Tips for Buying a House That Needs Work

An old clapboard house with peeling exterior paint and missing shutters
Photo: Joesboy / Getty Images

Existing home sales—as opposed to new construction—accounted for more than 6.4 million real estate transactions in November 2021. About 1`% of them were considered "distressed sales," and it can be presumed that they might have needed a little work. A house that could use some help doesn't necessarily have to be a deal-breaker if you know how to handle it.

Perceptions vary widely when someone is buying a house that "needs work." Many agents believe that is the case if it isn't updated, but some buyers and sellers might not share that viewpoint. Whether a house needs work is based on personal opinion, and "work" can depend on the type of property you're thinking of buying.

Key Takeaways

  • Whether a house needs work is based on personal opinion, and "work" can depend on the type of property you're thinking of buying.
  • Fixer-upper homes are generally priced for sale in "as-is" condition, and the price already accounts for estimated repairs.
  • Sale prices for other types of homes, such as vintage, outdated, foreclosures, short sales, and packrat homes, could vary based on the home's history and the necessity of any repairs.
  • As with any purchase offer, a homebuyer's best bet is to rely on the comparable sales, then deduct for the work that's needed.

Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder

Rooms in properties built in the 1940s were smaller and separate from one another, and kitchen counters were often covered in four-inch tile, not trendy stone. The cabinets are probably painted wood, and the floors are linoleum.

A millennial buyer will say a house in this condition would need work, but a purist who loves the character of 1940s homes might prefer the house in its original condition.

Note

It's generally a good idea to replace the floor covering before selling if the wall-to-wall carpeting is worn and stained, but it would be foolish to haul a Wedgewood stove to the dump or remove original hardwood interior trim simply because it's of a certain vintage.

Buying a Fixer-Upper

Fixer-upper homes are generally priced for sale in "as-is" condition. These properties often show deferred maintenance because the sellers were unable or unwilling to care for the home properly. Maybe there was a death in the house, or it passed through probate to heirs who didn't want it.

Sellers will generally choose a sales price based on comparable sales to compute a price on a fixer-upper property. Comparable sales, or "comps," involve houses in the same general type of neighborhood and of the same age, square footage, and number of bedrooms, and they can share other characteristics. An asking price is arrived at, then reduced by an estimate for repairs.

The seller might deduct a little bit more from the price for a fast sale or an all-cash sale. Whether it becomes a flipper house for an investor who's hoping to turn a fast profit, or a house for a first-time homebuyer who's willing to put in a little work, depends on profit margins and the amount of work that's necessary.

Note

The FHA's Section 203(k) Program allows borrowers to take additional funds on an existing FHA mortgage, or take out a separate loan to pay for repairs and rehabilitation. You can even apply online.

There could be other problems, however, if the home has longer days on the market than the average sale time of other properties. Perhaps the work that's actually needed exceeds the seller's expectations, or it could be that the home appeals to a smaller pool of buyers.

Don't make the mistake of automatically assuming that more days on market means that the home is overpriced.

Purchasing a Mint-Condition Vintage

A mint-condition vintage home could sell at a premium price, even if it's not necessarily modernized or trendy. Think about folk Victorians, Italianates, Queen Annes, or Craftsman bungalows. Mid-century homes—those built between the 1950s and the 1960s—are also becoming increasingly popular. This category might also include houses that have historical prominence due to past owners or residents.

A seller would probably add a premium price pad on top of the comparable sales figure to price this type of home, and might receive multiple offers simply due to the attractiveness of the design. The sales price could go even higher if the fixtures are original.

It's possible that a vintage home in perfect condition could be overpriced if it's been on the market for longer than others. Not every seller is eager to part with a property of such caliber, and some will price it high enough to make it worthwhile for them to relocate.

Note

Homes in historic districts will have high asking prices with little wiggle room. A buyer will typically pay the asking price if they want the place badly enough, because the seller might or might not budge on price.

