The Joy of Older Homes

If you’re planning to buy your first home in 2017, chances are good it will be an older home. The latest American Housing Survey (AHS) showed that 41% of housing stock in the U.S. was built prior to 1969 and that the median age of owner-occupied homes was 37 years.In most areas, smaller pre-war Tudor cottages, Craftsman bungalows, and mid-century ranches comprise many older homes. Each style has its own charm.

1. The fairy-tale Tudor revival. The English Tudor revives late medieval architecture popularized during the House of Tudor reign, a period of unequaled enlightenment known for political reformation and the Renaissance. Late Gothic and ecclesiastical influences include charming leaded and stained glass windows, steep-pitch cathedral ceilings, arched doorways and exposed wood beams.
2. The solid and home-y Craftsman bungalow. Popular as the middle-class retort to the fussy, formal Victorian style, the Craftsman ushered in minimalism, thanks to Frank Lloyd Wright and others. Craftsman homes celebrate wood, stone, iron, ceramic and glass artistry, with wood floors and wainscoting, large windows, built-in cabinets and hand-made Art Nouveau tiles.
3. The automobile-loving Ranch. The mid-century ranch helped post-World War II families move to the sprawling suburbs while they commuted back to the city for work. Built with speed, ranch-style homes typically have no load-bearing walls in the interior of the home, making them easy and inexpensive to remodel. Get your atomic décor on with low-slung furniture, sputnik light fixtures and abstract art.

No matter which older home you choose, knowing a little history should bring you added enjoyment.