Hank Helton-Realtor/Broker

I personally love older homes, and what I mean by this is really old homes, not the median national aged home. We live in a house that was built in 1902, so I understand infrastructure and decor updating very well. All our bathrooms are updated with the only original fixture is the baked enamel over cast iron Kohler monster bathtub in our hall bath on the 2nd floor. Plumbing, electrical, windows, HVAC, you name it, we've been through replacements of almost everything. Very expensive but well worth it. While I understand the nearly worry-free existence a new home will bring its owners, there is nothing like the character of 124 year-old quarter-sawn oak flooring (refinished in 2020) and solid pine, never painted baseboards and casement trim. I don't regret the initial investment, nor the thousands of hours spent doing projects, nor the seemingly vast amounts of money spent for all of this one single bit! This article from Realtor Dot Com 05/15/2026 touches on this subject and addresses the potential expenses a homeowner might expect from buying an "older" home! FB Msgr me if you want to know more, my nearly 30 years as an appraiser taught me well the hazards of leaving "deferred maintenance" items unfixed for long periods of time!

America’s Homes Are Older Than Ever—and Local Red Tape Could Make Them Harder To Fix As America faces a $198B repair backlog, new permit data shows how local red tape can slow basic fixes for aging homes.

I try to remind my buyers (especially first-timers with no experience in the complexities of home ownership) that emptying their reserves for a down payment is not a great move. ALWAYS keep some money set aside for any unexpected expense, and if you can bear thinking of doubling that $1000 in case you get hit twice (it's happened!), all the better. From Realtor dot Com 04-19-2026:

The Hidden Expense Shocks Threatening To Upend American Household Finances in 2026 Too many in the U.S. are living paycheck to paycheck, and if you're a homeowner in that situation, there are costs lurking that could cause more debt.

Thanks to my dear friends and (now former) clients, Nat and Carol for allowing me the pleasure and honor of listing their home and allowing me to guide them through the process. This one was a bit more tricky than all the rest I've ever done, but (as my dear friend Andrew Cornett is fond of saying) cool heads prevailed and we got to the closing without breaking a sweat! Congrats to the new homeowners and may they live large in their new digs!

A huge congratulations to John & Erin on their recent purchase/closing on their new home. Here's to many years of enjoyment and oodles of lifelong memories to be made on this porch and of course, inside!! And thanks for choosing me as your broker!