Older homes for sale in Celina, TX are popular for many reasons including price vs. new construction, the ability to create something new from something old and a number of other reasons. However, there are always things to consider when searching for older homes for sale in Celina, TX. which we will discuss in this post. With a little bit of due diligence and research, purchasing an older home in Celina can be a very rewarding and even profitable endeavor. However, without taking the proper precautions, one can also make a purchase that they regret. (Note: please be extremely careful when considering an older home for sale by owner. Many times these deals can be very good, but they can also be double bad because you get all of the issues of an older home PLUS the issues in dealing with a non-licensed seller. You can read more here.)
Research Older Homes For Sale in Celina, TX
Thanks to the fact that Celina has been around since the late 1800 means that there are plenty of older homes, some over 100 years old within the Celina city limits. Over the many decades that Celina has existed, there have been numerous changes in building methods and the materials used to build these homes. In fact, about every decade, there is a significant change in how homes are build, how the wiring is done and how the plumbing systems are engineered.
Some of the significant changes over the years include using aluminum wiring in homes from the 1960's through the early 1970's to the more modern use of copper wiring. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, homes with aluminum wiring are 55 times more likely to have "fire hazard conditions" vs homes with copper wiring. Another change over the decades of homebuilding is the use of iron pipe for plumbing to the more modern use of copper and PEX materials. The iron pipes used in the early 1900's were prone to rust and mineral build up which should be of concern to anyone buying a home that has not been retrofitted with more modern materials.
Clearly, it is critical that a potential homebuyer, especially of an older home for sale in Celina, TX, do their research and discover all of the potential issues as related to building materials and the building codes that were in use at the time. Many times the systems within an older home have been updated, however, without doing proper research, this can not be determined. If a homebuyer has discovered an older home for sale in Celina, TX that has not been updated or retrofitted with newer materials, then this should be a consideration when determining a fair price for the home.
Home Inspections Are Critical For Older Homes
Home inspections are generally accepted as just "part of the process" these days. However, especially on an older home, it is CRITICAL that the home inspection be done by a very well qualified Home Inspector.
My recommendation would be to have an initial consultation with the Home Inspector and specifically ask them to make note of older materials used in the major systems of the home. Perhaps some of these systems such as electrical, plumbing, insulation and roofing have been updated to some extent. Asking the Home Inspector for a list of systems they see updated could really come in handy down the road.
Make sure that whomever you use to inspect a home is willing to provide you with two things: first, a written and photographic report on the home and second, a followup meeting or phone call to go through the report and explain what they saw. Of course, this isn't the time to learn that your home inspector has never inspected older homes and doesn't know the first thing about the older systems and codes that were in use during the time period that your subject home was built.
Know The Common Characteristics Of Your Home's Era
Over the years, homes have been built following the trends and desires of each generation. An example would be the size of closets in homes from the 1960's vs today's modern home closets. Back in the 60's, walk in closets were not the common desire for most homebuyers. Elements like architecture and appliances were more of the concern back then. At the time, closets were much more utilitarian and functional for the times. These days, closets are expected to be much larger and at times, are even used as a place to retreat and relax.
If you lived back in the 1970's, you may remember shag carpet, faux panelling on walls and popcorn texture on ceilings. These days most of that has changed. However, there are still many homes on the market that sport all of these highly desired features from the 1970's. If you are going to look at a home from that era, you should be prepared for a home that has at least some of the 1970's elements still in use in the home.
Many of the issues that you may run into as a potential homebuyer of an older home for sale in Celina, TX can be modified, updated or refreshed in such a way that you can really enjoy the home. Or, perhaps you prefer the older styles. In that case, you don't have to work too hard to get the vintage look that so many want. For you, the vintage look and feel of the home is the real deal. No fake shiplap in a 1920's home, it's been there from the beginning and all you need to do is get it in shape for the "vintage modern" look you want.
In homes that were never built with the characteristics that you prefer, you may need to have a construction or remodeler come to the home and provide you with an idea of what it may cost to update the older home to the more modern features that you want. And, without a doubt, material and labor costs are in a constant state of change these days so always allow for even more than what you "expect" the cost of your remodel or updating efforts.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of An Older Home
Besides the outdated materials and older building codes that may be an issue when looking for older homes for sale in Celina, TX, you may also want to consider other factors as well. One consideration that could be a positive or a negative is that there probably isn't a home owners association in the neighborhoods that have older homes in Celina. Again, that can be a positive or a negative depending on your own experiences and perspective.
Another consideration with older homes is that the neighborhoods that they are in usually offer minimal to no community amenities. If you have looked at any of the newer homes in surrounding cities like Frisco or Prosper, you may have seen the community parks, swimming pools and community centers. Of course, these were features that were not really a part of the mainstream wishlist back in the day. And, that may very well be ok with you. For many, they choose not to use these features and see the additional monthly costs charged by an association as a disadvantage. In the end, it's up to you to determine what is important in a home and it's community features.
Many people have told me that they prefer an older home because they like the fact that all of the problems have been worked out over the years. And, in my opinion, there is merit to this way of thinking. Of course, it may be a trade off. You gain the advantage of having a more seasoned, older home where all of the issues have been worked out, but maybe you give up some utility efficiency of the home because the older HVAC systems and insulation was not what it is today. Again, your choice in perspective.
Is Buying An Older Celina Home Cost Effective?
When you start looking for older homes for sale in Celina, TX, you will undoubtedly have thoughts of future value come across your mind. And here's my response to that: it all depends. This is where my expertise is going to come in very handy. You see, I prefer to look at EVERY home purchase as an investment that should not only allow you to do life on your terms, but also reward you with a big payoff when you decide to sell in the future. As such, I evaluate every home on a case by case basis. This is even more true with older homes for sale in Celina, TX. Why? Because you have homes that are each unique and bearing different characteristics in Celina. It's not common to the area to have an entire section of older homes all together. In Celina, there may be a home that is 50 years old sitting next to a home that is 2 years old.
That being said, there are turn of the century homes in Celina that will always be a good investment in the sense that they are historic and demand a certain value solely based on the historic nature of the home. One of the older, turn of the century homes in Celina, TX that has been updated to more modern electrical, plumbing, etc. is in even higher demand, so the future increase in value is expected to be even higher than a similar vintage home with lots of updating needed.
Sometimes the challenge comes when you have a home from a particular era that may not be in as high of demand, but that has many things going for it. In those cases, we try to discover what could be done to the home to make it a top contender down the road when you decide to sell. An example would be an early 80's home that still looks very "1980." With some great updated lighting, fresh designer color paint and some other touches like adding some LVP flooring (luxury vinyl plank), we can really boost the value of a home. Add a small but nice entertaining area in the back yard and you have a huge hit worth much more than a 1980 vintage home in non-updated condition selling today.
Conclusion
When searching for older homes for sell in Celina, TX, you must do your due diligence. That means RESEARCH. And get a fantastic home inspector to inspect the home. Of course, the role of your real estate agent in the whole process is paramount because they should be able to help you determine the potential of any home and whether it will be a long term good deal for you. A home is many things and matters a lot to you and your family. Be sure to get this one right. (In fact, if you want to read a little more about how critical it is to have the right representation on a home purchase or sale, you may want to read this.)
Ron Lyons
214-783-5440
Ron@RonLyons.com