Newer but Outdated Homes

You'll spot a lot of these types of properties in areas that were once thriving but have become depressed. Maybe the area was overbuilt, or supply exceeded demand, jobs left town, or other tract homes opened up a few miles away for less money.

Whatever the reason, owners often have little interest in remodeling a home just because trends change. They figure the house was fine when they bought it, and it's fine to sell now. What they don't realize is that buyers don't want homes without updates. They want turnkey properties that don't require additional work. They expect a discount if they'll have to tackle a home improvement project.

A few changes, such as replacing the fixtures, choosing modern paint colors, and installing newer appliances, are often enough to generate interest at a better sales price, but buyers generally won't agree to pay top-of-market for an outdated home, even if it's newer and clean.

Foreclosure Sales

A foreclosure is a bank-owned home, taken by the lender because the owners defaulted on mortgage payments. These properties are almost invariably sold in as-is condition.

They've often sat vacant for extended periods of time. The bank will have done little—if any—maintenance or landscape upkeep. A bank can't be held responsible for disclosing facts that it doesn't know.

Note

Banks are reluctant to offer discounts for the work needed if a buyer finds a defect that turns out to be a major repair cost.

Buyers might spot pre-foreclosure houses on certain popular websites, but these aren't always for sale, and they might never be for sale. This is usually just a process that a bank will go through as a seller goes into default but before it takes full possession of the home.

Short Sales

A short sale happens when a lender accepts less than the total amount of the mortgage balance due from the buyer. This is perhaps the most misunderstood type of sale, especially when the house needs work.

Sellers probably can't afford to make repairs or fix up the home if they can't even make their mortgage payments, and the seller's lender has little incentive to cooperate with a short sale unless the price is in line with ​the current real estate market.

Note

Banks typically won't discount the price they'll accept for a short sale home, even if the property needs work, because they're already selling it for less than the loan balance against it.

A bank could possibly make out better financially if it forecloses rather than short sales the home. The broker price opinion (BPO) value won't matter in that event, because the investor will be adamant on a net to match the foreclosure net.

Packrat Homes

Packrat houses might be the worst. These are the properties where you'll have to navigate through on tight paths woven around stacks of personal belongings throughout the house. Sometimes, the bedrooms are so full of furniture and boxes and junk that you can't get the door open. Packrats and hoarders collect and save stuff—a lot of stuff.

Combine a packrat house with years of neglect, and you could find piles of dead rodents or moisture problems that have gone undetected for years. Renting a couple of 30-yard dumpsters will get rid of the debris if you're lucky, but any underlying problems could be much more extensive.

The sale prices of these houses are often knocked down dramatically.

Effect on Negotiations

How you would pursue a purchase offer on a home that needs repairs will likely depend on the type of property you're buying.

Note

Buyers shouldn't automatically presume that the listing price has already been adjusted due to the place needing work, but most sellers already realize that the home they're selling needs repairs or updating, and they've likely accounted for that when pricing it.

As with any purchase offer, a homebuyer's best bet is to rely on the comparable sales, then deduct for the work that's needed. Base the deduction on written estimates from licensed contractors. Providing this information to the owner might be enough to encourage them to reduce the price.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you finance a fixer-upper?

There are a number of loan options for homebuyers who are looking to finance repairs or renovations with their purchase. Fannie Mae's HomeStyle loan and the FHA 203(k) loan are two of the most popular options, and the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also offer renovation loans. In some cases, you may even be able to get a grant to cover part of the costs of your fixer-upper. Talk to various lenders and government agencies in your area to determine your options.

How does escrow work when buying a house that needs repairs?

With some cases, a lender may require a repair escrow that will hold funds designated for repair or renovation projects. Specific requirements vary depending on the lender and the nature of the repairs. When required, the funds will not be disbursed until the repairs are complete.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. National Association of Realtors. "Summary of November 2021 Existing Home Sales Statistics." Pages 2 and 6.

  2. National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents. "5 Common Myths of Buying a Foreclosed Home."

  3. Connecticut Fair Housing Center. "Short Sales Frequently Asked Questions." Page 1.

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