"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.

I bought a relatively new build and it's made of cardboard. My next property will be something old. They are thrown up, lack storage in my experience and the rooms are small. Not worth the price premium IMO.

I've worked in show homes and had to listen to people tearing their hair out about snagging. Give me a solid house anyday.

Give me an older house with character every single time!

Your family should be building you up, not criticising you and bringing you down.

Congratulations on having saved up to buy a house - that's a great achievement.

You couldn’t pay me to buy a new build.

As someone who bought a newbuild, DONT buy a new build!

"I have a huge garden and it's certainly not soulless nor made of cardboard."

While you may have this, that is certainly uncommon in most new builds.

If I can be really nosey, can I ask just how huge a garden you're talking about?

To me, a "huge" garden is around 3/4 acre or half an acre at a minimum. I remember back in the 1980s-1990s that a decent sized plot for a detached new build house would typically be around a quarter of an acre, but sometimes they were really squeezing them in and only giving around half that much space, say 500 sq metres of garden.

But, if you look at most new builds these days the amount of land is so much smaller.

Here are some typical four bed detached new builds in the city where I live:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147832049#/?channel=RES_NEW

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149647076#/?channel=RES_NEW

They have nowhere near this much land.

and here is what you can get for the same money with an older house:

1707 house with exposed beams and half an acre of land:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146363957#/?channel=RES_BUY

Typical 1930s detached with 1/4 acre:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149124956#/?channel=RES_BUY

😂 utterly baffled at why you’re upset 😂

We all bought Victorian terraces/converted semis when I was young. They are so well built. New builds do not have that reputation unfortunately

People are so rude about new builds. We live in one and it’s absolutely fine. But crucially, our HOME. Don’t be so damn rude.

Wanting one and buying one because it's the best option in a bind are not the same thing.

I understand completely the appeal of a new build. Everything is only yours. Brand new. You even have the option of making it exactly what you want as it's being built. But I don't want one that's being built nowadays.

DH hears enough from his friends from the days he worked on house building. I saw enough from my days of reading valuation reports and solicitors searches. I have friends in them with horror stories.

I can imagine why people might buy one if they are in a situation where it is all they can find. But I can't imagine why any sensible person with access to information about the problems would decide that it's what they want more than any other house.

I can't bear new builds, I'd much rather live in an older house. DS feels the same, he's just bought a welsh victorian house for £150k with a garden so huge you practically need to catch a bus to get to the end of it.
Needs work but he knows what he is doing.
I only have to walk onto a new build estate with no trees on it to feel completely depressed.

I don’t understand why newbuild lovers are so upset at this thread. It’s obvious lots of people do love them from the fact that they’re building them everywhere and they sell for so much. But this thread was for an op that was upset that her relatives poo-pooed older properties and hankered after new builds, so most posters are here saying they like older houses…

I actively chose not to go for a new build when I bought my first house. Chose a Victorian terrace specifically because I preferred the feel and character. Sometimes new builds have unforeseen problems that crop up.

All of my houses have been Victorian. Much better design and build and much more character. I wouldn’t live in a new build if you paid me. Don’t take your family with you if they’re going to be so negative.

I can only imagine. A new development near me has gone up in record time and the houses are going for near 500k. Having witnessed this I would not buy one even if I could afford it. It cannot possibly be a quality build in that timescale. I imagine the snags are endless (former life in construction professional services).

I understand the feeing of defensiveness about new builds.

but it’s okay for people to have preferences!

it’s not rude to say new builds often have small gardens. They do tend to be smaller. I am on my third home - first two new builds. I could hear the neighbours pee-ing! The builder poured cement down the drains to three months in the garden was flooded with sewerage🤢. The garden was very, very small - I could see into four peoples kitchens!

my personal experience has been my latest home - an older house - is much better build quality. Larger rooms, thicker walls, large, mature garden.

it’s not rude to say that.

assuming you're talking your average new build like Persimmon or Taylor Wimpey developments it would be a hell no from me. Terrible quality.

I'd rather a 1950s ex council house.

I don't know why you're upset. Give it a few years and you'll see how shit the workmanship is. Disclaimer : bought a new build.

In our last move I wanted a new build more than any other house. After decades of living in old period properties, spending every evening and weekend on some sort of maintenance, or managing huge gardens full of mature trees, and knowing that as DH and I were getting older it was slipping away from us, and one of us might find ourselves trying to manage it on our own, I very much wanted a new build.

Twenty-something year old me would have laughed in your face at the suggestion but now I’m here and I love it.

My parents made similar comments when we bought our very dated eighties house last year. They have lived in new builds since I was born and seemed fixated on us getting something similar, as it was the 'sensible' thing to do. Conveniently forgetting that the 'new builds' I grew up in were huge five beds with triple garages on 'exclusive' developments of about thirty houses... not a shoebox amongst 5000 similar with one parking space.

Many new build estates are co Crete jungles, houses crammed in, no garden, no parking, and poorly built cardboard walls taht you can’t hang nothing heavy on! I would buy one if it was half price!

I'm happy you've got one without any horror stories. Having both been in industries where we see problems, we couldn't risk it, and we're on the same page with that.

New builds are terrible; always much more expensive per sqft and when you sell it, it won’t be new anymore so you’ll lose money (relative to an older property). The plots are always tiny, the windows are small (it helps them meet the regs more cheaply). The streets are always crowded and there’s not enough parking.

I think you deserve a massive pat on the back for managing to get on the housing ladder at your age. Take no notice and good luck with house hunting!

Ah I remember when I was 25 and cared what people thought.

Them days are gone.