Detached new build or 1930s semi

[user1475955902]

Back story: In early May we sold our 1990s 3 bed (2 dbl and box room) det link house to a lady who had sold her house. We fell in love with and had offer accepted on 3 bed 1930s semi in our desired (better) area with lovely (better) schools (we have 3dc under 10) than where we currently are (though bedroom sizes smallish and would have meant a loft conversion for larger 3rd bedroom and small 4th bed) - so all good! Budget for works factored in price. Small chain - our buyer, us and seller.

However, chain collapsed on exchange day due to buyer's financial issues (no deposit from buyer) so seller decided to put house back on market immediately and it was resold to another family a few days later .

Our dilemma is, (new offer accepted from a ftb) now have narrowed our new choices down to 2 in new area that we (Dh) and I like but,

I want to offer on another 1930s semi with large garden (my idea of Heaven!) but it needs quite a bit of work (new kitchen, bathroom, lots of diy, new carpets and redecor etc) but has larger room sizes (3 doubles) than previous offered.

or

my DH is now more keen on a new build, 4 double bed, detached, single garage with 2 car parking, on a small development. He feels it's a better investment, no work etc, space to enjoy and no weekends/holidays decorating, diy etc, good square footage. Last plot for sale on small development by builder includes substantial discounts, flooring and other incentives and immediate moving in date. Downside for me is Plot has small garden, much smaller than other plots sold on site.

Both in same desirable area with good schools.

WWYD?

TIA

[daisydalrymple]

We're in a 1930s semi with 3 double bedrooms. We moved in 10 years ago and now have 3 dcs. Renovations still not finished, the jobs we did manage mostly now need redoing, I crave a four bed detached on a new development, but they're slightly out of our budget at the moment.

Whilst this type of property is not my imagined forever home, i would love the ease of living for the next ten years or so. Ultimately it depends on how important all the variables are to you though. How much work does the semi need, are you good at diy / living with work going on around you etc. Good luck with your decision!

[Mrsladybirdface]

Detached new build! Completely understand your dhs pov re weekend jobs. We have renovated a 60s bungalow and the jobs are endless! They really eat into family time. You can make a small garden lovely and will cost less than making a large garden lovely!

[daisydalrymple]

Also, is there open space / parks close by to make up for the gardens? How old are your dcs? I think it depends on what they're used to too. Children adapt very quickly to changes if there are favourable ones to outweigh the minuses.

[meringue33]

Go for the new build!
We've just renovated our 30s semi. Took 6 months and was painful!!! It would have been so much easier to buy new build, we haven't had a chilled weekend for donkeys!!!

[oleoleoleole]

No brainer. New house. Detached over a semi. Have lived in both types of house and the benefit of a detached is that you can't hear neighbours and they can't hear you. Nice to have a big garden but it's not like we can use it for more than a third of the year (at best). Best of luck whatever you choose.

[camena]

Detached! While I would be very torn over the garden size, I think that detached would win for me, provided the smaller garden is relatively private and not depressing.

[angeldiver]

1930's everytime.
The new builds are just so flimsy, you can hear a flea fart in the next room! The gardens too are so small.
I personally don't like the open plan layouts that most new builds seem to have now. It's not great for any sort of privacy or quiet space.

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I'm going to go against PPs and say 1930s house.

I have one ( so am biased ) and have loved making it my own (& it needed nearly everything doing), but I'd much rather have this than a new build, as my experience of new build has been thin walls, smaller spaces, bland and less opportunity to personalise, lower ceilings, no lovely bay windows and generally more expensive than older houses.

expects to be flamed

[BellMcEnd]

New build: we also have 3 DCs under the age of 10. We have a largish 3 bedroom 1930s house with a big garden.

It's a gorgeous house, or at least it could be if we had about £75K to spend on it. It was a real do-er upper when we bought it and although we've done loads there's still a lot to do. The garden is great but unless you have a lot of time to spend on it, just doing the basics will stretch you (imo).

Our house is actually on the market as we've decided that much as we like it, we don't want to spend all our spare time, energy and money on the house. We are looking to move to a different area for other reasons schools but we'll definitely be looking at more modern houses with smaller, more manageable gardens - that's what parks are for! We're looking at houses to last us about 15 years, then hopefully a little cottage with a rose garden for our dotage!

