There are benefits to purchasing a home that is in Rockville. Location, location, location.
Re: Condition of the home, make sure you get a good home inspector. Specifically look for water in the basement and wood boring insect damage to eat the wet wood; aging and leaking roof and older systems such as air conditioner, furnace, hot water heater and appliances.

Look at these items when you walk through a home for the fist time and you will start to be able to make a mental comparison between the properties. Many of the older properties have upgrades and are true gems. Don't be deterred by the age.

Sat Jul 19 2008, 03:18

Chaoyi, as a RE Consultant I will answer this question with a question! Are you looking to live in Rockville, or are you interested purchasing an old home?

The cost of utility and maintenance are much higher on older homes than newer homes. Older homes may suffer from cracks, radon gas, lead based paint, mold, infestation, and more. However, older homes have stronger structure, higher quality in workmanship, and build in prime locations!

In Rockville you find many homes, from 1900 – 2007. You have to see if it adds any value to your lifestyle, and meets your family’s needs.

So, if a old home has a good and strong foundation, everything else is cosmetic. If you decided to go with an older home, I recommend updating your appliances, HVAC unit, and windows. This would reduce your utility cost.

Cheers,

Reza Khodadad
Certified Green Agent

Sun May 18 2008, 17:47

I concur the thought that buying an older home does not dictat it's condition. Rockville does have a lot of older homes however there are some younger ones too :) It all depends on your price point. Some of the older homes have been renovated and look fantastic. Of course when purchashing a home you will have a home inspection to review and inspect foundations, systems , etc. and as mentioned previously you can request the seller to provide you with a home warranty. Rockville is a lovely place to live and hasmany ammenities to offer. I would love the oportunity to work with you so please do not hesitate to contact me further with any questions! Thanks and Happy House Hunting!

Tue May 13 2008, 08:32

The age of the home really doesn't indicate its condition. It all depends on how well the previous owners maintainted the house. I've seen newer homes that were in worse condition than homes 50 years old. The main areas of concern would be roof condition, foundation walls, signs of water damage, wood rot, and termite damage. To protect yourself:

- Get a contingent home and termite inspection.

- Get a report from the homeowners insurance company regarding any previous claims on a property.

- Consider a home warranty if the appliances and other mechanical systems aren't brand new.

Tue May 13 2008, 05:53

If by "older" you mean Victorian era or turn of the century (20th), wisdom comes into play primarily in how you handle the purchase. You are likely most interested because of the aesthetic appeal of older homes.

Rot and insect damage are possibilities. The foundation may have settled. Homes in that era did not have insulation, double pane windows, central heat and air, and the older ones did not have electrical wiring. The plumbing and electrical wiring may not be up to today's standards. Other issues that can affect homes that are no more than 10-15 years old are also possible.

It should be easy enough to determine the extent to which the home has been updated, but the possible ravages of time will not always stand out. Look very closely at everything, and be especially wary of anything that looks like water or insect damage. Do the windows open? Do you see exposed wiring?

Once you are satisfied that you are not too disturbed by what you find, turn to some experts. You might want to consider hiring an inspector prior to making an offer if you have any concerns. If not, you would be well advised to negotiate an option period, and to hire an home inspector at the least. Expedite this process to allow time to bring in a structural engineer, electrician or other expert as the inspector's report may indicate to be prudent.

Tue May 13 2008, 05:16

All homes, new or old, require maintenance and updating on a regular basis. Rockville has homes in a wide range of ages.

Tue May 13 2008, 05:09