To not understand the appeal of new build homes?

[GreenEyeGopher]

I was looking at the proliferation of new build estates yesterday and wondering who buys homes there.

I don't think I've ever lived in a house that's much less than 100 years old.and would find it hard to imagine living in a new build. Or actually, I could imagine living in a new build home but not on a new estate - somehow they don't feel quite like 'real places' to me, everywhere I've lived has had a long time to get established!

So I'm just curious - if you live in a new build, or would like to - what is the appeal?

1. turn key condition (except decorating we can do at our own pace) everything is new and with warranties. Had a very positive snagging experience.
2. energy efficient, despite the price rises we are still paying less than £150 a month for gas and electricity, and we use a lot of electricity.
3. modern, practical layout. The layout is exactly what I wanted, a mix of open plan with shut off areas like a second reception and office, with multiple bathrooms and toilets.
4. community, moving in all at the same time is great for meeting neighbours and creating a community.
5. our estate is exclusively detached homes with double driveways (and no service charge) built for modern life, so it's very practical for parking, and safe for kids, designated play area.
6. I love that we are the only ones that have lived here.

I absolutely love our house and neighbourhood, not all new build estates are the same. Ours is traditional build, no service charges, good quality. But I do concede we did compromise on garden size relative to size of house.

I would happily buy new build again, but realise it doesn't always go as well for others as it did for us.

As I mentioned in another thread, it is because they are relatively easy to buy compared to older properties. You are guaranteed the house you reserve with a quick low cost deposit. Also banks seem more willing to offer mortgages on new build properties with more favourable terms. I agree the majority of them are poor quality but I think people buy out of convenience and not because they want a new build as such.

I only buy new builds, I love them. My first one was affordable with minimum upkeep. My current one is large and airy with a big garden, gorgeous views, well insulated and easy to keep clean. We have lovely neighbours, plenty of parking and the kids have a playground within sight.

This is where some self awareness is useful.

We actively avoided victorian terraces.

My previous new build was lovely. The community was so good and was built from the fact we all moved in at roughly the same time, had similar issues (waiting for Internet day!), started decorating all at the same time, and the babies were all allocated the same school when they were 4.

It's a solid, down to earth community.

And I miss it terribly 😔

Another pro can be no upward chain. If your move is dependent on on a long chain it can collapse or take a very long time so limiting the number of properties involved can be a big positive.

Timber frame construction is the norm in many parts of the world (it’s particularly common in Scandinavia and other Northern European countries like Austria, Belgium and Germany, the USA and New Zealand/Australia and has been for ages.) Done correctly of last for literally centuries. The idea that timber is inherently less reliable when used properly as a construction material is just a misunderstanding of construction methods.

If a developer is actually telling random passers by that they’re building these new estates improperly and using faulty materials and slapdash methods then this needs reporting. Rogue builders, whatever their chosen construction material, are the problem.

Surely it depends on the builder of the new build?!?!

I just wouldn't consider an "old" property. Rooms too small, insulation often poor so more expensive to heat, issues with potential listed features, you'd need a full detailed survey when buying, potential problems can be really expensive to fix etc...

At least new builds come with a 10 year guarantee and everything is nice and new.

I live in a pretty village with lots of pretty old houses/cottages. I live in a 1980s 4/5 bed detached "box". It may not have character, but it does have space, and a character property for the same price would not be detached and would have half the space!

@GreenEyeGopher sometimes part of adulting is realising we were wrong to be judgemental and make assumptions about people with different opinions, wants and likes 😊

I think people buy out of convenience and not because they want a new build as such.

That's what I was wondering really - basically do people really fall in love with new builds and they just don't float my boat in the same way that we're not all attracted to the same kind of people. Or is it that people are buying what's practical and affordable and new builds happen to tick the most boxes?

The layouts of new builds are just absolutely dreadful. We lived in one provided by my DH’s work and it was completely impractical. It was a townhouse style with a tiny ‘kitchen diner’ that barely fit a table in, we had to push it against the wall when we weren’t using it or the cupboards wouldn’t open and a living room that meant where ever you put your sofa it was in front of a radiator. All for the low, low price of £425,000 if you’d bought it new. Just cram as many into tiny foot prints as possible.

Now we are buying we have gone for an older house with loads of living space instead.

It's a little unhealthy to be this obsessed about people's house buying choices...

Two of the best houses we have rented were less than 12 years old , not exactly new builds but newish- but neither were on estates.

