"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.

Why would you want a new build?

You will have found your tribe on here OP because MN hates new builds 😂

I’m so glad I got over my new-build snobbery and bought mine, because it’s fantastic.

But I am sorry your DM is making you feel bad about your choices. It seems strange that she has such fixed ideas for you.

I wouldn't touch a new build starter home with a barge pole, stick with your plan OP.

There have been huge problems reported with snagging, poor design (both of houses themselves and of the developments they are on) poor build quality, awful gardens made from rubble with a bit of topsoil dumped on top, leasehold deals where ground rents go through the rooof after a few years.

Avoid, avoid, avoid

Why do you care what they think? It’s your house: buy what you like. I wouldn’t want a new build myself; so soulless and everyone I know has had problems with them

Where on Earth do you live that the new builds are the most desirable houses?! Round here they're primarily bought by first-time buyers who get one at discount and hope to work up to buying an older house before too many issues crop up! They tend to be very poky, badly built, have next to no storage and absurd little 'gardens' that are overlooked on all sides. Never met anyone who'd pick one given a choice - unless they were building their own to spec of course. Or maybe if they were looking for a multimillion pound Central London flat.

I wouldn't go for a new build, certainly not if it was a Jerry built dog-kennel sized house, which is all that most can afford first time. They are not new for long either, soon develop snags. All houses do,

Older houses are more solid and some are absolutely beautiful.

I do not get some people's obsession with being intent on buying a brand new house, equally others stipulate they want an older house 'with character' and won't look outside that category.

If you are happy with it, why worry? I'd be inclined to mention to your mother and sister that you feel a bit hurt by their remarks, you really like the house and are looking forward to making it a home. It does sound good, itscominghomee and, most of all, it is yours. Congratulations and enjoy!

I wouldn't have a new build if you paid me! You get so much more space and character with an older house. My house is 100 years old - it has its faults, but that's part of the charm. Who wants a nasty, little box walloped all thru in magnolia?

I doubt everyone will think the same as me but I used to have an old build house and it was great but in the wrong area. I now live in a new build in the right area but don't like the house as much.

Get whatever you want to and don't worry about what other people think.

I deliberately not buy a new build; a ‘second hand’ home has passed the test of time; many new build horrors with shoddy cost cutting efficiencies have put me off a new build for ever.

Yes, because they're for people who make bad financial decisions!

Congrats on having saved enough for a deposit - that’s not easy.
you go and choose what you want.
Your house, your money.
Nowt to do with anyone else.

I wouldn't take offense or be upset, it just means they have no idea what they are talking about.

My first house was a new build that went up 26% in the 4 years I owned it.

New builds have never been desirable to me.

My most favourite house was a small 2 bedroomed terrace. I was so happy there.

I know people who've bought new builds and there's so much snagging and issues. Older houses have better bones and more room.

Besides which it's your money and you spent it as you see fit!

New builds are great if you get a decent builder. Mine is a lovely 3 bed semi with a huge garden that’s not overlooked. Cheap to maintain and hardly any snags and we are coming to to two years.

nothing wrong with new builds there’s just a lot of snobs around

I wouldn’t go for a new build. You’d be the one finding all the problems as the first owner. The odds of having serious problems with a new build seem to be increasing and it’s not just one bad company that you can avoid - all the major developers seem to be cutting corners. Build quality seems to have declined. New builds also have smaller rooms and are built on smaller plots. The fact that you’d be under warranty won’t make months of living with a leaking sewage pipe in your garden any more bearable. You have to go along with the company’s ‘fixes’ and timescale so everything gets dragged out.

If you buy an older house get a good survey, find out the last time things like the roof or the boiler were replaced and don’t panic that it needs some work. Just cost the work and make your bid reflect it.

Just adding that new builds aren't all that. Our first home was one and honestly we loved it, but there isn't much character to them. Tend to be built on estates quite close to one another too.
There is a new build development near us, very expensive for uniform houses, packed in beside each other, with no character whatsoever. They may be nice inside, but they don't look appealing at all. Even a smaller, terraced newbuild in our area costs a lot more than our bigger, old detached house, doesn't make sense to me.

New builds tend to be shit, and you lose money if you sell within five years because the brand-newness is gone. You are doing excellently and anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong.

I've never known new builds to be seen as better than old houses. I only like period properties as do most people I know. Also, where do you live that new builds are more expensive? Older houses with character are more expensive than new builds usually.

My best mate lives in a new build estate. Although it’s now 10 years old.

she lives opposite the park, which was great when her son was little but now it’s an absolute shit show. Kids morning noon and night, footballs hitting the car and windows, noise and goings on until 10/11pm during summer.

no x 100000000000

When did new builds become something to aspire to? I can’t imagine why anyone would want a flimsy house with tiny rooms on a postage size plot if they could have a well built older house.

I would specifically EXCLUDE a new build from any home search. The build quality is often not great, and if the builders cut corners, the first owners are the ones doing all the tiring and expensive leg-work trying to get it fixed.
Also a lot of new build houses come as ridiculous leases, rather than a straight freehold, so you've potentially got all that nonsense to deal with.
I'd take a Victorian terrace that's been properly looked after over a new build every time.

Where we are the new builds are all leasehold, with leases of under 100 years. They are more expensive per month when you add in the rent, and you never own it.

I'd steer clear.

Our area is the same. Our house is detached, in a quiet area with no immediate neighbours. Just checked Rightmove and for £125,000 more than the value of our house, you can buy a terraced new build not too far from our house with one less bedroom on a fairly busy estate (with construction work currently going on most days as they build more).