Lostman

My wife and I are looking to buy a house. We are wanting a new house and have found one we like, well it is just a floor and pipes at the moment. Anyway just wondering whether you believe it better to buy a brand new home or an older home say 6 years old. I know there are advantages and disadvantages to both but which way would you go. I guess older homes = more sq foot for less cash than a new home, but new home = warranty and piece of mind, not to mention choice to make it our own. Any thing else to consider...

Thanks!

Thackattack

If you got for a brand new home, make sure what the warranty covers. Out inspector told us he has a client who didnt get an inspection on a brand new $300,000 home and there are serious foundation problems with cracks large enough for you to put your fingers in, in some places. he has to go to court to fight his case, the housing company do not want to pay. part of the problem is that they want the houses put up immediately, therefore not letting the ground level and settle with the right amoutn of time. So they build immediately and then a year down the line, crack!

I dont know where you are buying though, we are in Texas and its a known thing for houses here to have foundation troubles.

fatbrit

Angry White Pyjamas

You are in the US right?

anotherlimey

Piece of mind = 2nd house in the UK

woodsey

I would go with brand new if you can get the warranty and piece of mind you say you can..When we were house hunting, I was appalled with the taste most Americans have in home decor. Kitchens and bathrooms so outdated its not true. Mirrored walls, WTF!!! We've spent close to $100,000 trying to make our house look like something form this decade, not the 70's..and we've still got two more bathrooms to do the floral wallpaper was a really nice touch, they even cut out some of the flowers and stuck them randomly round the rest of the room, just to add that special touch...
We still need new windows, all 25 of them, new air con system and the pool looks like something out of a bad porn movie.
Don't be blinded by square footage either, we wanted to buy as big as we could afford and we don't use half of the house which is such a waste.

ladylisa

with hindsight could you have spent that additional 100,000 and bought a brand new for what you will have once the work is done?

TruBrit

crap sheds that's all they are, big wooden sheds

Ray

I say go for one a few years old ... All the little extra that cost a fortune is already done .. just to put a lawn in ..(not always inc in the price) but cost a fair amount ... curtains/drapes are usually left behind....etc

Thackattack

We did look at brand new ones but it would have eaten all of our cash so we bought a 40 year old house and got a bargain. a few things need sorting out but hey, we did alright.

woodsey

actually where we live the new houses seem to be cheaper.. but we were very specific about where we wanted to be and at the time there were no new builds happening. If we stay here and move then next time I will definitely look at a new or at least one thats already been remodelled however Americans seem to put in that old fashioned crap when they remodel too. We looked at one when we bought ours, the bathroom must have cost $70,000 at least but for gawds sake she'd put brass/gold plated taps in.. :scared: :scared:

BigDavyG

Watch out for that texas mold :scared:

TruBrit

wow 40 yrs old...that's a good age for a house here

TruBrit

lol and termites

shelly1

We're on our second new build house in the UK, wouldn't go for anything else, nothing beats walking in for the first time and its all brand new,
great feeling!!!!!