Martha’s Vineyard Estate From 1688 Tops This Week’s List of the 10 Oldest Homes for Sale

There’s something soothing about looking at things that have withstood the test of time. Perhaps that’s why our regular peeks at the oldest homes on the market are so darn popular.

The 10 oldest homes available for sale this week date all the way to the establishment of the 13 ragtag Colonies. Each represents a long-standing commitment to the stories they have to tell and to all the people who took care of these homes through the years.

The list is topped by an estate on Martha’s Vineyard, MA, that was established in 1688. The James Allen House sits right next to Chilmark Pond and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

The “newest” listing to crack the list was completed in 1760 and once served as a stagecoach stop. Today, it’s a lovingly updated family home with a living room where the tavern used to be.

Have a look at this week’s 10 oldest homes—we think they’ll serve as a refreshing antidote to today’s world.

Price: $4,195,000
Year built: 1688
James Allen House: Spread over 6 acres, this waterfront estate includes a private Atlantic Ocean beach and deeded access to a dock on Chilmark Pond. The listing notes that generations of the same family have lived in and loved this Martha’s Vineyard retreat.

The grounds are landscaped with stone walls, fields, lawns, and walking paths. Buildings on the property include a two-bedroom guest cottage, a one-bedroom bunkhouse, garage, and garden shed.

The three-bedroom main house has a number of fireplaces and is surrounded by lovely views of the water.

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Price: $579,900
Year built: 1727
Antique Colonial: Updated and well-maintained, this three-bedroom historic home sits on more than an acre at the end of a quiet dead-end street.

Highlights include a four-season room, a large dining room space with water views of Mill Pond, and a family room with beamed ceiling, plus a pellet stove. There’s also a basement, as well as a freshly renovated kitchen and bathrooms.

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Price: $1,550,000
Year built: 1734
All-inclusive estate: Enormous by every conceivable definition, this estate of over 31 acres is only 40 minutes from downtown Philadelphia. The main house is a six-bedroom stone farmhouse dating to the Colonial era.

The spread includes the main home, a guest home, and a barn converted into a contemporary office building. The eclectic offering also has such amenities as an in-ground pool, a tennis court, paths, natural pond, motocross race course, and a field of solar panels.

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Price: $925,000
Year built: 1739
Westwood Manor: This landmark home sits on a hill, surrounded by views and 30 acres of crop land.

The three-bedroom main house is one of only two known brick 18th-century gambrel roof structures still standing in Charles County. The home has retained many of its original details, including wood floors, molding, and two staircases.

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Price: $549,900
Year built: 1745
Lemon Hill Farm: Behold this four-bedroom Bucks County retreat, recently updated with a new kitchen and bathroom.

Only the second home to be built in the original village, it’s brimming with antique details, like the pie stairs, millwork, wide-plank hardwood floors and built-ins. The 2.5-acre spread includes a carriage house that has been converted into a garage with a loft.

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Price: $895,000
Year built: 1746
Deacon Timothy Pratt House: A local landmark, this five-bedroom, center-chimney Colonial was recently renovated. It features a “treetop” third-floor bedroom suite with cathedral ceiling, exposed beams, sitting area, and private bath.

The half-acre property is listed on the National Historic Register and could be used as a bed-and-breakfast, according to the listing.

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Price: $400,000
Year built: 1740
Commercial potential: The seller is looking for someone to make an offer on this historic three-bedroom home, which is zoned for potential commercial use.

The owner is currently expanding the home to create two more bedrooms, and has a written history of the place ready to pass on to a buyer.

The 4-acre spread may need some work, but appears to have investment potential, plus plenty of historical value.

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Price: $998,000
Year built: 1752
Doremus House: This old home needs your finishing touches. According to the listing, the interior of this historic four-bedroom has been demolished and is ready for a new owner to finish the renovation of this classic property.

On more than 4 acres, it’s ready to be transformed into something special, and, for a development-minded buyer, the property has the potential to be subdivided.

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Price: $849,900
Year built: 1760
Charles Russell House: This quaint, 4-acre property is bordered by stone walls and lilacs. The five-bedroom main house has wide pine floors, a walk-in pantry, and a sunroom overlooking the backyard.

The oversized attached barn has basement storage, plus a two-bedroom apartment with an updated kitchen and separate utilities.

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Price: $445,000
Year built: 1760
Steere-Harris House: Restored throughout, this antique four-bedroom Colonial offers a spacious 2,922 square feet of living area.

It was once a stagecoach stop, and the family room once served as the tavern. There’s also an outbuilding formerly used as a wash house, as well as a post-and-beam barn being used as a workshop.

For buyers interested in growing their own produce, the listing notes that the fenced-in vegetable garden has incredibly rich soil.