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Started By
Message
Would you Buy or Build?
Posted on 6/5/25 at 4:50 am
Posted on 6/5/25 at 4:50 am
My wife and I are ready to get out of the neighborhood life. We both grew up in smaller towns with a lot of seclusion so we’re ready to go back to that and raise our family in that situation. We’re at the crossroads of what we should do though. Would it make more sense to buy an older house on a plot of land? Or to buy a lot, clear it, and build our “dream home”? Thinking in this scenario both prices would be about the same
ETA: We are currently in Ascension Parish and looking to have no more than an hour commute to work, so surrounding areas are West Feliciana, Livingston, Tangipahoa that we are looking
ETA: We are currently in Ascension Parish and looking to have no more than an hour commute to work, so surrounding areas are West Feliciana, Livingston, Tangipahoa that we are looking
This post was edited on 6/5/25 at 4:57 am
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Posted on 6/5/25 at 5:55 am to Tiger328
My first thought is do you have the know-how to build one yourself or would you hire someone to build what you want?
Many years ago my wife and I wanted to buy an older house and redo it. But while working on my boss's older home I decided I wanted no part of redoing an old home. I am a carpenter and it seems like an endless list of items to repair or replace. I am retired now and my choice would buy a lot and hire someone to build exactly what I want. We did this on one of our previous homes. I found the floorplan online and had the builder build it.
Many years ago my wife and I wanted to buy an older house and redo it. But while working on my boss's older home I decided I wanted no part of redoing an old home. I am a carpenter and it seems like an endless list of items to repair or replace. I am retired now and my choice would buy a lot and hire someone to build exactly what I want. We did this on one of our previous homes. I found the floorplan online and had the builder build it.
This post was edited on 6/5/25 at 5:56 am
Posted on 6/5/25 at 6:26 am to Tiger328
I will always recommend building new over trying to reno a place. There are exceptions, but usually best money is spent on new.
HGTV has pilled a lot of people into thinking renovations are glamorous and you'll have a better than new house. Rarely do I see a really quality renovation. One reason it it's as expensive as building new if done well. Always stuff cobbled together and hidden behind walls.
Start with a clean slate.
HGTV has pilled a lot of people into thinking renovations are glamorous and you'll have a better than new house. Rarely do I see a really quality renovation. One reason it it's as expensive as building new if done well. Always stuff cobbled together and hidden behind walls.
Start with a clean slate.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 7:57 am to Tiger328
I am in that situation right now and have been for a few years. We Kept looking for a remodel, or a newer house in the area we were looking to move to.
We looked at several houses and at the end of the day, you will pay the same or more for something that is 30 years old ,but would have a new interior, or a newer house that's not customized for you, and still a few years old.
We decided that if we are going to spend north of 500k, it should be exactly what we want, and brand new.
We acquired a lot 3 years ago, have plans drawn up, and are out for bids now.
We looked at several houses and at the end of the day, you will pay the same or more for something that is 30 years old ,but would have a new interior, or a newer house that's not customized for you, and still a few years old.
We decided that if we are going to spend north of 500k, it should be exactly what we want, and brand new.
We acquired a lot 3 years ago, have plans drawn up, and are out for bids now.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 8:30 am to Tiger328
to me the land is more important than the house. i bought a small old house on beautiful property and after 20 years we are finally renovating, but i would do it again every single time. good dirt, big trees, secluded and quiet is what i wanted and what i got.
you can always do a tear down and rebuild
you can always do a tear down and rebuild
Posted on 6/5/25 at 8:52 am to Tiger328
I’m with cgrand on this one. I always choose the existing house ( if you are capable of working on it). If you have to hire everything out building new may be the way for you.
Then again, I always choose the worst house on the street, or the neighborhood and go from there.
In a rural situation the homesite is the most important thing. If it has a house on it that you can live with, or make it work for you then great. If not, tear it down and build what you want.
Then again, I always choose the worst house on the street, or the neighborhood and go from there.
In a rural situation the homesite is the most important thing. If it has a house on it that you can live with, or make it work for you then great. If not, tear it down and build what you want.
Posted on 6/5/25 at 12:06 pm to Elusiveporpi
quote:I’m a contractor (or I was till a few months ago). Brand new is seldom better and for me, less attractive
and brand new
different strokes
Posted on 6/5/25 at 1:06 pm to cgrand
quote:
and brand new
I’m a contractor (or I was till a few months ago). Brand new is seldom better and for me, less attractive
different strokes
Yup, and also, my wife will tell me what is better, true or not....
Posted on 6/16/25 at 8:21 am to cgrand
quote:
I’m a contractor (or I was till a few months ago). Brand new is seldom better and for me, less attractive
different strokes
Same. Except still a contractor.
Personally I think you get more from older homes if you can find the right one. One thing I've been doing A lot of lately though is incorporating antiques into new builds. Especially specialty doors and reclaimed beams to try and add some character.
But with that said I just took a job for a couple in New Orleans and had to break it to them that they had severe termite damage in a structural beam below the home and poly-b piping.
A simple - $8k porch job has turned into a nightmare for them and a new home comes with a workmanship warranty snd all new material. And if you use the right builder he'll take care of you and provide photos and documentation every step of the way which really is nice for peace of mind.
One old guy I learned from years ago used to say- I give the homeowners all the information because I don't have anything to hide. It's where their kids sleep, I'll be dammed if I do a shitty job.
But I also know new home builder for some prominent neighborhoods in Baton Rouge who was bragging to me at a Home Builders Association meeting about his strategy to countersue his homeowners if they ever give him problems. Dudes a 3rd generation owner with a degree from A&M in finance and never built before but daddy gave him the company.
And a shite load of people use him because he paid for reviews. You have to be careful
This post was edited on 6/16/25 at 8:22 am
Posted on 6/16/25 at 10:15 am to Tiger328
We sort of split the middle of this decision.
Found 20 acres in the school zone we wanted, it has an existing home on it which is serviceable.
They took a mobile home and built it out on a full concrete crawspace and added on to it. It's 5 bedroom, 4 bath, wrap around porch. We have 0 intentions of doing any level of remodel to this home.
Our intent is to pay it off as quickly as possible so we can build and then tear the old house down. We've knocked almost 100k off the mortgage in 3 years.
ETA: I have no clue what the rules are for trying to build/tear down a home when there is an existing mortgage. We haven't gotten to a point where we feel it's even worth researching that, we just assume everything will be easier with no existing mortgage. I have heard there are ways to pay off an existing as part of the construction loan and such, but have no clue if that's legit.
Found 20 acres in the school zone we wanted, it has an existing home on it which is serviceable.
They took a mobile home and built it out on a full concrete crawspace and added on to it. It's 5 bedroom, 4 bath, wrap around porch. We have 0 intentions of doing any level of remodel to this home.
Our intent is to pay it off as quickly as possible so we can build and then tear the old house down. We've knocked almost 100k off the mortgage in 3 years.
ETA: I have no clue what the rules are for trying to build/tear down a home when there is an existing mortgage. We haven't gotten to a point where we feel it's even worth researching that, we just assume everything will be easier with no existing mortgage. I have heard there are ways to pay off an existing as part of the construction loan and such, but have no clue if that's legit.
This post was edited on 6/16/25 at 10:18 am
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