New builds - love or loathe?

[CharlotteSometimes2020]

I currently live in a 5 bed new build.
Everyone that visits says how lovely it is etc
And it is nice and practical- double garage, etc
But I hate it!
I can't put my finger on it. I crave a normal street.
With New builds I always find they are on 'estates'. Everyone knows everyone's business, parking always a nightmare. I feel I'm surrounded by houses.
The only good thing is that with new builds is that you can make friends easy because everyone is 'new' to the neighbourhood.
What's other people's opinions about New builds vs old houses?

I think new builds are great for flats.

For houses new builds aren't appealing due to all the reasons stated on this thread.

I've also lived in a new build (one off) on the street - which was best of both worlds.

I now live in a 1920s semi - which was fully refurbished inside out when we bought it. It's been the best of all the houses we've ever lived in. I totally see why a well established neighbourhood on a street is much better than an estate. It has the community but also the privacy & space when you need it.

To me, new builds are soulless boxes with poor build quality, inadequate gardens, parking and infrastructure. Can't stand them!

@AmorFattyOwlOne

You're exceptions!

I know some old houses are beautiful and far superior. But a house is not superior just because it's "period". But in the uk, the fear of such an outward expression of your taste can tarnish you. A lot of middle class people will think that a new house will brand them as a lower class. I lived in the uk for a long time. Always in a drafty ordinary period house.

I am lower class! And live in a big Victorian house.

I have lived on three new builds, 2 detached and one semi, and now a detached 1930's house.

I have liked them all for different reasons.

New builds were easy to maintain and the ones I lived in had food sized gardens. Cheap to heat, minimum decor and all sold to first or second viewer.

Our current house, is lovely too, but more expensive and more maintenance and more worry

New builds were easier when kids were little, older house more manageable now.

Pro's and con's to both

I live in a brand new new build. We bought off plan and moved in a year ago, being the v first owners of the house.

We could only afford to buy using the shared ownership scheme, so that limited what we could buy. It’s cheap to heat, everything is brand spanking new and if anything did go wrong in this first year, we’re covered for replacements through our defects procedure.

All the walls were left as white emulsion so this next year I’m going to work my way through the house painting/ wallpapering and properly putting my stamp on it.

Although I love this house, I do love old (pre 30s) period properties too. However, due to income/ being first time buyers this is all we could afford. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to choose anything from right move.

We live in a new build on an estate and yes I wouldn't buy here ideally (currently rent) just feels less green, more cramped, I love the feel of an older street.

And yes I agree the incentive schemes are often for new builds. We may have to take one and i would be happy but id rather be in an older house.

I like that they are better insulated, practical layout... but really small.

Around me (london zone 5) the new builds are much more expensive than comparable old housing stock (both flats and houses)

To me my house is a new build but it's actually between 15/20 years old (can't remember exactly). I love it. Only ever lived in older houses before but this is waaaaay more spacious, good size garden, loads of parking, garage for all the crap, nice community, neighbours are not immediately next to us, walls dont fall down, it has some quirky design features (ie character), good size rooms. I absolutely love it. It is on an estate but now and established one and I see the community as a benefit, especially with young children. Plenty of green space and walking distance to shops, restaurants, schools, woodland, parks, train station.

I probably wouldnt buy off plan new build because I like an established community and greenery.

It's impossible to compare all new houses with all old houses. It all depends on your budget surely?

Your budget will determine how big your plot is, parking space, quality etc, someone with a £600,000 budget will likely have a different experience of new builds to someone with £100,000. The same goes for older houses.

It will also depend on the area as to whether new builds command less or more space for your budget, I've experienced both.

I really don't know why MN keeps trying to generalise millions of houses across a vast area into two camps, new vs old. It can't be done 🤷‍♀️

Agree 100% @catsmother20

There’s such a huge difference in developers you can’t really compare them all or write them all off as tiny etc

We previously lived in, renovated and loved our period houses, we've had three Victorian terraces, one old bakery, but honestly we love our nice new build even more.

It has parking, a garage, is detached so we can make as much noise as we like, and a fantastic large west facing garden in a corner plot. Not to mention a lovely en suite and utility room which is brilliant with all the washing a young DC brings.

Any house as always is about location. We picked a lovely village location backing onto fields so we don't feel overlooked but I'm sure that can be a problem with some developments. We've also spent the first 6 months painting over all the magnolia to bring some personality into it. Yeah, we miss the beams, log burner and exposed brick we used to have but we definitely won't miss the draughts, single course brick, parking hassle and constant maintenance of a period property.

That's not to say, one day we won't buy an old project but, for now, this works perfectly for us.

I live in a new build.

I agree with PP. It is soulless, the whole street looks the same and yes it's very 'estate' like.

That being said, the inside is immaculate and we won't need to make any general repairs while we are here. I'm in FT education so for our life situation it's in an ideal location, and the lack of money needing spend on it is ideal.

When I graduate, however, we will be moving to an older house with a bit more life and character in it when we have the money to make repairs/amendments as needed!!

We live in a house that has lots of 'character'. It's a bloody nightmare. I'd love a nice easy low maintenance new build.

I’m moving to a new build, two children under 3, were really not good at any handy work and it gives us more space while our children are young. I’d love a 1930s house but I feel like you pay a premium for a fireplace!