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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Older house or new build?

32 replies

182Piccadilly · 08/05/2025 19:03

Had an offer on our house that we have accepted. Divorce not finalised but financial order in place. Stbx has another property he lives in but I need to find somewhere for myself. I only want a smaller mortgage (due to my age - early 50’s) and I intend to pay it off at 60 when I get my pension lump sum.

We have always had fairly new houses but I have been attracted to older houses as I’ve got older (more character and space). I’m undecided whether to look for a new build or an older house. New builds can lack character.

What has everyone got and what made you decide on your choice?

It looks like I can get a 3 bed older house within my budget - nice house, character, established garden and in a nice area. Or, a smaller new build (2 bed) with little character. But, more economical. I need a 3 bed, preferably.

I love the London type houses and the one I have my eye on is just like them - with a much reduced price tag being up north!

OP posts:

JohnAmendAll · 11/05/2025 01:14

Older, the build quality is always superior to new builds.

LondonFox · 11/05/2025 02:12

I like my house the same way I lile my men - old enough to drive but not old enough to see ww2 ;)

Original poster

182Piccadilly · 11/05/2025 08:59

LondonFox · 11/05/2025 02:12

I like my house the same way I lile my men - old enough to drive but not old enough to see ww2 ;)

Ha ha! Love this!

OP posts:

Original poster

182Piccadilly · 11/05/2025 15:38

I’ve booked viewings for an older house (loads of room and full of character), an almost new house (smaller but won’t cost me much and it’s in a ‘ready to move into order’) and a brand new house just released by the builder (most expensive of the 3 and pushing into my ‘eating into my disposable income a bit too much’ category).

OP posts:

Didsomeonesaydogs · 11/05/2025 15:43

When we separated, I bought a house that was just coming up to 10 years old. Having previously lived in older properties (20s semi and 60s chalet style property), the minimal maintenance involved and lower fuel bills is such a welcome relief.

Violinist64 · 11/05/2025 16:04

@Didsomeonesaydogs l am slightly reeling from a sixties chalet style property being described as older. My parents bought one of these brand new in 1968 when I was very small... It was a lovely house.

Another2Cats · 11/05/2025 16:05

OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 08/05/2025 20:09

I've had both, moved a lot. I tend to choose based on my needs and location at the time. New builds are great if the layout is sensible, and would normally be lower in terms of heating and upkeep. Character can be added. Location is a factor on larger estates, they haven't yet had time to settle and you don't know if they will become a great place to live and sought after, or if they will turn out to be an estate people will avoid. Smaller developments with fewer houses won't have the same issue. And PPs point about a new build that is a few years old is a good one as you'll start seeing what the estate will turn out like after a few years.

Older houses can provide larger rooms and gardens, but depends on the age of the house. They could however need far more work if the owners haven't maintained them properly, and often you won't know until you've moved in as the surveys only go so far. My favourite are 70s builds, and I'm currently living in a 50s house bought for the gigantic garden.

Think about what you want your life to look like and choose house and location based on that. Do you want to be walking distance of a town centre, or would you prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside even if you'll have to drive everywhere? Do you need space for entertaining, or hobbies? Would you rather a small home that'll be easy and quick to maintain and clean, or space to spread out? Do you want a large or small garden. How close would you like to be too your neighbours? How much privacy do you want? What do you want to hear when the doors and windows are open? What about the amount of sunlight in the house and garden?

If you can work out the things that will facilitate your future life, and work out what's essential Vs nice to have, and importantly what you really don't want, this will help you make a good choice.

How exciting, good luck.

"My favourite are 70s builds, and I'm currently living in a 50s house bought for the gigantic garden."

I very much agree with this. A lot of Victorian or early 1900s housing can need a lot of upkeep and extra insulation.

Newbuilds, with the extortionate price of building land these days, are generally very small for the amount that you're paying.

It's been my experience that houses built from the 1960s up until the early 1980s seem to be in a sort of sweet spot between these two other groups of houses.

They're a lot newer than the Victorian homes so insulation and upkeep are better but they are generally larger than the equivalent newbuilds as building land wasn't so expensive back then.

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