Are people tending to buy new builds over old?

Sedge123

Didn't even consider new build. I love the character of older properties, we bought a 1950's semi and its s very solid house which suits us perfectly. I can understand the attraction of not having to decorate but I am enjoying slowly making our house into our home.

The major thing that puts me off new builds is the majority are in estates with no parking so it's like driving a slalom course through cars littered everywhere.

Waterlily24

When we bought this house it was for the garden rather than the house, it was a 1920/30s bungalow 3 beds, 1 reception bathroom and kitchen - quite small. We have just over an acre of garden and we are about a mile outside of the village in what's called countryside with no near neighbours. It took us a long time to find, we did a big extension and sort of have what we want. All of our houses apart from 1 have been 1920s or 1930s.

whizzybee

Old over new any day. It is mostly down to practicalities though, I can never afford a new build. However I like character to a property and I know people who have bought new builds and had so many problems which considering how much you have to pay... just doesn't fill me with confidence. Of course older properties can come with their own fair share of problem but if they have stood for so long, just have to hope that that continues!

honeybee2345

When I was looking to buy a house in 2002 we found a new build but when the solicitors was looking into it he said did you know plans for a new school were approved just across from your house? I did not and got out of that and instead bought an older house built in the 1940s and had an extension built on it so now we have an extra room at the side of the property and we love it there. The new house was going to be 80k and the one we bought was 62k and the new one was much smaller and even now when I go past it, I see the school and think thank god we bought the other house.

[Deleted User]

After looking at a new build years ago, with luxurious fittings in the huge master bedroom, large kitchen but with a study you could barely fit a desk in and a lounge you might just be able to fit a 2 seater sofa and small telly in (I'm really not exaggerating) for more than a standard preloved 3 bed house.., I decided I'd never look at a new build again.

I think if you look at the new build posts on here, they are mostly made by FTBer.., and are very popular with FTBers because considered to need less work than a preloved house. But FTBers would appear on here because they are more likely to need advice.

seven-day-weekend

upoiupou wrote: »

This is a genuine question, no agenda other than I'd find it useful to hear people's thoughts.

I seem to see quite a few posts where the background information includes the fact that they're buying a new build. These might be from first time buyers or movers.

I'm curious about this because the two times I've looked for somewhere to buy I couldn't consider a new build. The price difference was too great, even comparing an older property with a somewhat smaller new build. This is in South East England so maybe it's partly geography, but I wondered if there are places where new builds are more affordable or are there other factors like being willing to be farther from train stations or other amenities?

Maybe I'm only noticing the new build related posts and not noticing the older property related posts because I'm thinking about this. But if people have any thoughts on affording new builds versus older properties I'd be interested to know. I'd really like to buy a new build next time! (But I don't want to move away from my area.)

When we were looking to downsize we were looking at older freehold properties as you get a lot more for your money and usually in nicer areas. We bought a 1930s doer-upper bungalow with a large garden.

When we were looking for a buy-to-let we bought new (two years old actually) as we didn't want endless maintenance, and being a flat, we got a long lease.

Horses for courses.

indianabones

I'm a FTB and I'm not even considering a new home. Every single person I've asked for advice from has said that same thing to me, go for a pre-1960 build and in a nice area. You know you'll have a solid build and in terms of space, you'll get a lot more value for money.

As soon as the novelty of a new home wears off, you'll realise the importance of the space.

I could get an older home right now in Birmingham to suit my needs for about 210-225k. A new home with the same size garden and room spaces would probably cost me in the region of 300k.

Simply put, I don't see any reason to buy a new home.

Also to add, none of the new homes within my budget have a garden that you can actually call a garden. If you were to extend or build a conservatory you'd be taking away half of the garden.

marleyboy

Much prefer our recently purchased old, council built property over new builds. Its a good solid, mid 30s, 3 bedroom semi built to last, its also much bigger than the new builds dotted around here, with a large front and back garden and ample parking space.

We wouldn't even consider a new build property because they fail the key criteria to satisfy our needs.

Ashingtonian

I moved into my new build a couple of months ago and whilst there are obvious issues that will need sorting its hardly been one of the horror stories you often read about on the net.

I estimate the "premium" I paid over a similar sized older home in my area is in the region of around £10k, hardly a fortune when you consider you have nothing to fix/improve when you move in and everything comes with a guarantee (although I've heard the NHBC ten year thing is pretty much useless unless your house falls down)!

Some people like the challenge of home improvements whilst lazy !!!!!!s like me want everything done by someone else:rotfl:

katejo

I have never considered a new build at all. i like period properties. My first place was a 1915 maisonette and i now have a terraced house built around 1900. Both have gained value in the way that a new build wouldn't. Perhaps, when I retire, i might consider a more modern property to hopefully reduce maintenance costs but it would be a brand new build.