"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.

Do you mean htb Not hsbc?

Your mum and your sister are absolute idiots if they think a new build is preferable to a solid, well built house. New builds are thrown up in a matter of days, they're plastered and 'finished' before teh foundations have had time to settle and this results in a lot of problems. Thats before you even consider the corner cutting that goes on, and the fact that often the land being built on really shouldn't have been becasue its a flood plain or where water has soaked away for thousands of years and now cannot because its covered in tarmac and concrete...

Solid, well built, older properties (pre 1960 for me!) are the way to go. Yes they may be tatty and they may need stuff doing but its do-able, whereas newbuilds are frequently a nightmare of ongoing problems, that the build company wash their hands of the minute you're in!

I live in a new build. Trust me, it ain’t all that. My garden is pokey and the build quality is shit.

wouldn’t buy another one, much prefer an older house.

I have no idea why people would actively choose a new build over other types of houses.

It’s irrelevant what your mum thinks at this stage. This is YOUR LIFE.

You’re in your mid-20’s. This is when you need to start being properly independent and relying less on your parents for help and advice.

Stop discussing your finances with them and don’t ask for their advice unless you really want it.

I have 2 grown up kids plus grandkids and I stopped offering parental advice to my two once they’d left for University.

Maybe your mum is struggling with you being all grown up and moving out so she’s still trying to influence your choices as if you’re still a child. It is a real struggle for some parents to let go and leave you to live your own life, but you have to stop involving them in your decision making. Feel confident in your abilities and remind your mum that you’re able to go it alone because she’s done such a good job in bringing you up.

We had a family member very snooty about how they were buying a new build and we weren't when we were in the process of buying this house. We had a group of friends round and they turned up (we had asked them not to) and wanted to do a presentation of their new house and how to achieve a great offer on a new build (they'd got about 5% off at a point the market was slow so not exactly brilliant!).

I will just say that we're still in the same house 15 years later and they moved to a not-new build within two years accepting a much lower price than they paid...

I live in a new build, I love it. Not all developers and builders are rubbish. We have had very few snagging issues, we are on a lovely party of the estate and a good size garden. Not what you are asking I know, but people are wrong to say all new builds are awful

Absolutely this!

Please avoid a new build....

In the last year I've seen many new builds basically thrown up! One near me is nearly half a million I can't tell you how many times that rain rain through the whole building, how many different teams of plasterers , electricians etc worked on it, how often they brushed water out of it! I wouldn't love there if you paid me!
I don't like new builds , it wouldn't cross my mind they are desirable.
But each to their own
You buy what suits you and your budget

I do t think some of the new builds are up to much

Good luck with your house buying OP😀

I’ve bought everything from new build to an old Manor House. I always think old houses have stood the test of time. They’ve not fallen down. Look for signs of water ingress especially in bedrooms and extensions, damp on walls, cracks in walls. Check all doors and windows close easily. If you tick off all of those you’ve probably got a sound house that’s not young to throw any major surprises at you. Look at the EPC to see if it can be improved or have sellers done everything they can.

IMO some people favour new builds because they’re seduced by show homes, everything shiny new, and cunningly designed to sell a ‘lifestyle’ - often with 3/4 size furniture, so you don’t realise how small the rooms are.

It’s an extremely naive way of thinking. Getting on the property ladder is hard, very hard, nowadays, having your own little house to start with is all you need. A house in reasonable condition would serve you well. Especially if the owners have recently done a new kitchen and added a downstairs loo! it’s your money and a HUGE investment, please do what suits you!! It’s commendable you’re in a position to do that on your own, so seriously well done!!

