Buying TiME The view from the roof of the Nevada Museum of Art overlooks the Old Southwest neighborhood and the Sierras. PHOTO/JERI CHADWELL-SINGLEY
A homebuyer’s introduction to Reno’s historical houses did you know that spring is homebuying season? what about the fact that homes for sale are actually pretty scarce and fairly expensive these days? it’s what’s known as a seller’s market, and according to the reno/Sparks association of realtors’ monthly market report for March, it’s likely to stay that way. 14
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by Jeri Chadwell-Singley | j er i c @ n ews r evi ew. c o m The result is that many prospective homebuyers face looking at homes farther and farther away from the Truckee Meadows’ metropolitan center. Still, the coming months will likely see an increase in the number of existing homes going on the market. And if you’re thinking about buying, it’ll help to know what’s out there—especially if you think you may be interested in snapping up one of Reno’s centrally located older homes. Perhaps you’ve always found the idea of a Queen Anne house with a steeply pitched roof and ornamented gables appealing. Or maybe you’re drawn to the large picture windows and wide roof overhangs of a ranch. On the other hand, those architectural terms may mean absolutely nothing to you. But even if you think you know what you’re looking for, it can help to ask yourself some questions before beginning your search in earnest. Relax—these are simple questions, not riddles. Mostly, they deal with how you envision life in your new home, and many would apply regardless of said home’s age.
Consider things like whether you’ll want a big backyard, a prominent front porch, an attached garage or multiple stories. After narrowing in on these preferences, you’ll be ready to look at the types of old homes Reno has to offer and determine which might make the best fit for you.
What’s in an architectural name? Realtor and historic preservationist Barrie Lynn owns multiple copies of a thick volume called A Field Guide to American Houses. Laid out in chronological order, the book covers architectural styles ranging from preColumbian indigenous structures to millennial mansions. When discussing architecture in Reno, Lynn flips immediately to the back half of the book. “Reno’s architectural history begins in the late 1800s, so when you have a book like this you’re really only using the very back
half of it, because there’s a whole section of architecture in here that comes way before Reno existed,” she said. Early architectural styles found in Reno include Queen Anne homes and Craftsman bungalows. Born of the Victorian era, Queen Anne homes are generally ornate and multistory. They were being built for several decades before the Arts and Crafts movement made its way west to Reno, bringing with it what Lynn describes as a “rebellion against the era of mass production and industrialization.” With the Arts and Crafts movement came Craftsman homes, which feature roofs that are less steep set atop homes that place a greater focus on horizontal space and hand-built details. Their nature-influenced, rough-hewn exteriors can include things like river rock chimneys and exposed roof rafters. Here in Reno, though, Craftsman bungalows often have another signature feature—solid brick construction. The Reno Press Brick company was in operation by the early 20th century, Lynn
