"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.

Your money, your house. You do you. Congratulations on saving 🍾

New builds often have issues - roads not being adopted, high service charge for maintenance of common areas (roadside verges for example) I would never buy one

"Never buy a house built after 1945." was what a South London builder told me. He made his living fixing the defects in them.

Newest house I've ever lived in was built in 1933.

So long as the walls and roof are sound who cares when it was built?

New builds are shit. Smaller rooms, lack of storage and not built as well as old buildings. I say this as someone who grew up in an old Victorian house and now lives in a new build.

New builds can be hugely problematic, I won’t bore you with my nightmare but your mother really has no idea!

New builds are thrown together as quickly as possible with min sized rooms and gardens - I wouldn’t touch one

My previous house was a new build. Never again...
You're better investing in a house that's established but in reasonable condition for its age.

A new build is my idea of hell. Paper thin walls. Generic and no character.

BUT whatever you choose it will be your home and your choice so go with what YOU want. If you love a new build and it was in budget - great! But go with your heart and budget and stuff anyone else’s opinion - including mine lol

How boring would life be if everyone liked the same thing!

My first property was a teeny attic conversion flat. The fact you are looking at houses as your first property amazes me. You must have saved for ages and be doing really well to be looking at these.
I would buy second hand over new everything. Bigger solidly built properties, larger plot sizes.
Does your mum and aunt perhaps think second hand = lots of maintenance costs and therefore a new build would be better in some way?

Either way, good luck with your search. I think I'd be looking on my own from now on

I work in the construction industry. I would not buy a new build marketed as "affordable" (I.e. for first time buyers). They are built to the bare minimum standards they can get away with these days.
We bought a fixer upper victorian cottage 2 years ago after renting for 15 years and couldn't be happier with it.

A friend’s brother has just moved into a new build and there are over 100 problems they are waiting to have fixed, and this isn’t untypical on that particular new estate. Older houses often seem more solid and any niggles have been worked out. They are all so squished in too.

Married to a builder and he wouldn’t ever buy one. He has seen them built and is shocked at the poor quality and what they charge for them. Most of them are literally thrown up and devoid of character…so boring.

My sister bought a new build by a big name company.
A few months in the walls were caving, tiles flying off the roof, unusable kitchen cupboards etc. Her and her neighbours have formed a committee and it's basically a full time job trying to get all the issues sorted.
Can't sell either as travellers have taken to a field behind the Estate.

I’m coming from the other side and say the older a house, the more expensive it is. We are on new build number 3. If builders aren’t selling they will do some great offers. Some not far away were paying mortgages up to £2000 for 12 months! Others doing key worker discount, can negotiate on flooring and landscaping. We got £8000 off our stamp duty.
It is hard work when you first get in but then the price goes up once you have it fitted out. Also you have the NHBC for 10 years and cover for 2 years for anything else including boiler which is peace of mind.
Not all new builds are attractive that is agreed, but some builders are designing more old school. Redrow for example did very appealing houses under the Heritage design. I do love old houses full of character and our next home will be an older house but for now, new builds have served us very well.

I'm another who deliberately excluded new builds on righmove when I sought to buy my first property. Will do the same for round 2 tbh. I'm not convinced on them.

A friend has one and it's nice but I think my property has more character and whilst it's not perfect she's had lots of snags for the shorter time she's been on hers. The only thing I envy is that they usually have nicer bathrooms than my current awful one... ours needs a refurb so we've looked at what we like style wise and can emulate.

Good luck on your house hunt. Xxx

What an odd view they have, I assume they are simply inexperienced and lack knowledge on housing?

My husband is a brick layer and builds new builds all the time and has always said he would never buy one unless it was a privately commissioned build as the housing estates and flats are built to such a poor level now. They literally build the internal walls with concrete blocks and bolster with wood then fill with foam. They also use that inside cavity as a toilet while they are working. He has seen labourers s*it in the cavity walls before they are closed up. Most workers now are not experienced brick layers as they are building these flats and new estates too quickly. Better to buy an older house and get an experienced builder to do renovations for you over a few years

I suppose they think that a new build would mean hopefully you would not have any problems incurred with an older building and sometimes you can buy a one build etc with help for buyers. on the other hand I am on your side because new builds are boxes with no character.

They’re being snobs. Plus, new builds aren’t built to last. You’re paying for this, you do you.

That’s fantastic you’re getting on the first step of the housing ladder and looking at a house !
It is totally up to you what you buy , location matters most in my opinion.
Perhaps your mum and sister are concerned that if you get an older property it might need a lot of work ?
In an ideal world I’d like to live in a property in a particular area that’s been renovated to within an inch of its life 😂 so I won’t have maintenance issues for many years .
We have lived in an older property that became a money pit so that’s why I’d love to find something fully renovated .
There seems to be a lot of snobbery on here about new builds 🤔
Right now I live in a new build but it’s large with high ceilings, deep skirting boards , large rooms , large garden , lots of storage and a lovely outlook ( it might be outing if I say what I can see from the front of my home 😆)
The running costs are low compared to our old house .
Downside is the walk to the most frequent public transport and we don’t have a local shop as yet but that’s in the plans for a housing estate nearby that we will be able to walk to .

We own an older house (50s I think), don’t get me wrong it has its own set of problems and needs new windows etc but for what we paid we get probably double the space of what we would have in a new build. This was 6 years ago though so appreciate the housing market is different now

We've had two New Builds before, and nothing wrong with them at all (of course you do need to know which developers to avoid). Usually New Builds would have some kind of incentives for first time buyers (or maybe gov-funded ones) you just need to look them up. Good luck!

I think it’s a real shame they are being so negative - you have done so well they should celebrate that. Maybe time to find some others who will support you and be positive and take them on viewings? I hope you find a wonderful place and are very happy in it.

New builds are always overpriced and the quality is poor. Give me something built mid 20th century any day.

New does not always mean better.
I live in an 1870 house. Much better built than new ones near me.