[Roygrace]

We need links

[Bagina]

Not into new builds but would definitely go for it. No diy and it's DETACHED!!! I'm currently tip toeing round a doer upper semi; I'm so over it! We have a big garden but it's lots of work.

[orangebird69]

1930s without a doubt. New builds are souless cardboard boxes. Hollow doors, poxy gardens, paper walls will not be standing in 80 years time like a 30s built house is now.

[shazkiwi]

Go for the 1930's as long as you can pay someone to do the big DIY jobs, otherwise they will hang around your neck like a millstone. OH is currently putting in new doorframes & its taking forever - I wish we had paid someone to do it.

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

I would go for new build. We bought a house that needed "cosmetic" work and I have hated it. Taking up weekends, money and our energy.

Very tempted by new builds ourselves!
I feel you on the garden, but maybe once the children have moved out you can buy a cottage with an epic garden then?
I also think proximity to parks and things are more important. And actually regular mowing and pruning and garden maintenance are again time consuming and sometimes it is a chore even though I love our very simple easy going garden, it is more work than I realised anyway :)

[user1475955902]

Thanks for all your responses (so far), I can see the advantages of the new build, and it does have a park/open spaces nearby (ds9, dtg4)and take the point that the garden is only useable for a third of the year (though it is private) However the creative in me would love a more characterful house, (after our 1990s box) though this one is not so open plan (separate dining room, lounge and breakfast kitchen) and we do need to factor in the help to buy payments in 5 years time which is slightly adding to the decision tbh!

[nennyrainbow]

1930s for me, no question. But it will depend on how much you enjoy gardening / DIY. I enjoy both which is just as well as I live in a 1930s characterful detached with a huge garden. I can't imagine feeling at home in most new builds. I also don't know what I'd do with my time!

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

Are you in an area where house prices go up steadily? You could remortgage and pay off the help to buy loan then?

When I looked into my mortgage wouldnbe so much cheaper that we would essentially be quids in using help to buy without factoring house price increases (in comparison to my exorbitant mortgage on my doer upper!) and also the repayments on the loan were also very reasonable too, I thought :)

[nennyrainbow]

Garden usable for a third of the year? We use ours pretty much all year round!

[PurpleWithaMysteryBun]

Maybe go through all your mortgage options with an advisor, there are lots you can play around with, possibly even using less htb or larger deposit etc

[chocolateshortcake]

1930s semi every time. I have one, its spacious and colourful and lovely, and although definitely a work in progress, it's worth it not to live in a box that's the same as all the others.

[JoJoSM2]

I'd go for the new built and have a life. You'll be able to spend more time with your husband and children. Also, the 30's house needs the work that your husband isn't willing to do so you'd need to fork out tens of thousands to sort it out. the garden is small bit it doesn't mean it can't be fab - you could make it your personal project to make it stunning... And I think that with children getting older, it'd be great for everyone to have their own bedroom + all that storage in the garage. you can always go for a characterful house with a large garden when the children have flown the nest.

[Mitfordhons]

The new build is unlikely to be a better investment if it's literally new, you always pay more to be the first owner. Dsis and her Dh bought one a few years ago, neighbours are selling theirs for the same price they paid for it in an area where prices have gone up.

[senua]

You are looking at 3 bed v. 4 bed - if you have 3 DC isn't it a no brainer?

Also, new-builds tend to attract younger families i.e. People Like You. I'm guessing that both you and the DC will find friends on the new estate.

The new build is unlikely to be a better investment if it's literally new, you always pay more to be the first owner.
I agree with this but, since it is the last house on the development and the builder will want to get rid of it, you might be able to haggle a discount or extras thrown in.

[Propertyquandry]

I'd go for the semi. It may take a while to reach the new build mark up on price before it's worth more than you paid for it. Also, as yours will be the smallest plot, you'd have to ensure you were the only ones selling on your estate otherwise buyers would opt for the bigger garden. But you need to be happy. If being detached with no work to do will make your happier then def opt for that. Life's too short to do what you think you should be doing rather than what is actually best for you and your family.

[SailingThroughTime]

A small sunny garden beats a large shady one. A private garden beats an overlooked one. A quiet garden beats a noisy one.

Only buy a doer upper if you can affort to bite the bullet and get it all done in a year. It will eat up your time and money otherwise and you won't get that time back. (Still doing ours up after 15 years )