"It's a shame you can't get a new build"

I doubt everyone will think the same as me but I used to have an old build house and it was great but in the wrong area. I now live in a new build in the right area but don't like the house as much.

Get whatever you want to and don't worry about what other people think.

I wouldn't have a new build if you paid me! You get so much more space and character with an older house. My house is 100 years old - it has its faults, but that's part of the charm. Who wants a nasty, little box walloped all thru in magnolia?

I wouldn't go for a new build, certainly not if it was a Jerry built dog-kennel sized house, which is all that most can afford first time. They are not new for long either, soon develop snags. All houses do,

Older houses are more solid and some are absolutely beautiful.

I do not get some people's obsession with being intent on buying a brand new house, equally others stipulate they want an older house 'with character' and won't look outside that category.

If you are happy with it, why worry? I'd be inclined to mention to your mother and sister that you feel a bit hurt by their remarks, you really like the house and are looking forward to making it a home. It does sound good, itscominghomee and, most of all, it is yours. Congratulations and enjoy!

Where on Earth do you live that the new builds are the most desirable houses?! Round here they're primarily bought by first-time buyers who get one at discount and hope to work up to buying an older house before too many issues crop up! They tend to be very poky, badly built, have next to no storage and absurd little 'gardens' that are overlooked on all sides. Never met anyone who'd pick one given a choice - unless they were building their own to spec of course. Or maybe if they were looking for a multimillion pound Central London flat.

Why do you care what they think? It’s your house: buy what you like. I wouldn’t want a new build myself; so soulless and everyone I know has had problems with them

I wouldn't touch a new build starter home with a barge pole, stick with your plan OP.

There have been huge problems reported with snagging, poor design (both of houses themselves and of the developments they are on) poor build quality, awful gardens made from rubble with a bit of topsoil dumped on top, leasehold deals where ground rents go through the rooof after a few years.

Avoid, avoid, avoid

You will have found your tribe on here OP because MN hates new builds 😂

I’m so glad I got over my new-build snobbery and bought mine, because it’s fantastic.

But I am sorry your DM is making you feel bad about your choices. It seems strange that she has such fixed ideas for you.

Why would you want a new build?

Maybe they said it because they were thinking that new builds were affordable?
You hear a lot about ‘affordable housing’ but only realise it’s not affordable when you are house hunting.
Older houses are usually better built. But I would say that because I live in an old house 😂

New builds tend to depreciate in value quickly, it's like buying a new car. My Dad worked in construction all his life and always said new builds were poor quality and not a particularly wise investment. I've noticed the ones close to where I live tend to be built from breeze blocks and the builders dump loads of rubble in the gardens, so if you want a nice lawn and maybe some flowers, you'd have to spend time and money sorting that.

It does seem a bit of a strange attitude. All the time you're living in a new-build you're just wearing out the new kitchen and carpets while other newer developments go up nearby, which will then be more attractive to buyers when you come to sell. I know some people love them but it wouldn't be my choice. It's not even as if they're likely to be good quality, well-designed and problem or maintenance free, as various recent developer scandals have highlighted.

I bought one older house and 4 new builds.

New builds still need maintenance esp if the snagging isnt properly sorted, but they are more energy efficient, so cheaper to run.

I've also seen loads of builders offering help with deposits or mortgage payments for 5 years. Some have blue light offers too.

My suggestion is to buy a house someone else wants, get what you want.

Oh dear, your DM and DA sound like the lady I got talking to once who, when I said I lived in a house which was over 300 years old, said;

‘Oh, I couldn’t live in a second hand house’.

To be fair, a niece and her husband have bought two new builds but both ‘off plan’ so they were able to have input into layout, fixtures and fittings but buying off plan has a raft of cons too.

I'd advocate buying a property you feel comfortable in whether it's new or 'second-hand'.

You really dont want a new build. They are more expensive and then sell for less than traditional/period homes once you need to sell them on

Usually poor quality, only the really high priced and 'luxury' ones are better quality and they're usually bespoke estates or closes or detached etc.

Poor road and parking, garages or spaces usually too small, roads then get clogged with cars half parking on the pavements. They tend to look grotty quite quickly.

They're nearly always in the wrong place too.

Do you actually want one?

Older houses are generally better built, with higher ceilings and better proportioned rooms.

New builds are generally built to a cookie cutter style with small rooms, low ceilings, and cheap materials.

I loved my little terraced house. I’m really not a new build person, I prefer character. I think new builds are generally really over priced for what they are - basically because people like your mum buy them!

The one you saw that was modernised downstairs, but not upstairs- how hard is it to repaint/carpet and even add a cheap new bathroom suite if need be. A lick of paint would work wonders and put your mark on it.

New builds are such flimsy crap. Paper thin walls, cardboard roofs, cheapest possible plumbing. Zero storage. Tiny garden. Plastic bathrooms. Did I mention they were cheap crap?

I would never ever touch a new build. They’re so appallingly constructed.

YANBU to be upset as they are being a bit mean to you if you can’t afford one and want one.

however it’s also weird they think a new build is better than any other house. Some companies are very shoddy now, they devalue for first few years as generally a bit overpriced. Can have lots of snagging. You have to really do your research on companies. So a blanket statement suggesting they are better is pretty ill informed. Have a look at new build snagging accounts on insta- you’ll feel better.

congrats on looking for your first home- you’re doing amazingly.

A new build is a huge strategic mistake for a FTB.

You should be looking further doer uppers in up and coming areas you can use as a jumping off point to move up the ladder in 3-5 years.

New builds sink in value and you can rarely add value.

OP there are arguments for and against new builds. Your family (and possibly you?) seem to be firmly on the for side. But I don't think their comments are meant to be undermining your hard work.

Isn't it more likely they are proud of your hard work and just really, really want the best for you? So are wishing you could get what they (and you) think of as the best?

I'm not suggesting they're going about it the right way, but try not to take it to heart. Concentrate on what you want from a house for the money you can afford. Find the best balance of all those factors that you can. Then loudly proclaim how much you love it, and how you know it's going to be brilliant. If they continue to make similar comments say something like - "I'm not made of money yet, mum! But this is just the first step."

New builds are awful quality. Give me a structure that's stood for decades and proved itself to be solid.

New builds are much cheaper than older houses around here.

Because they are crap and undesirable by comparison.

Your mum seems to have anchored onto new builds being good for some reason, but she seems to have got it a bit backwards.

My first home wasn’t a new new build, I think it was about 30 years old. It was very energy efficient which is a huge advantage

I'm not a new build 'hater' myself - it's just that they're so overpriced for what you actually get.