You may have heard that buying an older home comes with spending every weekend completely on home improvement projects, but that's only the case if you buy a place that's fallen into significant disrepair. Most older homes were built to last, and buying and living in one can have serious advantages for some people. Following are three of them. 

Quality Hardwood Flooring

Up until about the middle of the last century, hardwood was the main material used in hardwood flooring. Floors in vintage homes were made from the heartwood of old growth timber, making them particularly durable as well as visually appealing. Consumers began to prefer man-made construction materials and view them as more modern, causing hardwood flooring to fall out of favor. 

Mature Landscaping 

Fully grown trees and shrubs offer more privacy than young landscaping, and if you're really lucky and purchase a property that was lived in by an avid garden, you'll reap the benefits of established culinary herb gardens, fresh tree fruit, picturesque perennial borders, and quality hardscaping such as fountains, fencing, retaining walls, and permanent garden statuary. Even if you buy a place where the lawn and garden areas have been neglected for a number of years, you can invest some sweat equity and bring your new outdoor living space back to its former glory. Most old gardens can be restored simply by spending a few weekends clearing out brush, removing weeds, reseeding the lawn, and replanting flower and herb beds. You'll add up to 19-percent to the value of your home by breathing new life into an old garden. 

Neighborhoods With Character

Vintage homes tend to be situated in areas with other vintage homes, meaning you'll be living in anything but a standard cookie-cutter neighborhood. You'll be living on a street where each home has plenty of individual character and where a long-standing sense of community pride is probably in play, providing you with more opportunities to get involved in your new community. For instance, there may be a local historical society you can join, and there are sure to be garden and book clubs available that may have not yet become established in new subdivisions. As an added bonus, many older neighborhoods are located within walking distance of city centers, making it convenient for those who work downtown or who like to have easy access to nightlife, dining, and shopping options.  Please feel free to contact your local real estate agent if you would like more information on the many benefits of purchasing and living in a lovely vintage home.