New house on rundown street v. Older house on nice-looking street

[Anonymous]

I see nice new construction on a lot of close-in lots in Bethesda/Arlington/Falls Church. But they stick out on a street of modest (sometimes rundown) older houses. For most people, does the prospect of having a new home in a close-in location outweigh the fact that the street looks like the other homeowners are unwilling or unable to invest in improvements to the curb appeal of their homes?

In some close-in burbs, I see nice well-kept homes from the 1940s to 1960s that are definitely not tear downs. They are beautifully maintained and the neighborhood looks so nice.

What are your considerations?

[Anonymous]

Overall location and schools. In close in Arlington, the run down houses won't stay that way for long. You will probably get more bang for your buck on the rundown street.

[Anonymous]

I suppose I might care if my neighbors had three junkers on blocks in their front yard, but geneally I couldn't care less what my neighbors' house looks like, esp. after I get done compromising on everything else to find a house I like. In fact, if a "run down" street in a close-in suburb is less expensive then I'd probably be happy to save the $.

[Anonymous]

My consideration is that perhaps you could be less shallow.

We bought a small fixer-upper walkable to downtown Bethesda and renovated extensively. The other houses on our street look newer (apart from the one split-level) and some are downright gorgeous.

I don't care one bit, OP, because I fell in love with my house when I saw it. Objectively, most people would find the exterior slightly gone to seed, but I love the little crooked corner on my roof, I love how much light we receive, the quality job we did inside and the new design and decor. My house has character.

[Anonymous]

I like to live in a place where people keep up their homes. We live in a planned community of 1980's home. It feels peaceful when I'm driving down the roads and see how nice the homes look when people take pride in them. And the developer laid things out nicely. And you can always renovate the house to look like new.

[Anonymous]

Schools and location

[Anonymous]

I prefer a nicer looking neighborhood. When I look out the window, it doesn't matter what my house looks like, all I see are other people's houses and it don't care to look at junky yards and cars on blocks and unmowed grass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to live in a place where people keep up their homes. We live in a planned community of 1980's home. It feels peaceful when I'm driving down the roads and see how nice the homes look when people take pride in them. And the developer laid things out nicely. And you can always renovate the house to look like new.

Yep, this. A good friend of ours did a tear down and his house is bigger and nicer than ours, but I would cringe every time I had to drive down his street. I live in an early 90's neighborhood but so well kept. Do I wish I had new bathrooms? Yes, but I know I made the right choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like to live in a place where people keep up their homes. We live in a planned community of 1980's home. It feels peaceful when I'm driving down the roads and see how nice the homes look when people take pride in them. And the developer laid things out nicely. And you can always renovate the house to look like new.

+1. I enjoy living in a neighborhood where people take pride in their homes.

[Anonymous]

The only thing you can't change about a home is the location. Older home for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like to live in a place where people keep up their homes. We live in a planned community of 1980's home. It feels peaceful when I'm driving down the roads and see how nice the homes look when people take pride in them. And the developer laid things out nicely. And you can always renovate the house to look like new.

Yep, this. A good friend of ours did a tear down and his house is bigger and nicer than ours, but I would cringe every time I had to drive down his street. I live in an early 90's neighborhood but so well kept. Do I wish I had new bathrooms? Yes, but I know I made the right choice.

PP -- where do you live? Perhaps we can look there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like to live in a place where people keep up their homes. We live in a planned community of 1980's home. It feels peaceful when I'm driving down the roads and see how nice the homes look when people take pride in them. And the developer laid things out nicely. And you can always renovate the house to look like new.

+1. I enjoy living in a neighborhood where people take pride in their homes.

Another one in this camp. I live in a neighborhood of 1960s homes. There have been a handful of teardowns, but they do not stick out. The key is that all the houses are well maintained and folks take pride in the neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

One of the better pieces of advice I read on these pages is to by the worst home on the block.

Ergo, your craftsman among 30 shitshacks isn't as optimal as 30 craftsmans among one shitshack.

[Anonymous]

^^ Buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of the better pieces of advice I read on these pages is to by the worst home on the block.

Ergo, your craftsman among 30 shitshacks isn't as optimal as 30 craftsmans among one shitshack.

We did this (bought the most modest house in the nice neighborhood). The problem is that everyone around us is a fair bit wealthier, which seems to prompt my kids to always ask why we don't have the same house/cars/vacations as our neighbors. But at least the schools are good.