Key Points for New, Older & Fixer Upper's
New Homes
- Lower property taxes in Alabama
- More house for your money
- Every thing is new, so maintenance costs will likely be lower
- Most new homes are found in newer subdivisions
- Homes with new appliances
- High-ceilings
- Ceiling fans in most rooms
- Mostly 3 and 4 bedroom homes
- Central heat and air
- Fireplaces
- Move-in ready
Older Homes
- Lower property taxes in Alabama
- More house for your money
- Older appliances, some possibly requiring replacement before or shortly after moving in
- Usually found in older, more established neighborhoods
- Heating and cooling costs may be higher, due to a lack of proper insulation - especially in the attic
- Central heat and air, may require servicing or replacement
- Sometimes require extensive cleaning prior to moving in
- Usually these homes are move-in ready
Fixer-upper Homes
- Lower property taxes in Alabama
- Usually a lot more house for your money
- Requires buyer/owner to have extensive knowledge of home repair/maintenance
- Not for the faint-of-heart
- Requires a vision and a plan for getting home into livable condition
- Will usually require additional funding to make repairs/upgrades
- Generally, fixer-upper homes are not move-in ready
- In general, after quality repairs are completed, the fixer-upper home will more than double it's marketable value
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