I guessed I had always assumed most of the "fixer-upper" properties were located in the cities. The recent experience of trying to find a house.... I guessed I had always assumed most of the "fixer-upper" properties were located in the cities. The recent experience of trying to find a house for my sister to match her criteria--criteria that could only in most cases be provided in the suburbs--has led me into the new world of suburban fixers.

Yes, it stands to figure. A large portion of these homes were built between 1940 and 1970, so they are at minimum 35 years, and some 65 years old. Many of them have all the plaster cracks, sloping floors and even structural problems of houses from Victorian times. The difference it seems to me is that many urban neighborhoods have a majority of these fixers, while in the suburbs they are currently a minority. Give it 10 more years... It also seems a fixer in the city can be had for a fraction of one in the suburbs.

Anyway, I mentioned Baltimore in a post a while ago. Certainly less fixers there every day. Read More