To ask for insights re this house?

[LookingForDreamHouse]

After MNers' positive and insightful recommendations re MistressPloppys house options, may I indulge you one more time to please help me out here?

We are about to buy our first house and due to limited funds, we have 90% settled on this;

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/new-homes/property-31870139.html?premiumA=true

It's not a forever home. We are happy to live here for a few years until we are able to afford our dream home. It's a much better alternative to paying rent in excess of 2k a month.

I like it because its new, modern, and we have a blank canvass to decorate. There are young families there, a lovely playground, good schools and beautiful views of the golf course and equestrian center.

However, I am having second thoughts because I have not lived in a "development" before and I am worried about what the area may become 3 or 4 years down the line.

• Is it a good investment?
  
• Will the value be preserved in years to come?
  
• Is there a risk of the development becoming like an "estate"?
  
• Will it be quick to sell, years down the line, if we decide to move or find our forever home?
  

I would be very grateful if you could kindly offer pros and cons for this house.

Thank you.

[LookingForDreamHouse]

PS: I'm a bruised and battered MN veteran, name-changed to preserve fragile mindset :)

[squeakytoy]

limited funds and buying a house that costs half a million

[Greenstocking]

It looks lovely but it IS an estate.
Nothing wrong with that - smashing with children!

[onlion]

Not much garden to speak of. I cant say i like it. it looks like it would date quickly and become run down/estate like if Im honest.

[onlion]

Hate the faux front balconies...looks like units

[PaisleyLeaf]

link
I guess the future of the estate depends on them getting the buyers they're targeting.....LOL at the last pic!

[LookingForDreamHouse]

Greenstocking, I think the playground and lots of children is smashing too....I'm just worried about whether there is a possibility it may go downhill, management etc and whether it will be "sell-able" down the line.

[PorkChopSter]

It all looks very nice on the plans and the website. But, yes I have no idea whether it will become estate like.

The house itself: I would go mad having the kitchen downstairs and living room on a different floor, also you would not be on the same floor as the children. How old are the kids? Are they likely to be in the living room while you are trying to sleep in the master bedroom?

If it's only a couple of years and it costs you the same as renting, and is in the right place, I'd be tempted to go for it.

[FabbyChic]

For that amount of money you can get a forever home, it's going to look washed out in a few years, I prefer something with more character.

[purepurple]

The last photo of the waitrose sign is priceless

[onlion]

Just thinking of resale. These things sell well when new but not so much when "used".

[squeakytoy]

I would want something with a lot more character for that amount of money too.

I wouldnt like to be living so close to the power station either.

[LookingForDreamHouse]

PorkChopSter

Only 1 child presently, he's almost 2. The master bedroom is on floor 2, and the other bedrooms are on floor 3.

I'm thinking its okay for a couple of years too......

[onlion]

If you look at the main plan, it will be quite congested when its developed.
I like the open plan though.

[LookingForDreamHouse]

FabbyChic

Work and family means we'd prefer to live in london and the house costs are astronomical...the type of house we would like ideally is out of our range at the moment...in london.

[onlion]

What sort of dream house are you after?

[LookingForDreamHouse]

Onlion....congested is the word I missed. At the moment, 3/4 complete, there's already parking problems....people are parking on the roads already.

[onlion]

I dont know London at all...where is it in the grand scheme of things?

[LookingForDreamHouse]

Onlion..xposted.....my ideal home list :)

3/4 Bedroom
2 Bathroom
Detached
Town House?
Garden
Parking
Conservatory
Greenery
Quiet
Cosmopolitan
Good Schools
Good Neighbours

[LookingForDreamHouse]

Soverylucky
We're in NW atm too.
The areas we like are Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb and MillHill....in that order. You can imagine the prices here. For that amount, we'd probably get apartment/flats in hampstead, not houses.

[CoffeeIsMyFriend]

It has been beautifully 'staged'

Not a house for me - A it is in London, B it is a new build and C I really dislike the design of the house.

[icooksocks]

Fuck me thats posh. If half a million doesn't get you your dream house-then I'm thrilled I dont live in London.
I'm not a fan of newbuilds in general-I think not only do they lack character but they also don't seem to be half as well built as they used to be 50 years ago. As its not going to be your forever home-the lack of character isn't too much of an issue. However the possible sub-standard building may be.

[squeakytoy]

I live in SE London, 20 mins train journey to Waterloo, and that sort of money will buy a 5 bedroom house in a nice area, with a huge garden.

[onlion]

Are there a lot of kids in the area? I dont see that as a home for children.