Benefits of buying a new-build home

According to the Office for National Statistics, last year (ending March 2024), there were 153,800 new homes completed in the UK. To help the housing crisis, the UK government has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes in the next five years.

Here are some of the reasons why a new-build might be for you.

Energy efficiency

Finding an energy performance certificate for a property can give a good indication of how energy-efficient a home can be, ultimately meaning lower bills. New homes can be up to four times more energy-efficient than an older one. This is down to having the newest energy-saving building materials and smart technology.

Chains

Buying an older house can mean you will have to deal with owners and onward property chains that could make the buying process more stressful. With a new-build there are no chains as you are the only buyer. 

Buying schemes

Some new-build properties can be purchased through home-buying schemes.

These include:

  •          Shared Ownership offered by some housing providers allowing you to buy a share of a property and pay rent on the rest.
  •         Own New allows you to buy a new-build home with a mortgage and pay a lower mortgage rate. 
  •         The First Homes Buyer Scheme is a government-backed scheme designed to help first time buyers onto the property ladder with a discount of at least 30% of the market value on selected new-build homes in England.

Design

When you buy a new build, you can often visit a show home to look at the interior design, and you may have the option to customise your design by choosing things such as flooring or work surfaces.

Renovations

You will unlikely be required to carry out any renovations so you will be able to move in knowing everything is brand new, and many of the fixtures and fittings will have a protection guarantee.

A word of warning

A new home often carries a premium, in the same way a new car does. As with a car the ongoing costs are likely to be lower as everything is new and will carry warranties. However, if you are thinking you may move in a few years a search on second-hand homes in the area will help to understand what that premium is and the price you may receive if you sell.

Contact the team at Mortgage Required if you would like to discuss any of the above schemes: 01628 507477.

Recent posts

Buying a house is a big deal, and where you are planning to buy will make a difference financially. In this short blog, we look at the most affordable and most expensive areas and how much you need to be earning to buy in there.

Equity release is a type of mortgage that allows homeowners 55 and over to access money from their property's equity without having to leave their home. This is done by securing a loan against the house which is usually repaid by selling the property when the borrower passes away or has to move into long-term care.

It’s important to ask questions about the property you are interested in before taking that step to make an offer. A little probing can make all the difference between buying your dream house or something that requires a lot of work.

There are millions of homeowners over the age of 60 who are likely to release money from their homes to pay for their lifestyle during retirement giving those who are 'asset rich but cash poor' a way to live out their retirement the way they wish. 

The average age of a first-time buyer in the UK is two years older than 10 years ago. This is understandable with managing the cost-of-living and challenges within the economy such as high interest rates making it difficult to get onto the property ladder.

Skipton Building Society launches ‘Delayed Start’ mortgage meaning first time buyers won’t be required to make repayments for the first three months. 

According to a survey by Skipton, first time buyers who bought their home in the last five years found that in the first three months of living there, they were spending upwards of £30,000.

If you have recently moved into a property with a garden that requires a little TLC, or you’d like to get on top of your current green space, check out our tips.

High street lender, NatWest, have launched a new product to help first-time buyers purchase a property with assistance from a family member or friend to get them on the property ladder sooner.