Low running costs
shiny and new
maybe the only options in budget in areas with low housing stock
layouts these days seem good and geared to modern living eg kitchen diner, ensuite.
thankfully the phase of having excessive numbers of bathrooms seems to have passed but one ensuite is useful for a family

Isn’t that what people do when buying a house whatever the type of house it is? I didn’t buy my Victorian house because of the character wonkiness, I bought it because it was in the right location for transport, had the right number of rooms and was within budget. We actually offered on a modern house as well which had the benefit of an upstairs bathroom but it was further from the station and we were outbid on that one.

You sound like a bit of a snob tbh. I’ve owned a 150 year old house and now live in a 3 year old house. I purposely did not want an old house, yes in some ways it was more aesthetically pleasing but it was also cold, draughty and damp. DIY was a nightmare as everything was wonky or had been botched 3 times before or needed a specialist to help. I was constantly worried about unexpected maintenance costs. My newer house is cheaper to run, warmer, more
comfortable and looks nice too. My parents actually chose a new build for retirement having owned a Victorian property as they were fed up of being cold and doing constant maintenance.

But then I’ve never been someone who has thought falling in love with a house = I should buy it, because I know practicalities of an old house, even if I prefer their character, will eventually make me fall out of love with it!

@GreenEyeGopher

Maybe I misunderstood you so and I wasn't having a pop. I guess I have always found the bias against new homes baffling, irrational and basically boiling down to classism so the comment made me wonder.

For some reason there's an association made with new builds and being working class whereas period homes are thought to have some vague and non-specific "charm" as a result of being old, poorly insulated and wonky. I've always thought it utterly daft and saying a lot more about the British class system than it does about the intrinsic value of the homes. There is no snobbery attached to living in new homes in other parts of the developed world. People are rightly happy to live in well-designed, well built homes and don't worry about what it says about their status in the world.

New builds do have more practical layouts utility room , extra toilets, bathrooms ,parking and a double garage are a must for me. A lot of older properties don't have practical layouts.

My new build house is 4 bedrooms, 3 storey with a bathroom on each floor, nice enclosed garden, amazing views and location. Ample parking. Super low cost to run, I pay about £120 for both gas and electric (even in winter). Well sound proofed, next door had a full on party and I didn’t realise until I went outside for something

It sounds a bit like, again, it's the apparent shock of someone thinking they'd actually love to live in a new house that's confusing! Because obviously the only other reason could be financial. I think the thread shows the wealth of appealing factors.

I have bought and lived in two new builds, with many of the benefits already noted important to me (good size / layout, big garden, efficiency, good town planning, close to where I need to be, views, total choice and costs clear).

I love making my own history in my bespoke home, built just for me and my family, instead of living in someone else's history.

Not to mention dirt - I hear you PP about new toilets and showers! 🤣 - nor the decoration / fixtures / fittings I'd have to spend time and money removing, when everything was as I wanted it on the day I moved in.

Family live in Victorian properties with different joys and costs, that's not right for me and a new build isn't right for them. Old and new properties are comparable in terms of desirability - but there are some interesting views finances or perceived prestige!

New build 30 years ago. Since then pretty much no maintenance. One boiler replacement and new windows, our choice. Accessible, easy to clean, low maintenance garden, sensible practical design, easy to heat, off street parking, a community as all original neighbours bought at the same time.
To me older house are high maintenance, inaccessible, often dirty as parts are out of reach due to odd design, hard to heart, have not enough parking and established communities that are hard to break into, or zero community. New build if possible every time for me if you plan a long-term home.

What every single new build is the same?

It's just a snobbery thing which is a shame as many people in this country aren't particularly that well off. Instead of fussing over whether their house makes them look MC enough they could be spending the money on experiences for their DC. My SIL is all about the status , her DC never do anything days out, holidays because a lot of their income goes on heating and repairing their old house. Mention a new build and they go all sniffy. It's very sad.

@fyn big generalisation there. I’ve got an eight seater table in my kitchen plus an island that seats four. I also have a ten seater table in a separate dining room. Yes, mine is on the bigger side of new builds but I actually find that smaller new builds are also better than the equivalent older properties with small galley kitchens.

The first house I lived in after leaving my exdh was a new build, I lived there for 5 years and honestly it was the crappest workmanship. Everything broke, wobbled or creaked. I used to be friends with my neighbour and her house eas identical to mine which always felt like it had no character. Me and DH came in to money last year and bought a place ourselves. We looked at new builds but went with one built in 1880 and I love it! It has character, quirks and just feels solid.

Life is so busy with kids, work, trying to survive that I think it just makes things a little easier when moving. You don't have to think about what 'hidden' issues there can be. (I do know that there can be many issues with new builds, just taking generally). I love the fact that it is a blank canvas and free to make it exactly as you want!