Would you move to a new build

[taB]

We've decided to pass and carry on saving/paying off the mortgage. The plot we wanted (tucked away in a corner, detached) was bought by a cash buyer the other day. We'll carry on looking .

As new build places go the Trumpington Meadows site looks pretty decent from what I've seen of it but not sure I'd go new build myself. The wife's commute is the opposite of yours as she goes from Duxford to the hospital (not by bike). Have you looked somewhere like Whittlesford or do you want to be more central? We bought in Duxford about six months ago and really like it here.

 

[Ev0]

I've been monitoring new build house prices and they DO drop no matter where in the country you buy.

Again it may not be the norm but that's not been my experience on the whole, ours has dropped in value since we bought it but not over and above the general market drops (everything else dropped similar amounts), and the 4 my folks have bought and sold over the last 10 years have all been sold for more than they paid.

I can't stress enough it really does depend on the development as to whether they will be 'good' or 'bad'.

 

[platypus]

As new build places go the Trumpington Meadows site looks pretty decent from what I've seen of it but not sure I'd go new build myself. The wife's commute is the opposite of yours as she goes from Duxford to the hospital (not by bike). Have you looked somewhere like Whittlesford or do you want to be more central? We bought in Duxford about six months ago and really like it here.

We have looked at Duxford, but just enjoy living in the centre of Cambridge. We live just off the river and have a great 10 minute walk into town, and everything is accessible quickly. If one came up we'd buy one of the bigger houses Riverside. Duxford really is nice but I just wouldn't want to live that near to work (my commute is a huge part of my life).

 

[feedtheram]

Ours is about 8 years old. We didn't buy from new but it was still in top condition. To all those saying the price goes down are wrong. It might happen often but not always. In our road the average price has gone up by 18% since they were originally sold. Saying that it's a very small development of 20 houses in an extreamely desirable area so it depends on the circumstances.

They are also very well built with high end fittings. Doors, windows, plumbing is all quality stuff, although the kitchen appliances were on the cheaper end for some reason. Probably worth checking the track record of the developer.

Hope you find somewhere that suits you.

 

[Ukadder]

We have just purchased a new build 2 bed in Stansted, we were looking at anywhere between Bishops Stortford and Cambridge. The GF works at Addenbrooks and I work next to Stansted Airport.

We looked at Trumpington Meadows and the various other new build sites around Cambridge direction but the prices were just impossible for us to justify. Which is a shame because I'm also a big fan of Cambridge. Ideally we would have moved to Saffron Walden but nothing of note is being built and so few houses are for sale we stopped looking.

From my experience so far I'm really enjoying the new build, been in 11 weeks. Noise from next door is hardly noticeable (we can only hear when they close the front door) and they have a young baby which I've never heard make a sound. Parking is terrible at the front of the estate, none of the houses seem to have parking and everyone parks on the road, however where we live in the much newer centre of the development they have provided every house with a minimum of two spaces, even our 2 bed has a 2 space drive. Our house came with carpet, shed all the rooms finished.

For house quality it's too early to really say how well it will last, but it's much better than the GF's mums house which is in Cambourne (which is approx 6years old) it's night and day the amount of noise you can hear through the walls. Our developer was Croudace.

So far I would buy a new build again, I know for you're money you can get a cheaper house if you buy older but seeing as we don't need to spend anything and when looking at similar houses and adding up the cost of work needed even when our house drops in value I don't think there is much in it. It would be different if I was willing to do all the DIY myself, but I'm really not.

Looking at our snagging list it only consists of three things at the moment, two of them will cost about £10 to fix and the other being the door peep hole has condensation in it.

 

[neil3k]

I bought a new build 18 months ago.

Builder was Lagan and so far apart from the odd niggle and wear and tear due to shrinkage it's been good. House is solid never hear next door and as we all have a garage and private drive parking isn't a problem.

Would buy again