Living with history: 200-year-old houses for sale
Looking for a home with a bit of history?
In many areas, older homes cost more than newer homes because of their historic value, said Diana Goff, a broker associate with Handsome Properties in Charleston, South Carolina.
There are, however, tax breaks available for buyers of historic homes if those homes are located in a historic district.
You'll find a higher concentration of 200-year-old homes on the country's East Coast, but that doesn't mean there aren't some out West, too.
In New Mexico, for example, you'll find adobe homes built by Spanish settlers in the region. Diane Enright, a broker associate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Taos, New Mexico, said a number of these homes are in her area, but many have been modernized inside, and it's rare to find one that has been restored with period details.
"These older homes have to be remodeled at some point, and so many people want that Santa Fe-style glitz," Enright said.
Buying a historic property may be a bit of an adjustment for the modern buyer, Goff said.
"With an older home, you don't have some of the modern conveniences we're used to, and you have to work with the quirkiness of the design," Goff said. "They didn't have these huge walk-in closets or bathrooms in their master suites."
Still, Goff said, older homes have an appeal for some buyers that modern homes don't.
"There's a certain patina to an old house you can't build into a new house," she said. "There's a feeling that comes with the grain in the floors and the high ceilings and the thick walls that you just can't capture."
Click ahead to see 10 homes for sale that are 200 years old or older.
The Lafayette House in Alexandria, Virginia
This six-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Alexandria's Old Town neighborhood was built in 1815 and is for sale for $6.2 million. It got its name from the Marquis de Lafayette, the Revolutionary War hero who stayed in the home when he visited Alexandria in 1824. The home's entry hall is decorated with a mural of Lafayette and his troops, and the room where he stayed is marked with a plaque.
The Lafayette House in Alexandria, Virginia
The home has 11 fireplaces -- some with carved and painted accents -- hardwood floors, pocket doors, original windows, a library and a sun room. It also has a 2,000-square-foot basement with a brick floor and arches, and a walled, landscaped garden.
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
This four-bedroom, five-bathroom home was built in 1812 and sits on a 61-acre equestrian farm in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. It was designed by architect Asher Benjamin and is for sale for $1.9 million.
Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
The home has several fireplaces, a game room, a wine cellar and a solarium. It also has a swimming pool and pool house. The farm has an eight-stall horse barn and a fenced riding area.
Bakersville, North Carolina
This three-bedroom, one-bathroom log cabin in Bakersville, North Carolina, was built in 1812 and sits on a 1.48-acre lot. It's for sale for $249,900.
Bakersville, North Carolina
The cabin has its original stone chimneys and is made of oak and poplar logs. An addition on the back side of the house includes a kitchen and dining room. Renovation projects on the interior of the home are in progress, and it features wood walls, some wood floors and a stone fireplace.
The Samuel Hanson Home in Madison, Georgia
This four-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Madison, Georgia, was built in 1816 and restored in 2005. It's for sale for $1.15 million. The first owner, Samuel Hanson, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, according to the local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter.
The Samuel Hanson Home in Madison, Georgia
The 4,110-square-foot home has hardwood floors, five fireplaces, a dining room with space for 12 people, a front parlor, a library and a terrace. It also has a four-stall horse barn and a three-car garage.
Charleston, South Carolina
This four-bedroom, five-bathroom stuccoed brick home in Charleston's Harleston Village neighborhood was built in 1816 and is for sale for $3.125 million. It was built by Thomas B. Seabrook, who owned a rice plantation on Edisto Island, to be his home in the city, according to Goff. A renovation in the mid-1800s added two towers with stained glass windows to the front of the house.
Charleston, South Carolina
The home has many of its original windows and wooden shutters, wood and tile floors, a garden, a garage and separate off-street parking, Goff said. The mantelpiece in the front parlor was carved over a period of 15 years by an Italian sculptor and had been part of Seabrook's home in England, Goff said. Seabrook brought it with him when he moved to the U.S.
The John Winton House in Lenoir City, Tennessee
This five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Lenoir City, Tennessee, was built in 1815 and is for sale for $475,000. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
The John Winton House in Lenoir City, Tennessee
The home sits on two acres of land and has a ground floor master suite, several fireplaces, a sunroom, an office and an outdoor entertaining area with a bar, warming kitchen and gazebo.
Taos, New Mexico
This three-bedroom, three-bathroom adobe home was built in 1795 by Spanish settlers, according to listing agent Diane Enright. Its construction coincided with the building of the nearby St. Francis de Assisi Mission, and some of the mission's design features are mimicked in the house, Enright said. It was renovated in 2001 and is for sale for $750,000.
Taos, New Mexico
The home has wood and tile floors, wood-beamed ceilings, a wine cellar, seven fireplaces, a greenhouse and a walled garden. The house is situated on a ridge overlooking a valley with mountain views, Enright said.
The Eliza Ward House in Providence, Rhode Island
This seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Providence's College Hill neighborhood was built in 1814 for Eliza Ward, whose father was one of the founders of Brown University. It was renovated in 2014 and is for sale for $1.649 million.
The Eliza Ward House in Providence, Rhode Island
The home still has some of its original Dufour wallpaper, a butler's pantry, an art studio, several fireplaces and a walled garden.
The E. A. Scribner House in Fremont, New Hampshire
This three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Fremont, New Hampshire, was built in 1810 with an addition in 1839. It sits on a five-acre lot with a pond and is for sale for $474,000.
The E. A. Scribner House in Fremont, New Hampshire
It has antique pine flooring, several fireplaces, a wood stove and a stone patio. The property also has a 400-square-foot cottage and a four-car garage.
Monkton, Maryland
This five-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Monkton was built in 1812. It sits on 34 acres of land and is for sale for about $850,000.
Monkton, Maryland
The home has a wrap-around porch, several fireplaces, a wood stove, hardwood floors and a wood-paneled library. A separate cottage on the property has water access.