Estate auctions are great places to buy older furniture and antiques. That is where the antique dealers buy. I bought my first dining set at an estate auction. It was made by Ethan Allen. I also bought a bedroom set for $400. Brand new it would have been thousands. Generally if solid wood furniture has lasted 50-100 years, it will probably last your lifetime.
I would be a little scared of buying upholstered furniture because you can not tell if it is infested with fleas or bedbugs.
Mrs WBill just did that, picked up a couple of dressers for $100.
I was a little dubious, but shouldn't have been. They're both solid cherry. Gorgeous pieces of furniture, that we'll be giving to the grandkids a million years from now. A couple of nicks and scratches (they've been used) but nothing that won't come out with a little work and elbow grease.
Great deals to be had....I'm convinced!
Only complaint that I have is that they both weigh a $%$%#@$ ton. Whatever money my lovely wife saved, will go to repairing the hernia I got hauling them in the house. :-)