Will an old oak tree close to my house cause problems?
Maybe I can post some pictures later but I have 3 very large oaks next to my house - one is absolutely huge and 10 feet away.  There are tons of limbs directly over my roof.  Do I care?  Not really.  I asked my insurance company and they don't care nor do they offer discounts for trimming them back.  

Pros:


Tons of shade when you are out
Definitely lower energy costs in the summer
Protects roof and cars from hail and harsh weather
I have a 15 year old roof that looks half its age
burglars scared of spooky trees leave my house alone
have sticks to burn in backyard fire pit
once the leaves come in the sun isn't blinding in the morning


Cons:


branches, squirrels, and acorns hit the roof in late summer and fall
pollen
acorn residue in gutters (I have a guard so leaves don't get in)
I might have to pay someone in the future to cut something... almost 10 years here and haven't but I could at some point
leaves... I mulch them up as it sheds.  Not a ton of extra work but a little.


Things not mentioned:


roaches... huh?  Never had a roach in my house.
foundation issues... the house would have already had issues.  I would consider an older tree a minor threat to a patio area.
other bugs...  Never had any sort of bug/termite issue at my house.  I have 3 huge trees near my house and about 25 more in yard.  


I would consider it only a plus given two things.  First that the tree is in good condition.  You don't need a pro for this unless you think it is iffy.  Second if there is a branch that is a little too big for the tree creeping over the house.