Older El Paso Houses Bring History to Life

If you have your sights set on a brand spanking new El Paso house, the romance of a home that’s witnessed the comings and goings of previous generations probably doesn’t call out to you. At least not nearly as powerfully as a front door lock that’s yet to be turned, a kitchen with nary a ding nor scratch—or a roof covered by a decades-long warranty with your name at the top.

On the other hand, if you are drawn to older houses, to you, the best ones have character that can’t be matched. They have substance in a way that only time can convey. To some extent, they’re all historic!

If you love older houses, a new home’s first-one-in advantages don’t beckon as much as the feeling of a home that’s stood tall through many decades. You’re well aware that its maintenance will be in your hands. You’re comfortable in taking up responsibilities that your predecessors have shouldered in the past. When an older El Paso house is in terrific condition, keeping it in top shape is a continuing source of pride—all the more so when it really is “historic.”

Now, about that word: historic. Whether or not an older house carries the official designation, most enthusiasts think of an older El Paso house in that light if it fits into one or more of these categories:

• If a previous owner is a significant historical personage—or the home was known to have hosted such persons—it qualifies.
• If it can be linked to a significant event in history, likewise.
• If its construction techniques or characteristics are unique enough to be of historical architectural value, it qualifies.
• If it is old enough to exemplify truly historical qualities (a common example is a house “built with wooden nails”). I think square nails should qualify.

Being officially designated is another matter—and not always a welcome one. There are guidelines that need to be met. Once El Paso buildings are declared to be historic, they are likely to fall into a special category when it comes to changing anything about them—which can create hurdles that run-of-the-mill homeowners don’t always want to worry about.

Designated historic El Paso homes are few and far in between in the El Paso listings, but whether you’re on the lookout for a well-cared-for older house or one ready to greet its first owners, I’m standing by to help you discover it!