Owning your own home

New York realtors also list the square footage very explicitly, so direct numerical comparison is really easy.

My old apartment in New York had the best built-in storage I've ever had. Admittedly you really need the space for winter coats etc. there.

I think I’m right in thinking that US building code doesn’t allow a room to be listed as a bedroom without a closet.

Probably state-by-state, but it would certainly make sense. The living room storage and walk-in closet were also great, though.

Maybe, if there's enough supply competition, builders have to make something actually good.

Yeah seen the "we'll part ex your homd guaranteed" kind of a deal going on for a while, but actually hearing folk going though with it. A pure win win for developers.
There are so many factors to it, all can be amended with time if folk are keen to make it better. Shortage of trades, shortage of materials (less just now), estate and letting agents making up stories about how many people have already expressed interest in the last 30 seconds *, mortgage and interest rate issues, the way lenders catogerize new vs older homes, the govs way of calculating gdp/national growth is adversely affected by new homes completed, people being people and want everything brand new just for them etc.

For me biggest issue is the fact we are still allowing private developers (who make more than the obvious numbers suggest due to the way they operate) to build on vast swaths of green field sites, developing them in the cheapest possible way for the most personal gain, and with the most detrimental environmental and social impact.
So many folk I've known my whole life have moved off to a new build in a horse field and then within a year lost contact with them as they just stop ever really leaving their 3 bed barret home, or can't easily leave as no trains, buses, cycling is essentially too dangerous (right out into a 60mph a road) and driving is busy as a small 500 count village now has over 10k and no infrastructure change have been made.

Cities arw always going to get bigger, but after 70 years post war of building these sprawling estates, why do we as a people allow it.

Everyone in UK : We need more homes!

Govt.: Developers! Build homes!

Everyone in UK: Not those types of homes!

I really don't get the level of premium Viccy P attracts.

Because that's what people want!
It sucks. All over Brandenburg they build whatever wherever and then people realise they have a carport but the next supermarket/school/whatever is very far away.

build on vast swaths of green field sites, developing them in the cheapest possible way for the most personal gain, and with the most detrimental environmental and social impact

What sort of rough ride to Stow Bros get? We sold via them and it was a joy (ok that's overselling it but it was seamless and the photos they did were great)

It’s often all people can choose, so I don’t think that’s quite right. There’s very little diversity in builders in the UK, and we have one of the most centralised anti-competitive sectors in the west.

They’re also largely just representing their own interests, and responding to too many incentives for capturing land value uplift.

House we viewed two years ago that didn't sell is now back on the market for 200k more. Another house in town that didn't sell went back on the market for 250k more a month or two back. Neither have changed in the interim, house b even used the same photos. I thought everything was crashing and burning and am confused.

#makefromeshitagain

green field sites

It's rarely green field, usually brown field. Ex rubbish tips, contaminated ex-industrial land, flood planes. Barratt homes are shit, I know I used to live in one, but they're also often in places that are actively hostile to humans.

Might be in relation to where the vendors are going next thats been hiked up.
I've only brought 2 places so don't have masses of experience.

What has worked for me is make an offer on a place you like and set your limit.

I've moved out of London (E17) and 100% happy. The process wasn't as smooth as I would have liked but time has healed all those niggles we went through.

In fact just found the particulars for our place, feeling quite nostalgic. Conceived two children in that bed!

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It is quite jarring seeing your own home in estate agent windows. We e sold in silly season so didn't last long, but still!

We bought about 2.5 years ago. I've kept a bit of an eye out since then (mainly as I haven't cancelled my Rightmove alerts) and a lot of stuff seems to be up in price by 15-20%+ compared to then.

Trulawn

You monster.

Heh, none of the gardens along there had decent lawns, faced the wrong direction and lots of trees, and with two youngsters it was the only option (it replaced dilapidated decking).

I'm still having lawn issues but at least it's real grass now!

noob mortgage question - if I apply for one with a bank I already bank with (it also has the best rates for me) is the application/approval process easier/quicker as they have access to all your financials already?

Nope.
You think it would but it doesn't.

My main issue with the new developers homes is they squeeze as many homes on the pieces of land as possible and folk are happy to pay it. From 100k to 750k they are fucked together its absolutely mad folk are happy with it because its a new home.

There seems to be a lack of houses going for sale right now so I think people are really chancing there luck tbh.

THIS, there's a huge development near my mums that is built on old industrial land and they pumped shite into that for years and now millions of people are moving to it.

The fall out when all the contaiments coming back in a few years is gonna be brutal

Big gardens are seen as a maintenance headache by many people anyway.

The fall out when all the contaiments coming back in a few years is gonna be brutal

It was a housing developer that wrecked the Hertfordshire chalk aquifer. Bit of bromate never harmed anyone?

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