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

[itscominghomeee]

I am mid-twenties and single. I have worked hard to save up a deposit to buy a house and now have enough of a deposit, and a not-huge-but-reasonable salary in my first managerial post, to make offers on houses. None of my similarly aged friends are at the stage of buying a house yet. I am looking at typical first time buyer houses: terraces or even some semi-detached, but my mum and her sister have commented a couple of times that it's a shame that I can't buy a new build.

I went yesterday to see a house with my mum and the current owner has refurbished downstairs and put a new kitchen in and installed a downstairs toilet within the last two years. Upstairs is in good condition too, but my mum said afterwards, "from downstairs you almost think it's new, but when you go upstairs you remember that it's a very old house".

My mum also told me yesterday that her sister had said to her again recently, "couldn't itscominghomeee get a new build? There are lots of new builds being built in that area".

AIBU to feel upset by these comments? Of course a new build would be lovely, but it's unrealistic for the vast majority of people in my age bracket and stage of career, especially those who are single. The comments feel like they're undermining my hard work saving up and like my mum/aunt are saying that the houses I can afford aren't good enough.

The definition from most mortgage companies is "built within the last 10 years". Hate to break it to you but the 80s is a little longer ago than that.

And the way new builds were built 40 years ago is different to today.

Don't bring your mum to viewings.

When I sold my single bed flat, a couple of first-time buyers brought a parent to viewings. For both of them, even though the potential buyers liked it, the parents were complaining about how small it was. I presume you brought your mum because you think 'she's bought a house before, she knows what problems to look out for'. Except it's not helpful and not productive - all she will do is judge your choice.

Go for a second viewing, but go alone. If you must bring anyone, bring an honest, balanced friend.

Unless you are a zillionaire to be able to afford a custom-made new built, new built houses are usually rubbish, so don't listen to them.

Near me Beal Homes are the standard for amazing new builds, homes are bespoke, well made, estates are thoughtfully laid out, every detail catered for. But these homes started at 500k. Most new builds in my area are the other end of the spectrum thrown up, packed in, sold quickly on help to buy schemes which are terrible for the purchaser, poor infrastructure. This is the norm in my area. I would only live in one again if I was absolutely desperate.

So true, I had an utter disaster in my old little terraced house. Unknown to me, the bath developed a slow leak that eventually brought down half the kitchen ceiling. What a dramatic day that was! anyway my insurance covered all the necessary repairs and when the man came out to assess the damage and work out what needed doing, he said that it was minimal due t the old house being so sturdy. The wall is three bricks deep and the joists were so thick and solid there was no damage. He said that if it had been a new build the damage would have been far worse

I’m sorry they’re ruining it for you. They should just be happy you’re buying a house, well done getting this far. Also as others have pointed out new builds and older houses both have their own pros and cons.

The most unfortunate thing about buying an older house is the various improvements/bodge jobs carried out over the years that can often be found by merely 'decorating'. And far too late to call in the 'snagger'.

The actual buildings are built to last so at least if the 'shit goes down' your home should still have solid walls.

I really love this damning with faint praise:

"...they aren’t all thrown up by cowboy builders..."

We're not 'newbuild lovers' we just love our homes and people are being down right rude about what type of house we live in.

We all have opinions but there are ways to put them across without being ignorant and crass.

We bought our third house two years ago. When we were looking for one, we said to the estate agents that we wanted one built between roughly 1930-1990. We felt that houses built before that often need a lot of work to get them up to modern standards and houses built after that generally have much smaller rooms. I read a while ago that room sizes have decreased rapidly in the past hundred years. Also, any teething troubles will have been ironed out.Our first house was a thirties semi and very solidly built. I loved the big bay windows, too. Our second house was built in the eighties and we were very happy and comfortable there. This present house was built in 1983 and has lovely big rooms. Again, it is a very solid house. Yes, it has artex ceilings, but they are not the big swirls, they are the little dots type, so relatively inoffensive. However, we have friends who have bought new builds and they are very happy with them. Each to their own.

You have done very well to be in a position to buy a home. Your mother and aunt have your best interests at heart and it may well be that they have always aspired to brand new houses. Stick to your guns and go for the house that suits you best. As a compromise, houses built in the second half of the twentieth century are often very good value for money. Don’t rule out sixties/seventies houses, especially ex-council houses, which tend to be very solidly built.

The funny thing about this is that in my family and friendship circle, new builds are seen as overpriced, crap, and lacking character. They're what you get if you lack the funds for older house maintenance. We have a 1960s house, as it's larger and cheaper than a Victorian, and people are slightly sympathetic about that compromise.

New builds also have a premium on the price - and snagging issues. Definitely you are better off buying used - just like cars! But avoid Victorian unless you can afford the maintenance. We'd love one, but stretched to this area, and can't afford one. Upkeep or purchase!

New builds not fashionable at all any more, they're looked down on.

Me, I live in a new build. I am sound of mind, hardworking and an ordinary person who is so grateful to own my own home. So now you know.

Except that property is nothing like cars and new builds don’t generally depreciate in value, that’s called negative equity.

you can argue that they might not rise as fast as older houses as they are already priced above the market. But it’s wrong to say they go down in value

For someone who calls themselves Grammarnut, you have a frighteningly unstable grasp on the definition of words 🤣. The definition of New is “produced, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time. Not existing before.
The definition of New Build is “a type of property that has recently been constructed and has never been lived in before”
40 - 50 years of resident history along with years of building and redecorating history, doesn’t “quite” qualify as a new build does it?

By who? They sound insufferable

My husband works in new builds, we wouldn't touch one with a barge pole.

"Our nearest neighbour is at least half a mile away."

So you aren't living on a typical new build estate then?

People here are very definitely not talking about one-off homes that are individually designed. I can imagine that many people, myself included, would love to buy a plot of land and have an individually designed and built home.

But that isn't what we are talking about here. We are talking about your bog standard, British, new build housing estate.

New builds are notoriously bad quality. Soulless, have no character, very samey and boxy. I wouldn't be encouraging anyone I know to do for one.

I completely agree with this.

this country NEEDS new build houses and they fill a very clear need. Posters on this thread should be mindful that these are people’s homes, and not be so f’ing unkind. There are some developers that are better than others and as long as people are smart it can work well. Older houses have their issues too and you don’t have a 2 year warranty or 10 year guarantee.

around me, the new build houses fly off right move, so much so we constantly get flyers by local estate agents asking if we want to sell our home

A lot of them do lose money over the first few years. Many lenders won't lend against 100% of the purchase price, or you need a larger deposit (HTB aside). And the reason for that is to mitigate the risk of the new build premium, i.e. it becoming worth less than purchased for should the buyer want to sell / the lender needs to rake possession within the first 5-10 years.

Because people will pay more for new than second hand.

New builds are dreadful. Crammed in, cramped cookie cutter in style homes. Endless poor workmanship issues and access roads which remain unfinished for years. Postage stamp size gardens that are usually overlooked from every angle. I can't understand why your mum and aunt would think that's preferable!

Exactly Bluffy. People here are so bloody disrespectful!

My user name suggests my profession. I wouldn’t buy a new build again ever, especially now. Cheaply put up generally crap materials (unless the planner pushes them) and cutting corners and costs at all places. Snagging is a nightmare and the NHBC isn’t worth the paper.

id always buy an established property and get a good survey - you know what your buying then!

Well, I don't hate them. A 70s house (a new build in terms of the UK) is a good buy. Big rooms - usually 3 decent bedrooms - and large gardens. I just happen to prefer older houses.