Why are people buying new builds.

Crashy_Time

People were brainwashed into believing that property "always went up", therefore they had to "get on the ladder" as soon as possible, even if that meant using a scheme like HTB designed to bail out developers/bankers and meaning that they overpaid big time. Very sad really.

Zero_Sum

zagubov wrote: »

Good for you!

But who needs a shed or a garage? If you're keeping tools in those, I'd suggest that in these houses you'd be better leaving them in part of the office which often a feature.

As i like to keep the house clean & tidy, i have no desire to keep things like tools, tins of paint, spare bits of wood in the house. So no it wouldnt be better at all. Those houses just arent practical

gettingtheresometime

Another reason maybe that people feel they need to have at least one en-suite bedroom or at least two toilets

00ec25

why do people buy new cars instead of secondhand?
think about it for a minute, it might help you understand why you are where you are in life.

BrownTrout

Keeping up with the Jones springs to mind

pinkteapot

Personal view - new-builds are far less attractive than they were 20-30 years ago and government support such as Help to Buy is propping up demand.

Firstly, and the biggest reason I wouldn't buy one now - service charges on freehold properties with most new-builds now. Completely unregulated and has all the makings of another mis-selling scandal in a few years.

Secondly - unpopular opinion - the affordable housing mixed in does put people off (and potentially future buyers if you want to sell). We looked at some new-build estates and there were affordable properties next to, opposite, or behind the largest, most expensive houses on the estate (we thought it made no sense for developers to do that - a developer told us the planning department at the local council specify exactly where on the development they want the affordable houses placed). I know it's snobby, but even leaving that aside, in practical terms the affordable houses NEVER have enough parking - usually only one space, so you know that area will get badly parked up as most households have two cars. When you look at equivalently sized houses that are about 30 years old, plots are more spacious and driveways could generally take at least two cars. And when you come to sell, yours is just another second-hand house and won't compare well to the older ones.

That being said, I know exactly why new-builds sell easily where I am (rural north-west) - lack of property availability. No-one here moves! It's taken us months to find a house to buy, primarily due to very few family-sized homes coming on the market. There's loads of flats and small terraces being sold, and if most of those sellers are wanting larger homes then the majority are going to end up in the thousands of new-builds going up because there's no choice.

AdrianC

coffeehound wrote: »

Blame Maggie Thatcher for the undersize new homes; it was her administration that reduced minimum room sizes.

Given that we're now 29 years and six PMs after she left office, you have to wonder at what point people will change that particular tune...

Zero_Sum

pinkteapot wrote: »

Personal view - new-builds are far less attractive than they were 20-30 years ago and government support such as Help to Buy is propping up demand.

Firstly, and the biggest reason I wouldn't buy one now - service charges on freehold properties with most new-builds now. Completely unregulated and has all the makings of another mis-selling scandal in a few years.

Secondly - unpopular opinion - the affordable housing mixed in does put people off (and potentially future buyers if you want to sell). We looked at some new-build estates and there were affordable properties next to, opposite, or behind the largest, most expensive houses on the estate (we thought it made no sense for developers to do that - a developer told us the planning department at the local council specify exactly where on the development they want the affordable houses placed). I know it's snobby, but even leaving that aside, in practical terms the affordable houses NEVER have enough parking - usually only one space, so you know that area will get badly parked up as most households have two cars. When you look at equivalently sized houses that are about 30 years old, plots are more spacious and driveways could generally take at least two cars. And when you come to sell, yours is just another second-hand house and won't compare well to the older ones.

That being said, I know exactly why new-builds sell easily where I am (rural north-west) - lack of property availability. No-one here moves! It's taken us months to find a house to buy, primarily due to very few family-sized homes coming on the market. There's loads of flats and small terraces being sold, and if most of those sellers are wanting larger homes then the majority are going to end up in the thousands of new-builds going up because there's no choice.

Is that service charge thing common?
I know theres a bit of an issue with leasehold, but its the first time ive heard of it with freehold. I have a new build (bought 6 years ago) and its freehold, and no service charges.

When you say affordable are you talking about 2 bed terraces being next to 4 bed detacheds or rented?
In our estate, they allocated a set of houses on the edge of the estate for the rented ones. We were told where they would be, so could buy house at other end away from them. In the end the developer reneged on it, and just didnt build them. And i believe this isnt uncommon thing where developers agree to build them to get planning permission, then dont.

[Deleted User]

zagubov wrote: »

…Here's an example of a better system used in England.

The houses have courtyards and balconies, off-road parking, and room to extend into their top floors.

Those houses in the link are awful. No green space, no privacy (even the balconies and courtyard space is overlooked) and the outside looks like an office block.

Hectors_House

Here's an example of a better system used in England.

The houses have courtyards and balconies, off-road parking, and room to extend into their top floors.[/QUOTE]

I really like the look of these myself.

They look like starter homes to me though. I don’t think they’d be any good once children come along.

They remind me of the image put out in the Sunday Times housing supplement for new developments in London - no garden and overlooked balconies cus the people who buy them are all going to be young, genteel and eating out every night.

I can see where you are going with it though. Maybe this is better than rows and rows of back to back two up/two downs that sell for silly prices in some places.