5 reasons to put a downpayment on a fixer upper

The home improvement shows you see on tv make it look so easy. Buy a complete dump of a house with "good bones," and presto change-o, turn it into your dream home!

The reality, however, is that buying a fixer upper is some serious work. One option is to hire someone to do the work, which is the way to go if you don't have the right experience for the job. But it's expensive, since you have to pay for labor. And you can't just check out and let the pro handle everything, since there will be any number of mistakes and miscommunications during a renovation.

Another option is to do the work yourself. This is the route that my husband and I went, although my father was the contractor on the job. You save money on labor (thanks, Dad!), but the work takes significantly longer because things like day jobs get in the way. Plus we work more slowly than a professional, who does their specific kind of work day in and day out. And time is an important consideration -- it can mean months and months of a living room full of scaffolding, plastic, and dust. Ask me how I know.

Still, if I had to do it over again, I'd buy the fixer upper. Here are five reasons why you might consider doing the same:

1. A lower mortgage payment

Fixer uppers are priced lower because they need some work. And the lower the sales price, the lower your mortgage payment will be, for the life of the loan. So even if you pour $25,000 into your home, you're still paying that same low mortgage payment. You're just living in a much nicer house.

In my case, my mortgage payment is less than I'd pay in rent for a similar property, especially now that the house has been updated.

2. A better neighborhood

Sometimes buying a fixer upper allows you to live in an area that you otherwise couldn't afford. This can be especially important to parents who want to buy a home in a specific school district.

By buying a house in disrepair, you can get into the right area of town, then gradually improve the house as you have the funds. Plus, your new neighbors will love you for fixing the eyesore that's been lowering their property value.

3. A higher return on investment

This is what professional house flippers do for a living. They buy a rundown house, fix it up, then put it back on the market for a nice return.

But it's even more profitable for homeowners, thanks to Internal Revenue Code 121. The code states that if you own and occupy the house for two of the five years before you sell it, up to $250,000 of your profit is tax-free. A married couple filing jointly can claim up to $500,000 tax-free profits.

Of course, any homeowner can benefit from that rule, but homeowners who fixed a fixer upper are likely to enjoy a higher profit when they sell.

4. An aesthetically pleasing home

If you're the type of person who peruses Architectural Digest for fun and has collected hundreds (or thousands) of interior design images on Pinterest, buying a fixer upper might be the only route for you. I know it was for me.

I looked at several nice-enough homes with amenities like new carpet and updated granite counters. Only I hate carpet and I wanted butcher block counters, so I wanted to replace those things. Plus, the brand new houses I toured lacked the character I love in older homes.

If that sounds like you, it might be better to buy the fixer upper instead of the more expensive, updated house.

5. New skill sets and knowledge bases

This applies more to the DIYers, but even those who hire contractors are going to learn a fair amount about home construction.

In just the first year after buying my fixer upper, I've learned things like how to paint rooms, how to refinish ceilings, how to tile a wall and a floor, how to use a compound miter saw, how to float and tape drywall, how to apply Venetian plaster, and so much more.

Not only does that give me a sense of pride, but should there ever be a crack in the plaster, I know exactly how to fix it.

Fixer uppers can be a pain, but also very rewarding. The most important thing is to be sure you know what you're getting into. Double check your budget and estimates, and shell out the money for a comprehensive inspection before you purchase the property. You want to buy a handyman's special, not a train wreck!

Photo credit to Kevin Irby