What You Should Consider Before Buying an Old House

Buying an old house can pose challenges. With smart planning and the right renovations, you can enjoy the rewards of living in a historic home.

Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.

Updated · 2 min read
Profile photo of Kate Wood
Written by Kate Wood
Lead Writer/Spokesperson
Profile photo of Beth Buczynski
Edited by Beth Buczynski
Head of Content, New Markets

Buying an old house can help you get into a desirable neighborhood or afford a larger home, not to mention potentially preserving a piece of history. But houses built decades or even centuries ago often have quirks (both good and bad) that you won't find in newer construction.

Before you fall in love with that original woodwork, get acquainted with the hurdles that can come with buying an older home.

Get an inspection (or two)

A home inspection should be part of the purchase process for any home, but with a house that's significantly older, a basic inspection may not be enough.

"Buying a vintage home from the 17-, 18- or early 1900s, the construction is totally different," says Scott Campbell, a Milwaukee-based real estate agent with Re/Max United. "A standard home inspector might not be used to it." Finding an inspector who specializes in or has experience with historic homes could be a good first step.

Explore mortgages today and get started on your homeownership goals
Get personalized rates. Your lender matches are just a few questions away.
Won’t affect your credit score

If you're looking at an old home that needs extensive rehabilitation, an evaluation from a contractor or a structural engineer could provide reassurance that your fixer-upper isn't a faller-downer.

Environmental remediation could be another item to make room for in your budget, Campbell says. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint, and even homes built after that could have asbestos or other hazardous materials.

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on NBKC

New American Funding - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
500

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on New American Funding

GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on NBKC

New American Funding - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
500

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on New American Funding

GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
580

Min. down payment 
3.5%

Check Rate

on Rocket Mortgage

Veterans United - PURCHASE logo