"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.

🙄 comparing a car purchase to a house purchase. If you must though, consider that the purpose of the car is to get you to your destination, whether you paid £5k or £50k for it... real friends and family actually don’t care what your car is worth or how it looks

Have to laugh at some of the comments on here and even the 🤮 emoji being used to describe a new build. What privilege some have in their owned (and probably paid off) ivory towers. If you’re lucky enough to even be in the position as OP@itscominghomeee is then buy what suits your life stage and lifestyle, who cares what anyone else thinks, it’s your home.

Terrible analogy. Cars are unequivocally depreciating assets. Property is not

To me, the only people new builds make real sense for are people who use help to buy/shared ownership type schemes

There are other reasons. We bought ours in 2011 because we were desperate to move and the market in our area was still dead post credit crunch. The developer was offering quite decent prices on part exchange.
We went from miserable to happy in a comfortable detached house.
Yes new build estates aren't the most exciting looking bet certainly not as hideous as 1930s pebble dashed semis or those ugly blocky 60s/70s houses.

New builds aren't built well, have no character, usually in large estates with not enough parking. Small gardens that are overlooked by lots of close neighbours.

No thanks.

FFS I was using the car analogy in terms of buying something that's new and shoddy versus something older and more reliable.

At no point was I referring to them being an appreciating or depreciating asset.

I would never live in a new build house. How utterly gross.
I hate them and their locations are always dreadful too, silos on the edge of towns where no one has bothered to build houses in the past because it's shite locality

How odd as I've had the very opposite of comments given to me by my family when I was looking. When my brother and sister in law bought a new build more recently quite a few people were concerned (no space, no privacy, no storage, flimsy builds etc) They have had multiple problems since with flooding and plumbing.
I find people a bit snobby about new builds 🤷‍♀️

My last home was a new build and I couldn’t wait to move to an older house with more living space downstairs and a traditional layout. Am very happy with my ‘new’ home, built in 1970. But I also love a 1930s semi, amazing room sizes in lots of them, and though I would be cautious about damp etc, I love a Victorian property.

In contrast to what some people have said here, I’m on my second new build and would be unlikely to move to an older property.
There will always be teething issues, but a 2 year builders guarantee, 10 year structural guarantee and the knowledge no one has done any dodgy DIY in it is worth its weight in gold. Add to that the energy efficiencies with a new build and it’s a sound investment.
New build doesn’t have to mean extortionately priced. My first new build was a ‘starter home’ terraced town house.
Lots of house builders do schemes for first time buyers, and plenty are offering meaningful incentives at the moment due to the state of the property market.
If you haven’t looked, maybe consider one as it could save you money in the long run.

We bought a new build. Even after negotiating that they would fit carpets and tiles as part of the price, we obviously moved in with no curtain rails or blinds. They were still building on the road so the noise from 8am or earlier, the dust, the huge machines coming past made life very uncomfortable. As others have mentioned the snagging lists can stretch to several pages and you have to be in to check that they complete the jobs (and take their boots off at the door to keep your new carpets in good shape, or use carpet protectors).

My current house is five years old, was fully carpeted and tiled, blinds and curtains fitted and nicely decorated and the garden is beautifully landscaped. I know which I prefer.

Don’t involve them in your house buying.

Not your mum or sister's business.
Why are you listening to them?
Why get upset by their opinion?

Are they mad?! Everyone knows new builds are terrible quality, paper thin walls, tiny gardens, cramped estates.

also they are no where near amenities like the old houses are!

older houses are much better!

I agree!

I personally hate new builds so if anything my attitude would be the opposite! It’s a shame if you have to get a new build. My friends are a bit apologetic if they move into a new build. They are a bit shit, like Lego houses, horrible small gardens etc etc. I’d prefer the character and Mix of an older house and area. Each to their own i suppose

And they have no storage. Your mum is talking shit

I love my 1930s solid house with big garden and walking distance to town and station. My friend's on the new build estate are all shoe horned in together with tiny gardens and need to drive or take a bus into town.
Every time your family say shame about nb comment. Laugh it off and buy what you like, you're the one moving in.

It's probably coming from a place of concern about the DIY birders you're taking in single handed. But you know what you're doing and honestly IDK why FTBs want to absorb the depreciation of new builds anyway.

Smile and nod and carry on.

New builds offer poor value for money. I wouldn’t touch one with a barge pole

Not lend - give her.

I'm in the construction industry. A lot of new builds are thrown up so quick and bodged beyond belief. You're no worse off going old as long as you don't skimp on surveys.
Look up Snag Sure on Instagram or Facebook, the things he pulls up on new builds is quite frankly disgusting.

I live in a new build because it was all we could afford with shared ownership, I would much rather have brought an older house. They usually have better "bones," bigger gardens, less neighbours overlooking etc, at least in my area. And you can get a doer upper if you wanted.

Why do they want you to get a new build? That’s truly bizarre. Nothing fundamentally wrong with them as such, but “new build” is usually a bye-word for “less good” rather than better.

It’s a nope to a new build from me. I’ve lived in several (renting) - my area is now new build south central - they’re all falling apart because of crap workmanship.

https://m.youtube.com/@snagsure#bottom-sheet

Some food for thought ☝️