Is there any advantage to buying a two year old house instead of offplan?

[QuenelleOJersey2012]

We bought our house off plan in 2010. It's in a new village, which is the first of several planned villages which will make up a new town. They are still building new houses in our village and will be for at least another year.

We want to move but what are the changes of selling when we're up against new houses being released every few months? Our road has been complete for nearly a year and it's all starting to look a bit more established. Our back garden is maturing nicely and we have obviously put all the curtain poles, blinds, flooring, toilet roll holders etc in the house. Might any of these things go in our favour against buying off plan?

If they don't we're basically stuck here for another 10 or 15 years because there will be new developments going on all the time.

[surroundedbyblondes]

We weren't in the middle of a development, but we sold our 3 year old house with ease. People liked that it had been 'finished' ie. decorated, garden established, terrace and driveway done etc.

We bought a 3 year old house (in a different place) for the same reason. By then we had 2 DCs and no desire to do any substantial work to a house. Here everything was finished and apart from some decorating that was purely an issue of taste, we had nothing major to do.

I don't know how 'finished' the other houses are around you that are for sale. Be sure to get it sparkling and clutter free for photos/viewings and as your garden etc. looks established/well tended, those should be your selling points. Plus the first problems that surface in a new house should have been seen to in your case. Luxury for any potential buyer!!!

[lalalonglegs]

I'd sooner buy your house because I've heard terrible stories about plans being changed between people buying off plan and the property being completed. Builds always over-run so you'd be able to move into yours much quicker and there would (presumably) not be the inevitably snagging. Finally, I expect your house is further away from the ongoing building works than the newer houses will be and, yes, I'd prefer a house where the garden had been established, I definitely had neighbours rather than a load of to be sold plots etc.

Bad news for you is that people are (foolishly) prepared to pay more for a brand new house - I've no idea why given the above list of drawbacks.

[FruitSaladIsNotPudding]

I am looking and always avoid new builds/off plan because they are more expensive and the price is not negotiable (or not negotiable enough!). I am always amazed people are prepared to pay a premium for new.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

I will never buy off plan - it is always easier to see the place decorated and rather than some artist impression or some staging by the agent. I don't have much of an imagination or concept of spaces and would be lost if I couldn't see the space....

Off plan gives no idea as to what your views are like, how overlooked you are or how light the rooms are...

Off plan never lives up to expectations

[tricot39]

Off plan means living with all the building snags for the first few years with the builders coming in and out to fix. Sounds like a hassle to me!

[QuenelleOJersey2012]

Thanks everyone. Very encouraging responses. I suppose the main reason to buy off plan is the incentives: part ex, 95% mortgages etc, some people could't buy at all without them.

I will just cross my fingers for more discerning buyers like you lot