To buy a small new build instead of a bigger old house?

[ThisModernLove]

Fresh out of an interminable traumatic divorce and starting to think about next steps.

Need a new house, I’ve been a sahm for a long time and am only just getting back to work so my earning potential not great.

Im seriously considering buying a new build outright instead of an older house that would probably require me to take a mortgage or if not likely need a lot of work.

In this area there’s a real lack of cheaper, older houses so new build is the only real alternative that would allow me to buy it outright.

reasons for

• it’s been a really hard couple of years, new build is lower maintenance and easy.
• No stress about money and would be financially comfortable.
• Means l don’t need to worry about job hunting in the same way and can take the right thing

reasons against

• it’s much smaller than our current house (though still a bedroom each for dc) I wonder if this would bother me and if I should try and buy something bigger
• i don’t really like new builds! Lack of storage etc and I like pretty old houses (what we have now)
• is it better in the long run to have a mortgage that you’re paying off - I doubt I’d save the same amount of money even if I intended to. I’m pretty young.

Would really appreciate peoples thoughts? Current house is old and stressful because things go wrong all the time, it takes a lot of cleaning.. I’m leaning towards new build even if only for 5 years to get back on my feet 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's a very good idea.
I went from old farmhouse to small new build after a separation.
Small can feel very cosy.
You will be amazed how much warmer and well insulated it will be compared with an old house.
It can be a stepping stone and doesn't have to be forever.
It's easier to decorate new builds simply as they are a blank canvas.
You can have a brand new kitchen!!

I am renting a new build while the family home is sold and honestly, I would go for it. The developers built it with a bit of character, it's not a box. We also have lots of storage and good sized bedrooms. Mine is semi detached and I can't hear the neighbour's at all. I'm seriously considering buying one from the same developer once I get my money from the house sale.

I live in a new build and contrary to the horror stories, it's a dream. I absolutely love our house. We have only had minor issues but these were all sorted by the developer very quickly, and were all issues you 100% would have had, and would have had to pay for if you lived in an older house. It's a completely personal decision and blanket 'avoid new builds' statements are just silly.

I just moved to a new build from a 1960s block and the difference in bills is staggering - the new place is so well insulated. The building is characterless but it’s a blank canvas to make the inside and garden my own.

I would if you could own it outright. My friend bought a new build and whilst the internal walls were thin the eternal walls were not so no outside noise. It also kept the heat in and a cute small backyard. The rooms were quite small but that wouldn't bother me.

Small means less clutter!

I have both type of houses, absolutely loved my old house, but now with a baby the new build wins hands down as it's low maintenance, quick to clean, low energy costs, will be loads more kids for my baby to play with in the future.

Old house are lovely but it's a sink hole with repairs and upkeep.

My son and his girlfriend bought a new build 7 years ago. No problems at all, lots of big storage and best of all the down stairs bathroom is huge, as has to be built for wheelchair users.
My 'new build ' is36 years old and we have never had a problem either.
I must admit, I do like older house s, but couldn't cope with the upkeep (Neither can the old man).

Think about how life will look. If you are working after being a sahm that’s a lot to adjust to. If children go to lots of activities realistically you will be out and about.
How do you see life. Features like kitchen/diners in new builds are perfect for easy family life. Out of ones we have lived in felt Redrow was best built.

You might have no option but to go for the cash purchase option if you’re only just getting back into work……do you have a job at the moment?

We moved from a lovely period property to a new build, having previously been pretty set on having another period place. But we had a young toddler at the time and couldn't face the work which turned out to be the right call as we promptly went in to the second lockdown and prices for having work done started spiralling.

Surprisingly we love it. Ours isn't a small new build, it's on a dead end street with about 30 houses, built to about 10 different designs. Every room has a big built in cupboard plus under stair cupboard and airing cupboard - lots of period properties here have less. Soundproofing is very good, insulation is very good. Our house already had an air source heat pump and we've added solar + batteries so it's super efficient. On this estate there's plenty of parking too.

Not all new builds are the same, but I'd happily buy mine again.

I have a new build and it has 65db sound insulation. I only hear the odd bang from next door when they're moving around a lot. No voices or telly or music. Go new build

Can’t you get a small old house? I hate new builds and would never buy one. Victorian terraces are usually good value for money, are Tarmi’s like and generally much sounder in build quality than many new builds.

oops thought I’d replied earlier but clearly didn’t hit post after typing out my long message!

Can’t really get a small period house no - we live fairly rurally and it’s a holiday type location. There just isn’t a lot of choice and the cheaper end isn’t great because of that. I have looked quite a lot. This is a new estate being built just on the edge…
I want to stay in this area because it’s close to my kids school and is nice.

i don’t currently have a job but do have a little while before I need to sell here so I think I could get it lined up if I need to. If I was going that route I’d probably need to maximise mortgage capacity by going full time though whereas buying outright gives flexibility for 4 days a week but still being okay financially.

kids aren’t super young: 8, 10, 13 but young enough they’ll be at home for a while longer! At the moment we have a big period house on a huge plot - it would definitely be a sea change to do this. I guess I worry we would regret it (or they would). But financially we would be so much better off! This house is a money pit - just in the last 6m we’ve had to spend thousands on plumbing works and thousands more on a leaking roof… we didn’t buy it as a reno job but it has been - and there’s a lot of it to manage. I feel like maybe new build might simplify life!

