Three Top Tips for Buying Your First Mid-Century Modern Home

Hello to my lovers of vintage charm, my connoisseurs of wacky and weird decor, my wallpaper weirdos and my colorful tile crazies – I’m so happy you’re here. This is a safe space for everyone obsessed with mid-century modern.

For so many of us, buying a mid-century modern home is the dream. We go crazy for those minimal lines, those big windows, those earthy tones. There is something so special about this era of home, and we all want our little slice of history.

Taking a step back from the fantasy and actually looking at the logistics can be a little … daunting. How do we even start the search? Can we even purchase a MCM home in our budget? How do we know the home isn’t riddled with problems we can’t see?

These questions are super normal, and actually have answers that are more straightforward than you might expect. As your resident Portland mid-century modern realtor, I’m here to help break down my top tips for buying your first MCM home, and turning that wild dream into an actual reality.

Tip #1: Actually Map Out Your Dream

Believe it or not, saying “I want a mid-century modern home” can mean so many different things. I know it can be tempting to scroll the listings on Zillow, or attend that open house down the street, but without understanding what exactly you want in a MCM home, it may be difficult to make moves forward.

I have a lot of clients that come to me with general ideas, and these are the questions we typically talk through to map out their dream:

What are your priorities?

MCM homes come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, locations, maintenance needs, price-points, and more. You could be looking for a total fixer-upper to restore over time, or a nearly-there home that’s been well maintained, or a budget-friendly home that needs some updates but puts you in the right school district for your future family. Having a clear idea of your priorities helps to inform the house-hunt, and pick the right home that supports your goals.

What is your budget?

It’s no secret that MCM homes, especially those that have been well maintained and accurately updated over the years, can go for a fair amount of money. That’s not to say that it’s necessary to have a large budget to buy mid-century – you can absolutely get a MCM home at many different price-points. Your budget will simply help to determine exactly what kind of home is most accessible to you, and ensure that your priorities align.

How comfortable do you feel making updates to the home?

As you might expect, the MCM homes that could be featured in Architectural Digest often have the highest prices and require the least amount of updates, whereas the homes that are more budget-friendly may need a little extra lift for form or function, just depending on your taste. The clients of mine that obsess over weird wallpaper or go crazy for shag carpet may find their perfect MCM home at a lower price-point, but others who prefer a more minimalistic vibe may need to make some adjustments. If you find yourself really excited about making updates to a home and making it your own, then consider true fixer-upper opportunities at an even lower price-point as an option.

Tip #2: House-Hunt With the Right Team

When purchasing a mid-century modern home, you’ll be investing in an older home, and all the good and bad that comes with. That’s why it’s so important to arm yourself with a team of experts that can actually educate you on what you’re getting, and empower you to make the best decision for you.

Real Estate Agent

You’ll bring your vintage-inspired dream to an agent, and it’s their job to show you houses that fit the vision, point out the good and the bad as you walk through the house, educate you on what you’re getting, lead inspections, gather bids for any work, manage negotiations, and keep you informed the whole way through. When buying a MCM house, it’s especially important to choose someone who understands the era (no cookie cutter homes here!), really gets the ins and out of buying an older home, and is well-connected with vendors and contractors to get you any answers you might need.

Inspector

Just as important as finding an agent who gets it, is finding an inspector who is incredibly thorough. Once you have an accepted offer on a home, you’ll go through inspections and receive a lengthy report on everything they found. You’ll walk through this, often with your agent and your inspector, to really get to know the type of investment you’re making. From there, your agent can help gather bids for any work the house might need.

Tip #3: Embrace the Wacky and Weird

Mid-century modern homes really embody charm and character. From the wood paneled walls, to custom built-ins, to funky roof lines, to vintage brick fireplaces, MCM homes are built to stand out.

If you’re a lover of MCM (which you must be if you’ve made it this far), my final top tip is to embrace the wackiness and weirdness these awesome homes have to offer. When you’re touring homes and figuring out how to make your dream a reality, it might be easy to get caught up in expectations or aesthetics. But just like people, each MCM home is unique and special, and has so much personality you could fall in love with.

Maybe you find a fixer that isn’t quite what you were hoping for, but the layout makes you fall in love and sparks your first mid-century renovation, or maybe you didn’t know you needed an authentic wood-burning fireplace but you found a house with one and it’s now the century of family gatherings. 

Approaching this process with goals, but remaining open and curious, allows you to find a home that doesn’t just make someone happy, it makes you happy.

Final Thoughts

The dream to buy your very own slice of mid-century modern history is such a cool one. As a fan of quirky and character-filled homes myself, I totally get it.

Buying an older home might feel a little daunting, but it doesn’t have to. Getting clear on your priorities from the get-go, using an agent that gets the vision, and an inspector that leaves no stone unturned can help you feel confident on turning that dream into a reality. 

When you’re ready to embrace all the goodness these amazing homes have to offer, reach out, I would love to help make your MCM dreams come true.