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.

Sounds like a sensible choice, op. Good luck.

We had a new build and it was great. One thing I would say though was that the garden backed on to communal parking so it was very open. We had a fancy car at the time & unfortunately one evening when I was coming home from work somebody jumped over the fence & tried to wrestle the keys from me.
They didn't succeed but it wasn't a nice experience so just make sure you've got a good plot & get some cameras, spikey plants up etc if the access is quite open.
I used to walk through the back garden from the car park to access the house but I probably would have been better to go round the front really.

And car parks are only ever a source of joy.

If there's a fence so you can't see whatever nefarious activities are going on then that's probably fine.

Better EPC if the house is built well I'd good.

But you might end up with crap new neighbours.

TBH I think lots of people are losing money on their purchase price at the moment unless they bought some time ago. We had to reduce our asking price in order to sell. Potential buyers are well aware of soaring material and building costs unless a place is in turnkey condition to their taste, unlike a few years ago.

I must admit I would not like to be backing onto a car park either . I would be concerned about someone doing up an old banger or revving engines at the back.of my house at all hours . But you can never get the perfect property so.there us always a compromise.

It doesn't back in to a carpark... just one house's allocated spaces are behind the fence. Same distance from my house as neighbours cars are now on their drives.

Sounds like your head is screwed on, so I'll just try to think of a few other things to consider.

• Does the developer include solar panels? Or do they allow them? Wimpey wouldn't give me the go-ahead when I asked.
• How narrow are the streets - distance between homes opposite - front door to front door?
• Does every home allow for the parking of two cars or could there be congestion and disputes?
• Would you be easily able to charge an EV from your home?
• Is the development on the outskirts? How far is it to services like shops and railway? That puts me off most second hand new builds.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

I live in a new build on a six year old estate and I agree with this.

just to add the houses on our estate sell quickly and always for an increased price. Not one has depreciated in value, even those that sold after just a few years:

Another one wanting to counteract the negativity of new builds, you can't generalise them any more than you can "old" houses. We moved into ours 5 years ago and I love it; traditional built, incredible energy rating, good quality the snagging was pretty minimal, it's a good size with good proportions, large double driveway, no parking issues (as we all have double driveways), no service charge, none of our neighbours have moved, we all have young children and have moved here for the schools. Our house has increased hugely in value according to remortgage (although more stagnant the last couple years as you'd expect in this market). I love the modern functionality of our house, it's got a good flow, the types of rooms and living areas we need, very little maintenance except decoration, including downstairs office for me. It's a really lovely place to live.

So do your research on the site; see if there is a local Facebook page to gauge if the current residents have had issues, look at local (not national) reviews, check the street parking at different times of day, lots of new build sites are awful I will agree, but when they're good they're a wonderful place to live.

Many new build plots are reserved well before building has started so I would be asking why this one wasnt - but maybe it wasnt released then so that they could price it accurately close to when building is finished.

Sounds like you want to move on and are motivated by it - so go for it.

Be careful of their valuation of your house - but it could be a quick win for you.

Good luck.

I don't know why people who have never lived in new builds have such strong negative opinions about them. Makes me laugh how people think they're experts.

We're in a new build that is gorgeous, warm, efficient, big. It has only gone up in value, like our whole estate has (around 6/7 years old). They were boring to look at a bit at first but everyone has made their own marks on them, trees, greenery, new doors, anything really and now it's so nice.

I would never go back to a cold old expensive house now.

I live in a new build and love it. We've had no problems. It's extremely energy efficient and it's lovely having a brand new kitchen and bathrooms with no maintenance, as yet. The one thing we did say though is that it's quite expensive initially as there's just about a couple of light bulbs when you move in.
It sounds to me like you really fancy the one you've seen so go for it!

Thanks for taking the time to comment... it's good to hear both sides. I'm going to go for it if they will offer the incentives I want. I hate haggling but am trying to be bold yet not cheeky.

To address a few points... location is excellent as it's right near train station and the high school. It's a desirable town and v in demand.

Fingers crossed. 🤞

Good luck OP, I would definitely buy a new build. I have bought 4 in the UK all sold quickly and made money.

Go for it Op. good luck & let us know how you get on. Sounds a great option