Requesting advice about buying old houses

[Varsha Kgan]

I plan to buy a house in Bay Area - Sunnyvale/Fremont..I see good deals on houses built in 1958 or some in 1960s, 1970s.

I don't have past knowledge/experience with house repairs but am ok with spending some money (may be ~$50k ) on easy/inexpensive ones. 

But I am worried about any highly expensive/ not easily fixable foundational/structural issues in such old houses. 

Please advise what I should look for in the inspection report that would fall into don't buy vs buy and fix easily. 

For example: a) Is it ok to buy houses built in 1970s but not before that? b) Should I avoid houses with water leaks? 

I welcome your suggestions on any questions I should ask as well. Thank you!

[Arman Ahmed]

@Varsha Kgan

Great question, Varsha. Older homes can definitely be solid investments if you know what to watch for during inspection—foundation cracks, old plumbing, outdated electrical, and roof age are the main red flags. Water intrusion or any sign of structural movement should make you pause. Many investors who start in higher-cost markets like the Bay Area eventually look to the Midwest because it offers lower entry prices, better cash flow, and newer inventory for the same amount of capital, which allows them to scale faster while keeping risk manageable.