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?

That’s nothing to do with the age of the house though is it? In most period terraces you are on top of your neighbours, not to mention period flats. Whereas there are plenty of new build detached houses where that isn’t the case.

We are considering moving to a new build estate so our kids can play outside.

Currently have a huge 1920s semi with a massive garden on a main road.

I can’t decide if I’ve got rose tinted glasses imagining neighbour friends and ‘playing out’ though!

My friend bought one when moving to a new area. She found it a great way to meet new people as everyone was new.

Older developments are mostly built in straight lines. Around here they are all higgledy-piggledy and you can see into everyone's windows. They are built to as high a density as they can get through planning. The owners of the old terraces in the village have a lot more privacy.

I am sure there are some lovely new builds. I have never seen one myself.

I wouldn't buy a flat either for noise reasons.

It's quiet, very low maintenance, and so warm after a Victorian terrace! I like the way ours is designed: it really suits our family. It was relatively inexpensive and is in a good location on the edge of town but not too far from amenities.

@Felicia00 it’s the K render and tarmac drives that all look a bit bland to me. Not saying there’s anything wrong with it, it’s just not my house style preference 🤷🏻‍♀️

This!
And also, if you don't have limitless funds to do stuff up and aren't very good at DIY - they just make sense!

Our new build estate (by one of the country's big ones, so not a bespoke executive one) is very cleverly designed, each style of house has its windows focussed in different areas, we don't have any facing out the back upstairs (it's an L shaped house so the windows are to the side if that makes sense, it's still a very light house) and it means we don't overlook into anyone's garden, and despite having 3 houses within close proximity to ours, none of them look into our house or garden as their house styles are designed the same. Most of our windows over look a nature area.

The Victorian terrace I grew up in was on a road with pedestrians walking past, no parking, and overlooked at the back. The occupation density was likely lower, but felt much more encroached upon.

Not all new build estates are thrown up with no thought than density.

We live in a new build, well it was new when we bought it. I think you're being a bit silly pretending not to know why people buy them, obviously you understand that different people have different tastes, budgets and needs to you, surely?

I'll bite though. I don't much like new builds, but I was 7 months pregnant and in a rented flat and needed to buy somewhere that we could move quickly on. It was the right budget and in the right location and obviously wouldn't need work doing when I was heavily pregnant/had a new baby.

Not everyone can afford to buy a period property or has the funds or skills to do one up. We have been in our house for 8 years now and I still don't love it, but it's still in the right location and well, it's our house. We can't afford or be bothered to move. I actually don't really care about 'houses' and decor and stuff in general, some people just want their own front door and a bit of a garden and aren't much fussed beyond that.

Some are hideous: built in the wrong area (floodplains, contaminated lands..

Totally not the case! I work for the Environment Agency! There is far more legislation now, than ever before about developing on brownfield sites and in flood plains, and mitigation measures around this.

The worst locations for flooding in my "patch" are all pre-1960, particularly Victorian. Contaminated land wasn't measured, mapped and recorded until relatively recently (1980s) - many older properties are built on contam land, they just don't know it.

My estate isn’t matchy matchy. They’re the same (of about 5 or 6 types) inside but the outside are different. So one set of two semis might have grey render cladding stuff, the next set are yellow bricks, the next are brown brick, the ones across the road might be half brick half render. My last new build was the same brown brick for every house and I much prefer how this estate looks. There are new builds and there are new builds.

this. Snobbiness costs you money

I’ve bought a 100 year old nightmare. In my defence there was nothing at all on the market when we needed to move and the house has a big plot and ‘potential’. But I would jump at the chance for new build—so I can spend time having fun and living rather then doing DIY. The neighbours would prob be more down to earth than in a period property going by the OP!

Agree, it sounds very goady. Poor taste

You can see into everyone’s windows in my Victorian neighbourhood too. And you can’t get much more high density than back to backs!

FWIW I think you would find similar comments each time any new housing is built (snobby comments about garden cities, new towns, 1960s buildings) The real issue is that there isn't enough housing.

New build flats in London are a lot better than Victorian conversions. Purpose built buildings do tend to be better to live in. The Victorians built some great houses and a lot of workers slums. Most of the slum housing is now considerably tarted up to be readily indistinguishable from new build and such places have teeny gardens. You see it all the time.

Love my new build.

Big, roomy with loads of light from all the windows and doors and in a well laid out fashion. Extremely heat retaining and energy efficient - bills very low. Rooms laid out well with all the correct amount of sockets and cables for modern life. Modern garden and patio. Lots of bathrooms. Lots of built in storage. Extremely easy to keep clean and tidy. Haven't had to do any DIY in 7 years.

I like our road on our estate, lovely neighbours. The wider estate can be quite noisy during the summer but that's the payoff for all of the above (and modern windows are extremely good at sound proofing!)

in our case… high ceilings, big windows, large rooms, large kitchen, utility room, 4 bathrooms, tripple glazing, well insulated, cannot hear neighbours, great community, school and nursery 2 min walk, shop, GP, pharmacy, restaurants, good public transport, private security and concierge, shared swimming pool and gym.
Not all new builds are the same. Not everyone wants a 1920s/ Victorian/ whatever or character property.

I also don't like period properties. I didn't choose a new build because I couldn't afford something 'better', I chose it because it was clearly better than the older properties on the market.

I love our new build. It's well constructed and doesn't need anything doing to it apart from decorating every now and again.

I never thought I would want a new build until we bought one, and it was the best thing we could have done for our family. Sure I'd love a house with 'character' but sadly that's out of our budget.

My sister's newbuild has modern electrics, modern plumbing, a stop cock that doesn't turn off the neighbour's water too, built in cupboards, an en suite, good insulation, a solid roof, a car charger, windows and doors that aren't rotting, an efficient central heating system, loads of new amenities and playgrounds in walking distance, an outstanding primary school in modern buildings, quiet roads... It's pretty much the opposite of my characterful money pit victorian semi.

I live in rented and I absolutely detest new builds! No character, pokey little boxes with small gardens and no space! However if i had the opportunity to buy one rather than keep renting I absolutely would! It's sometimes the only way people can get on the housing ladder!

Yes, this. There is not one thing in our house that is straight. Fitting anything to or against a wall is a convoluted nightmare. I totally see the appeal of a new build.

We moved into our new build two years ago and don't regret it one bit. Have had very minor issues that were all fixed straight away. It's basically a blank canvas and easy to decorate once you're in.
More energy efficient, better insulated and I personally think they look lovely!