I have owned 2 new builds, still living in the 2nd. The first was AWFUL quality, sold and moved on as soon as we could. My latest I’ve been in 5 years - structurally very good, borderline impressed with the build of the structure, and actually some character. BUT, the fittings were CHEAP, so we’ve gradually changed everything. Whole new kitchen, ripped out to a bare room, new doors etc even some radiators. People called us wasteful - but honestly, it was falling apart within months of moving in!! It’s all bulk bought, mostly rushed, shit flat pack and the bathrooms are basic AF. I actually love my house, but only now we’ve changed it all. Probably should have done a renovation 😂

Buy what you want OP. New builds suit some people and they aren’t all thrown up by cowboy builders, but if it’s not you then stick to your guns. It’s a shame your DM and DSis haven’t the vision to see what you can see in an older property but then they won’t be sharing it with you.

The comments just highlight your Mum and her sisters ignorance,if they think new builds are better than older houses.

They obviously get taken in by the shiny newness of new builds, but don’t realise that under the skin older houses tend to be bigger, better built, more solid, and a much better buy. Especially as you are not paying the new build premium.

When I was buying my first house I looked at new builds and older properties. I quickly gave up looking at new build, because it became obvious the older houses gave me much better value for money.

I actively avoided new builds when I was househunting, they are such lousy quality and there's still this fashion for having one room downstairs so you can't shut the cooking smells out.

Green belt restrictions around where I live mean that very few new builds happen, but that the ones that do are of the hugely expensive, high-spec variety. Three of DD’s friends’ parents live in them across three different ‘developments’, and in each of them the thing that I noticed was that the walls are paper thin and the gardens are tiny.

We live in a tiny 2 bed mid terrace that we’re planning to extend, but it was built for the village church’s workers in the 1930s so is absolutely rock solid, and has a massive garden from when people grew their own veg.

Different strokes for different folks, but I wouldn’t always assume that newer is better.

I’m also not a fan of new builds, I don’t like the way they are built and I usually don’t like the streets they are on and the way they are laid out. The only advantage I can see is that they are often warmer, but it still wouldn’t sway me to buy one. I only know one person who lives in a new build, everyone else lives in houses 1930s or older.

Iw had a new build( show home) I would never recommend a new build to any one. So many problems, rooms smaller then average. We are now in a 1960s bungalow and I love, had to do some renovation but we have proper sized rooms. Good luck with your house hunting

Reminds me of a conversation I had with my friend.

She was really disappointed that her friends were all moving out of the city to a gorgeous seaside suburb. Really well connected to the city, lots of nice shops. But she didn't like the old houses.

So she moved to a new build estate that is still under construction six years later and the only local feature is a really big Asda.

Back to the OP... don't invite your mum anymore, or brush off her comments. My FIL always makes rude comments about my 13yo Yaris, but it's only evidence of how narrow minded and rude he is.

What’s wrong with your mum and sister?? 🤣 New builds are notorious shit piles that won’t still be standing in 100 years.
The old adage “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” is VERY true when it comes to houses. I wouldn’t ever buy anything pre 1990 at the latest. I had a new build once, in 1997, not as bad as today’s new builds but still pretty terrible. Never, ever again.
You want a lived in house that’s been standing a few decades already.
Not to mention New Build estates are cheap looking little ‘toy towns’ with bland and tiny garden spaces.

Yanbu OP. Victorian terraced houses are far superior to new builds in my opinion. There are usually teething issues with new builds and the build quality is a bit hit and miss.

When we married, our first home was two years old, so not new build but very nearly. It was a nice little house - called itself a three bedroom house but in reality it was two bedrooms and a room you could have just about fitted a cot in, or a toddler bed, but not a standard single bed. It was pretty cold in winter, pleasant in summer. Walls were so thin that we were advised never to attempt to hang anything heavier than a couple of photon the wall. Definitely no fitted kitchen!
Then we moved to our current house. It's just shy of 100 years old. Three good sized bedrooms. Solidly built, warm and cozy in the winter. We have a good sized garden, Lots of character. This is where we brought up our family. It feels like home. Our first home never felt like our permanent home. This one does.

From friends who have bought new builds (while being built) have had so many problems you'd think you wouldnt get. Plus new builds sometimes have smaller gardens and not much parking than older homes.