Why Are New Builds So Popular?

New builds are taking the property market by storm—but why? From modern layouts and smart tech to energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs, there are plenty of reasons buyers are loving shiny new homes. But are they worth the premium price tag? Watch the full episode to explore the pros, cons, and everything in between!

👉 VIDEO TIMESTAMPS ⏳
0:00 - Introduction
0:25 - Modern Living Features
0:59 - Customisation
1:17 - Energy Efficiency Benefits
1:45 - Lower Maintenance Costs
2:07 - First-Time Buyer Appeal
2:37 - Downsides of New Builds

Enjoyed this video? Want to see more? Subscribe to the channel with the link below. That way, you won't miss any future uploads.

👉 LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

👉 SUBSCRIBE TO MOVE iQ YOUTUBE CHANNEL

👉 GET PHIL SPENCER'S ADVICE DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX ✉

👉 VISIT OUR MOVE iQ WEBSITE 💻

➤ CONNECT WITH MOVE iQ ON SOCIAL 📲

[alex.hansford]

One main factor driving new-build purchases: Help to Buy - was only offered on new builds, forcing first-time homeowners to purchase them.
Unfortunately the downsides quickly start to outweigh the benefits:
- smaller room sizes, smaller gardens, less designated parking spaces and less rooms in general mean that you're getting less space for your money.
- poor workmanship (even with a guarantee) and poor customer service mean you'll need to have the housebuilder's call centre on speed dial for the first few years.
- unnecessary leaseholds or estate charges increase your running costs.
- poor access to local services, shops, schools and transpost can also be a downside.

As you mention, this has driven up home prices unnecessarily - certainly it is more convenient to buy a house that's "ready to move in" but the reality is not as rosy.

[peromalmstrom]

I don’t doubt Move IQ have reliable data sourcing to make their statements. Yet, where I am in a market City in Herefordshire, new homes are struggling to sell & on the leading platforms, evidence is everywhere that new build developers are having to lower prices, not once, but twice or more. There are examples of 2 new homes next to each other, 1 sold in early to mid 2024 and the 2nd (which remained empty for 1 year) next to it, just sold in 2025, £40, 000 cheaper, yet they are identical. I would not be happy if I had purchased property 1. What is actually going-on, is we will see developments slow as the stock is not selling. This is because market forces affect the reality in the real world, while the government and many journalists and data sources remain totally dislocated from expectation, i.e. ‘reality’.

[Zepplin]

Are new builds are "worth the premium price tag" you ask? This is not reality in our area where new builds are significantly cheaper than almost all other types of housing. A new build is typically one of many on a cookie-cutter housing estate. Too many generic new builds are bought out of necessity and trap residents into a life of driving everywhere for everything because too many property developers have greater skills in skirting good town planning regulations than in building quality homes.

[hedwigwendell-crumb]

Shoddy workmanship. Shared ownership properties apparently worth £450, 000 in London are shoddy and have defects just four years after being built. Dodgy wiring and all of the downsides of renting with none of the upsides of owning. Never buy a shared ownership property.

[Tracertme]

Most people buy homes based on looks and feel and know nothing about quality of build including real estate agents. They rely entirely on the emotive purchase 😂 that way they maximise the price. It’s all bling bling, and look at me… a lot of modern homes are literally glued together with bonding agents. Zero craftsmanship. I can look at a deck and tell you if two different tradesmen built it.

[Shaggy-two]

People are fed up with cowboy builders. I will also buy a new build next and give my money to an evil corporation instead of Jack the lad.