Taos real estate is repleat with authentic old adobe homes loaded with charm and character. Then there are the brand new state of the art homes and everything in between. The decision whether to buy an older home or a newer one can pose a mixed bag of pros and cons. Some buyers have a strong inclination to an older home's charms or a new home's conveniences. Sometimes your area or your price range will dictate your decision for you, one way or the other.

If you're not a buyer who is completely clear on whether you want to buy an older home or a new-ish one, here are some of the factors to consider, pro and con, as you compare and contrast homes built in different eras:

1. The Charm Factor. Obviously, "older" and "newer" are relative terms. If your area is one where "older" homes are those which were built in the '60s or '70s, you might not find them to be particularly charming. But many buyers do find there to be a particular charm and aesthetic detail in homes built in the early part of the last century - from the 1900's to the 1940's, say - that is uber-attractive and decidedly craveable. (To be fair, in some areas, the Eichlers and other modern styles of the mid-century are seen as having similar cachet as much older homes, especially when compared to 80s, 90s and later construction.)

The classic styles and eras tend to have strong appeal to large groups of home buyers, as do the maturity of the trees and other details.

Buyers who are committed to having this "Charm Factor" in their lives and their homes are not likely to find this particular feel in newer neighborhoods, though many builders and subdivisions do make an effort to replicate the best qualities of older homes and neighborhoods with reproduction features.

2. House history. Newer homes have little or no history - anyone who has ever bought a brand new home can attest to the relatively blank slate of disclosures they receive from the builder. A blank slate sounds great, but also means you really don't know about what glitches the property may have, and my experience has been that every home - even brand new ones - have glitches or quirks. The sun might create a funny bleach spot on the floor in one room, or the place might settle over the first few years to have an unexpected slope. A roof on which it has never rained might even turn out to have a design flaw or leak. And the fact that the home hasn't been lived in means that no one can flag these issues - or fix them - for you in advance. (Most newly built homes do have warranties that cover the worst of such 'lemon' home issues.)

Older homes may come with a lovely family history or even just a detailed record of what has and hasn't worked - and what has and hasn't been repaired and replaced over time, with which newer homes can't compete. But they also may come with the tough-to-erase remnants and consequences of historical occupants and their activities on the property, from lead paint remains in the soil that prohibit you from growing vegetables in the ground to the very unfortunate (and extremely toxic) consequences of illegal activities like the manufacture of methamphetamine.

3. Conveniences. One would think that newer homes would almost always have conveniences that older homes lack, especially in the realm of newer appliances and mechanical systems like plumbing, air conditioners, heating and even insulation. But there can critical periods at issue, here - while very new homes are likely to have the latest of everything, homes built 20, 30 even 40 years ago can be more out of date than homes built 70, 80 or 90 years ago - especially in areas where very old homes are very desirable, as the latter might be more likely to have been updated by a recent owner.

However, as you look at and compare older homes with newer ones, also give thought to the less easily updated differences across the construction eras, like:

Layout: Older homes are less likely to have wide open floor plans, sky-high ceilings and the massive windows that allow in the natural light that more contemporary styles let in. Size: Some eras of older construction simply didn't focus on building homes beyond a basic 1,500 or 2,000 square feet - in areas where those homes predominate, it might be difficult to find a home much larger than that, if that's what your household requires. Room Size: Older homes tended to be designed around smaller rooms - and especially smaller bedrooms and fewer, smaller closets and storage spaces - than newer homes. Accessibility: Depending on the era, older homes might not have the space and layout suitable for homeowners who are looking to 'age in place,' or care for an older relative; early-century eras of construction may include stairways, hallways and doorways too narrow for wheelchairs and walkers to easily fit through.

4. Maintenance. Unless you're able to find that best-of-both-worlds older home with recent upgrades, with an older home you should take extra care to understand the age and condition of all the home's mechanical and electrical systems, and to get a good sense for the cost of any upgrades you'll want to do - before you finalize the purchase. Also, be aware that some of the ornate classic home styles may have intricate woodwork, like the so-called gingerbread adorning many a Victorian home, that is both prone to damage (from water or termites) and costly or impossible to replace.

Flip side: new homes *can* pose a lower maintenance cost, but the fact is that new home buyers still face the 'potential lemon' problem of being the first to discover any glitches or design/construction flaws.

Ultimately, there's no one right answer to the older/newer home decision. It's really a matter of fit.