What about the original colonial homes that have served to inspire the present-day craze for modern colonial-style residences? They still exist in many cities and towns in the Central Valley (the Barrio Amón and Barrio Otoya sections of downtown San Jose have a number of beautiful old colonial homes), though many have fallen into disrepair, and their numbers are dwindling. Quite a few of these buildings tend to be substantially different stylistically from their modern “copies”; they feature ornate architectural flourishes and borrow from an eclectic blend of styles. Most have a wide central passageway that opens up on spacious rooms to both the right and the left. High ceilings, thick walls, and ornate floor tiles are the norm. If you’re looking for something unique and if these buildings appeal to you, then you might want to consider this option. Remember, though, that buying one of these homes probably means getting involved in a lengthy remodeling project. Before you buy any older building—of whatever style—it is paramount that you or your lawyer determine whether that building has been declared national patrimony. If so, you’ll be hemmed in by a set of bureaucratic regulations that dictate what you can do with your own property.

Interestingly, some “colonial” homes are a delightful blend of colonial architectural features and gingerbread-like details that evoke Victorian architecture. Some of these morphs, in fact, seem to incorporate more Victorian touches than colonial, though you find increasingly few examples, as many of these homes were built out of wood and have long since crumbled.