Buy a detached new build or stay put

[LastsliceofBattenberg]

I'd welcome opinions please. I live in a 3/4 double bedroom 1970s semi in walking distance to the local high school. I'm a single parent. 4th bedroom is a good loft conversion which is used as a home office since I wfh 2 days per week. I've only been here 3 years and have £110k left on mortgage which I intend to pay off in full with recent inheritance when the fix runs out in 2026. There is good living space downstairs thanks to rear extension off the kitchen diner and good storage thanks to attached garage with internal door. There is only one toilet in the house which is problematic with two teens so my plan was to convert the garage into cloak room/utility/toilet with new entry to the house (as currently the front door opens right into carpeted lounge). . I've just agreed to a quote from a good tradesman to do the conversion for approx 17k. The toilet would have to be a macerator as no other option. The house also needs new double glazing and bathroom suite soon.

Until this last week, I had accepted that I would stay I in this house until the children finish school (in 7 years) and then move. I've never felt fully at home here for a few reasons including frosty neighbours .... it's the least friendly street I've ever lived on. Most people just keep themselves to themselves (not even a "hello") but next door family are actively hostile for no reason I can fathom other than I've dared to move here from a different part of the country. I suddenly thought that, since I have this inheritance (I'll end with about £350k when probate finished) maybe I should just forget costly renovations and just move now. If I'm going to go through the hassle of moving it needs to be worth it... so 4 bed detached with good sized bedrooms for each of us. The only property that meets the criteria and doesn't need loads doing to it is a new build, very nearby, for £418k. The estate is said to be v friendly and I could part exchange and get them to pay stamp duty. I'd have less storage space and downstairs living space. I'm just awaiting their offer to part-ex my house. This move would eat up a lot of my inheritance that I probably should put in my pension (I'm NHS but only joined in 2020 so barely have a pension pot at 46year old). I could still pay off the mortgage and price difference but it would eat up most of the inheritance. But part of me just wants to get out of a house that I don't feel at peace in.

I often wonder if you will get your money worth with new house. New houses where I live are often hard to resell afterwards and very little profit made.

i would also want to be heading towards mortgage free as you approach 50. You will have more spending power to go out and do what you want. Not having any mortage will be a huge advantage.

I would make the home yours and stay put. Sod the neighbours and hope they move on.

I'll still be able to be mortgage free if I buy the new build but with less savings. My current house is worth approx £325k

In the case that you’re mortgage free with both… life is short so do what makes you happy. If it’s still a good location for school and you have somewhere to work in the new build, do that. I bet it’s EPC is better too. But do think it through properly, the grass is always greener but you could have nightmare neighbours there too… also still plan to downsize later to release money for pension?

I'd be very wary of new builds. They are notoriously badly made these days -all about profit not durability. People often try to move after only a couple of years so the friendliness of the estate could change.

I'd stay put, ignore the frosty neighbours and look out for a house that properly meets your needs. Less space with growning teens is not ideal.

I'd always said I'd never get a new build! However, this one is traditional brick built (no timber frames) and all bedrooms are a very good size. The plot position means that neighbours should not be an issue as the garden backs on to car parking spaces not other gardens.

I have lived in a new build for 8 years, and am now part exchanging to a larger new build. We have had no issues with our new build , and the selling price has gone up by over a third since we bought it. If it's what you want go for it!

this doesn’t sound like the right solution.

wouldnt touch a new build. Notoriously poor quality, hard to sell, always depreciate in value (an issue if you planned to down size later to release £££). The estates are often characterless with little sense of community.

losing living and storage space sounds pretty rubbish with teenagers and also taking away from your pension pot perhaps unwise.

are you sure the hostility from your attached neighbour isn’t caused by inconsiderate behaviour on your part? Noise travel from teens or music perhaps?

Could you wait until teens finish school then look to change to a different area?

@Whattodosen good to hear. I am familiar with all the horror stories about new builds but I do think this developer has a pretty good reputation compared to some. I've spoken with some residents on the estate and, other than the usual snagging, there have not been any major issues I'm aware of. There is only one plot left (not because it's a bad plot but is the last house to be built). South- facing garden too!

no idea about house sorry but once you are mortgage free you could be disciplined and put all of the money you would have been spending on a mortgage into your pension or other investments. That way you are taken care of long term as well.

Macerator toilets are not great. Can you come up with alternative plans? An en-suite upstairs?

How likely are DC the move out when they leave school? Are you going to be rattling around a new build on your own in 7 years?

@Muthaofcats the unpleasant neighbours are not attached to my house but on the other side. I am quiet in my garden and have taken in their parcels etc. People in the town say they are a strange couple and not well-liked. Their teen son drove over my flower bed and was belligerent about it. Parents backed him up. That's just one example. So no, it's not me

Yes, that's definitely what I would do

Several builders have said macerate is only option.

My children are 12 and 13.

@Crazyeight no idea if the children will move out at 18. Maybe they will go to uni and come back. I imagine l would keep the house for a good 10 years at least. I could then sell if I am left rattling about all alone

In our old house we had a macerator in our ensuite.
Never had a problem with it, however we were quite strict about paper only and it was mostly just used by me and dh.

How unhappy do the hostile neighbours make you?

Are there no other alternatives than this new build?

would you be ok with it depreciating in value? I guess yes if forever home but more of an issue if you do want to sell again later / don’t like the neighbours there either?

It does seem like the new build estate has a lovely sense of community. Far more than my current street! I'm basing this on residents I've spoken to and their Facebook group.

I wouldn’t necessarily count on your kids necessarily leaving home in 7 years, they might need to stay for a while due to rent. What is the parking situation like? Do you have a driveway for two cars? Or at least two allocated parking spaces and the option to eventually convert a front garden if you have two young adults living with you?

Mumsnet is very snobby about newbuilds but they have a lot of positives too (and no I don’t live in one!); less maintenance as you get older, more facilities such as multiple toilets as you say, potentially more community if it’s on an estate, probably warmer and easier/cheaper to heat. None of the new builds in my village have any issues being sold on. If it’s what you want I wouldn’t let the ‘new build’ aspect put you off.

Moderately. They are out in their garden ALOT and have a yapping dog which snarls and barks if I breathe outside.

See my OP... no other houses in my
Price range that fit my requirements.

I don't think they depreciate in value over a longer period of time. If you bought new and resold very quickly then yes, you lose value thanks to the newness premium. But if I stay out for at least 7 years, I expect the value to increase. It's a sought after area thanks to schools.

Aside from the fact the new build has a smaller living space (which could be tricky as kids get older), I'd have the following new build questions: what is the annual estate charge (you might be mortgage free but this could be hefty)? How close to finishing the development are the developers (if it's due to finish after you'll want to move it can make it difficult to sell)? Do you plan on staying there for at least 10 years (because that's the average length of time it takes to recoup the new build value)?

Go with your gut though. There's no point staying somewhere you'll be unhappy.

Two allocated spaces plus garage.

I live in a new build and it’s great. I always said I never would! But it’s so warm, and the bills are less because it’s all toasty and insulated. Houses round me sell fine too (I’ve lived here for around six years). Like the one you’re describing, this is a good quality house by a good builder.

Does the new build have more bathrooms/toilets? I think this would sway me, with teenagers in the house.

The size of the living space becomes less important as they’ll be mostly in their rooms!

This is the final plot being built.

Annual charge is £193.

I would stay at least 8 years or so. Likely more.

Big family bathroom, big en-suite in master, reasonable shower and toilet room on top floor and downstairs loo! We could all go for a wee simultaneously and so could a visitor.