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online at sites such as:
    • www.architecture.about.com (search for “house styles”)
    • www.oldhouses.com (click “Old House Style Guide”)
    • www.wikipedia.org (search for “List of house styles”).
     
     

Old (or Not-So-New) Houses: Benefits and Drawbacks
     
    If you’re in an uber-urban area or your price range dictates it, older houses may be all that are available to you. Or you may just prefer a touch of historical charm. Either way, you’ll get all these benefits:
    • Affordability. Older homes tend to cost less to purchase than new, customized homes. (Though this isn’t a universal rule—in large cities, where the majority of new building is far outside the city, it can be the reverse.)
    • Established neighborhood. Instead of looking at mounds of dirt while perusing architectural drawings, you’ll be able to get a feel for the neighborhood by taking a stroll.
    • Established landscaping. You’re not likely to find a tree-lined street, or a wisteria arbor over your front gate, in a new development.
    • Construction. Older homes are often built with high-quality materials such as thick beams, solid-wood doors, and heavy fixtures.
    • Character. Crown molding and built-in cabinetry are just a few of the fun features found in older homes—but rarely in newer homes.
     
    There are also drawbacks to previously loved homes, including:
    • Lower resale value. Older homes, on average, sell for less than their newer counterparts.
    • Replacement costs. The years take a toll on appliances, water heaters, and roofs—and replacing them isn’t cheap.
    • Efficiency. Older houses tend to be less energy efficient than newer ones.
    • Style. Although you can probably switch out the former owner’s unique style choices (like magenta bathroom tile), it may require a fair amount of sweat equity (meaning your sweat builds equity).
    • Layout. Older houses were built for another era … an era before plasma screen TVs and home offices. Rooms may be smaller and laid out differently than you’d like.
     
    Of course, not every used home is old . If you buy one that was built only a few years ago, some of the drawbacks described above will be eliminated. Likewise, you’ll lose some of the benefits.

Newly Built Houses: Benefits and Drawbacks
     
    Nearly 1.6 million new homes are built in the United States each year, often in planned communities or developments. (Of course, you can always buy a piece of land and build a custom home—but that’s a different book, with its own unique set of issues.) No surprise—buying a new home has unique benefits, including:
    • It’s mine! It’s new! A new house is a blank slate, clean and virtually untouched.
    • It’s custom-built. Although most builders offer a limited choice of floor plans, you usually get to define details like paint colors, flooring, and fixtures (though good taste comes at a price).
    • All the modern conveniences. New houses are built for today’s lifestyles, so you’ll be able to find features like a three-car garage, great room, or high-speed data lines. Also, you shouldn’t have to worry about replacing a water heater or roof anytime soon.
    • Livin’ green. New houses are generally more energy efficient than older homes, so per square foot, you’ll probably spend less money on things like heating and cooling costs. And with some searching, you might find a “green builder” who uses environmentally friendly building techniques and materials (see the U.S. Green Building Council’s website at www.usgbc.org ).
    • Community planning. Many new homes are built in Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). Like condominiums, PUDs often have rules and amenities like swimming pools and community centers. If you like the conformity and resources you often get from a community association, but want the privacy of a detached home, a new home in a PUD might be a perfect compromise.
     
    But buying new also has these drawbacks:
    • It costs HOW