I really appreciate all the replies good and bad - it’s hugely clarifying my thinking and really helpful. Thank you!

I would absolutely go for a new build in your situation.

I would absolutely buy the new build. Your location sounds great too. Ok less space and no pretty features but no dramas that older houses generally present (and I've lived in a few!) and money in the bank.

Having been through what you described as a traumatic divorce, I'd rather spend the money on great holidays and experiences with the children. Good luck! X

I'm tempted by the insulation of new builds, but on the flip, are they unbearably hot in summer?

I'm not a fan of new builds for aesthetic reasons but I've said YANBU because your reasoning is sound. I'd do similar. I have a Victorian house and it's getting me down at the moment. It's not huge but work needs doing as it does on any house. People see a bigger more salubrious house and quote more accordingly. It's not energy efficient. Extra space just gets filled with junk.
Mortgage free is a great place to be.

I've always lived in older period properties, but honestly the second my youngest moves out dh and I are downsizing to a 2bed newbuild.

There's something so freeing about no mortgage, being able to clean the whole house with a swiffa mop in 20mins, no major capital repairs, a simple right angled building and a small garden easy to mow.

ThisModernLove I'd go new build. All the best to you for your new life with the kids ❤️💐🍀

My advice for a new build is to carefully consider how much it costs to have a liveable home vs the cost of the shell you buy

You often get shown round a show home which has lots of extras and they aren't always clear that you'd have to pay more for it. Eg we saw a lovely kitchen in one, but the standard kitchen that came with it was not just a totally different design but only came with three cupboards. Ask if everything is the standard eg the bathroom fittings, the light switches, and even sometimes the footprint of the show home can be bigger than the plot you buy even if it's the same style.

An older property will come with lots of stuff that an new build won't. For example flooring, and built in appliances. It might be the older build carpets are old and not your taste but you can slowly update them. A new build will come with zero carpets or flooring so you'll immediately have to pay possibly a couple of thousand for carpets. You wouldn't immediately rip out an older build oven but you'll be buying a new oven in a new build.

Everything will be an extra cost or an upgrade from having carpets fitted, better kitchen options, to having an outside tap, to upgrade your fittings, have more plugs fitted etc (only came with one plug per bedroom standard). Even things like having turf in your garden isn't included

For us it actually made the new build more expensive because of all the expensive add ons needed. It would have meant those things would have been all new, but the expense all came at once.

It's also common that you have to pay an estate maintenance fee monthly, and that dialed up the price for us, as well as some of the stipulations being a pain (eg for us it was no sign written vans, and no chickens!)

The other thing is to carefully consider how big it is, and how much storage there is. We viewed a couple where you had an ensuite but the bedroom wasn't big enough to get a wardrobe in. You weren't allowed to swap out the ensuite for storage. Be especially careful with kitchen diner spaces, and check theres things like cupboards built in.

Yes - I’m assuming no chickens would be allowed (and the garden is much smaller) which is sad as we have 7! We can rehome them to friends or perhaps get an allotment for them. I think that’s one thing that is really putting me off!

You’re right about the storage too. It definitely would need us to streamline stuff a lot more. It has a utility and downstairs cupboard and airing cupboard but no built in storage. The rooms look an okay size though.

I'd go for a 5yr old house. All the snagging issues would be done but you get all the new house benefits. It's very very freeing to not have loads of DIY jobs needing doing.

Another vote for new/newer build from me.

So nice to be able to just move in and not have to think about doing anything other than painting and maybe new floors.

Heating bills are likely to be less as better insulated etc and would be so nice for you to be mortgage free!

If you need wardrobe space I really recommend the IKEA Pax series. I am in a new build flat and added one to my second bedroom to act as a storage/linen cupboard.

Loads of beds have storage drawers/under bed storage which is handy for summer/winter clothes.

Shoe storage like this is great for keeping the hall clear! www.next.co.uk/style/st007318/t48216?dp=a&dndl=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq5meBhCyARIsAJrtdr5lDIxPSx6efQN-EDHIwdsr0sSzBK2O1oJIdj_LwPJxxQgF2J_w8AcaAguyEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#t48216

I'd 100% go for a new build in your position. The feeling of having no mortgage is amazing and with rising costs it's risky to put yourself in a position where your finances might be stretched.

I was mortgage free at 37. I too thought I'd find it hard to save so I upped my pension contributions. I also opened an under 40's LISA and put in the max per month (£350) which is topped up by 25% by the government. This is a good scheme if your a sahm.

We live in a Victorian terrace which, to be honest, was renovated by Bodgit & Sons I think. Whilst it’s cute and we have lovely neighbours there always seems to be something going wrong and as DH is not particularly DIY minded it works out to be a costly. We are, however, mortgage free which is a good thing.

Friends on the other hand live in the same village in a house that was new build when they bought it about 20 years ago. I love it. Good size rooms, downstairs cloakroom etc. it’s in a small close of 12 houses so no big estate. Built by a small independent company so not one of the big ones.

Having lived in ours for 10 years I’d definitely go for the mortgage free newer build option. Just choose wisely.