There is much information that points to the benefits to buying an older home. Older homes generally have lower purchase prices relative to newer houses. They tend to be located in established neighborhoods with an existing history of schools, transportation and commercial center offerings. Older houses have mature landscaping and period-style architecture and craftsmanship. If this type of home-buying information is important to you, you may want to consider an older house. Still, older homes come with their own set of issues. In order to make the best home-buying decision, here are five information topics you may want to discuss with when considering the purchase of an older house.

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Old House Web has information on many aspects of renovating and owning an old home (or a not so old home).

Some of the topics that are included on the site are: Product Reviews, How to Advice, a Green Guide, an "In the Garden" section and an Architecture and Design .

Featured articles include:

• Knob and Tube Wiring

• When to Turn to a Contractor

• Old Windows

Visit the Old House Web site.

Here's an interesting article from Coldwell Banker's US website on the process of buying building a custom home:

If you want a new home, but aren't interested in a cookie cutter subdivision, consider building your own custom home.

It's a "toss up" whether building your own home will be cheaper than buying one in a subdivision, said David Lupberger, a home improvement expert with ServiceMagic.com. A custom built home could run $100 per square foot, excluding land costs, he said, but up to as much as $300 per square foot with high-end finishes (excluding the cost of land).

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