you have always pictured yourself slowly walking down a Victorian staircase or rooms with tall baseboards might have caught your eye. Perhaps family and friends think you are crazy, and they think that you are going to “flip” that one, but you love it. So why do people buy fixer-uppers and not flip them, here is why?
You can’t say no to an old stone house.
If you have spent most of your life renting apartments, you can see the charm of an old house, even if the interior has peeling wallpaper and holes in the roof. Old houses have character, they are like an old friend you haven’t seen in years. Like nurturing an old friendship, your older home will take time, but it will give you satisfaction like you have never felt.
Old houses are affordable.
Let’s face it, older homes in the country are more affordable. It could be the dream home that you could never have afforded to buy. Sometimes you can get these older homes for a fraction of the price, with acreage too. So why not put more money in the house itself, instead of into a big mortgage? Besides, I bet your home will be unique and not a carbon copy of others in the area.
Connect with the past.
Old houses have a past. Every step you take through the home has had hundreds more steps before you. Perhaps you are cleaning out an attic and you find old love letters and photographs from the past. You may even find pictures of how the home looked 100 years ago. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could fix that home up to its original glory? In every room is a step through history.
You might need to put your DIY face on!
If you are restoring an older property, some things may need to be done right away and others that can wait. If you don’t mind doing some of the repairs yourself you can keep the look of your home, the way you want it and at your own pace. If you do some of the repairs yourself, it could save you a lot of money. There could be a lot of sweat and maybe a few tears, but it will be your own accomplishment. You can always get help from a structural engineer or contractor to give you advice on the “bones” of your home.
Put on your creativity hat!
You might want to restore your home as close to its original look or you might want to modernize the inside a bit. You might even want to strike a balance in-between. Some historic homes have been there for hundreds of years and there are so many memories attached. You really have a blank slate. Old houses give you an attachment to a community you may have never felt before.
How we can help!
Lately, it has been hard for first-time buyers to get a home. You may be discouraged and feel like you will be renting forever. This is not the case, if you have never thought of buying a home that might need a bit of love, this might be your chance. Give our Anne Winch Real Estate Team a call/text/email. We are always in the know about homes that are for sale or might be on the market soon. We also have access to a team of professionals like mortgage brokers, legal and construction teams that can help you plan. Don’t give up on your dream, call us and see how we can help!