How Older Homes Beat New Homes

For a society that likes shiny new things, the latest research could foreshadow a surprising trend -- homebuyers choosing older homes over new construction.

Why? The prices and operating costs can vary widely. In August 2014, the median sales price of new homes sold was $275,600, while the median price of older homes was $219,000. Taxes and insurance may cost less for an older home.

People are often wowed when they go into a builder's model and see how beautiful it is. It has the latest bells and whistles, but when the buyer starts to add upgrades, the price can quickly increase. Once they see how much it costs to get everything they want, older homes start to look much more affordable.

Retro charm

Whether you prefer mid-century modern or Victorian shabby chic, older homes have personalities and features that are a lot of fun to decorate. You can also update an older home a little at a time instead of paying a big mortgage to have it all at once.

More available

Since the Great Recession, existing homes have been much less expensive than new homes, and builders have had a hard time getting market share traction. For example, the sales of existing homes in August were seasonally adjusted at 5.05 million units. Sales of newly built, single-family homes were 412,000 units, which is low by historical standards.

Stricter financing

A new home with a higher price tag may be harder to finance. Stricter lending requirements mean that borrowers have to stay within traditional guidelines of affordability, including down payments and debt to income ratios. An affordable home should not take more than approximately 30% of household gross income to cover mortgage notes, taxes and insurance.

Wealth effect is gone

Despite recent gains in the stock market, people simply don't feel as wealthy or as confident. In 2010, returns were about where they were in 2000, meaning a lost decade of wealth-building in stocks and bonds, as well as housing equity. Four years later, many investors have yet to make up their losses.

Higher building costs

National Association of Home Builder's (NAHB) research shows lumber and wood products account for 15% of the cost of construction for a single-family home. Lumber prices are 27% above their average 2011 levels. NAHB economists estimate that a 10% increase in the price of framing lumber per 1,000 board feet adds approximately $660 to the price of an average new home.

Even a small change in home prices or interest rates can determine whether homebuyers can buy a home. A 2012 priced-out analysis done by NAHB found that a $1,000 increase in new home prices from $225,000 to $226,000 eliminates 232,447 households from being able to afford the same home. A 10% cost increase in the average wholesale price of framing lumber would mean that about 160,000 families would not be able to qualify for a mortgage on an average first-time home.

Commutes more expensive

Most new homes are built where land costs are cheaper, well outside the inner city. The Department of Energy expects commuters to pay an average $700 more annually in gasoline costs to live in the suburbs. The cost of commuting could make older homes in the inner city, walking communities, and homes near public transportation more attractive to homebuyers.

Where new homes beat older homes

Because it's easier to build green than to retrofit, new homes have the advantage over older homes when it comes to energy efficiency. Sixty-eight percent of homebuilders say the home of 2015 will have more energy-efficient features such as insulated windows and water-efficient fixtures, and Energy-Star-rated appliances, heating and cooling systems.

Whether homebuyers choose existing or new homes, one thing is certain- they can't go wrong either way. In an inflationary environment, buying a home is one of the best hedges against rising rents and higher building costs down the road.

Steve Bulatovic

www.stevebulatovic.ca

416-791-3665