We get it – purchasing a “cookie-cutter home” in a large neighborhood where all of the houses are just a few feet apart is not for everyone. Conversely, there are many individuals and families who feel perfectly content about living in one of these homes. Buying a house that is very similar to those around you means that you can get a pretty good idea of what you are getting yourself into, and you can feel confident in your resale potential if the other homes around you aren’t sitting on the market for long.

Things can get a little trickier if you are more interested in buying a “unique” home in your area. Whether you are drawn to a house because of its historic charm, exterior features, or interior details, there are a few important details to keep in mind if you are thinking about purchasing a house that is “different” from many of the other homes around you.

Unique can also mean harder to sell.
The thing about unique homes is that they have features that differ from the norm. This is great if you absolutely love the details that make the home different from what you would typically find. However, this is not so great if you cannot find someone with similar taste when it comes time to sell the property. By all means, go for the house that you love and draws you in. But just be aware that it could bring some challenges when you try to sell it in the future.

More history can mean more rules to follow.
If you are drawn to a home because of its historical appeal, you must educate yourself on any of the regulations that you will be required to follow as the homeowner. For many historic homes, any changes that you would like to make to the exterior (and sometimes certain aspects of the interior, as well) must first be approved by a board. To avoid any surprises later on, ask to see all of the covenants and restrictions before you close on the property.

Different can make appraisals more difficult.
If you plan on making this your forever home, then you may not be too worried about the appraisal. But you should take note that it can be harder to appraise a unique home. If there is nothing similar in the surrounding area to support the value, the appraisal may come in lower than what you expected.