We focus on all things new-build homes as we recognise New Homes Week which runs from 21st – 27th March 2022. The week is a celebration of new homes, supported by the Home Builders Foundation (HBF) and looks at promoting the benefits of buying a new-build.
To put new homes in the spotlight, we look at some facts, statistics, benefits, and share a few links to new-build homes which can be found on our website, New Homes Place.
New home registrations boosted in 2021
Back in February, the NHBC published figures to show there were 153,339 new home registrations in 2021. This was an increase of 20% compared to the year earlier, although figures for 2020 were affected by the pandemic. Of the total of new homes registered, 114,477 were registered in the Private sector, which is 42% more than 2020.
When you look at the overall total of new home registrations for 2021 by house type, it is interesting to see detached homes came top. There were 52,190 registrations for detached homes, which is a 47% increase on the year previously and indicative of the change in attitude when it comes to homes and family life, post pandemic. Semi-detached homes were second on the list with new registrations at 47,720, compared to 34,971 in 2020. The only house type to see a year-on-year drop were apartments with 27,867 registrations compared to 32,625 in 2020. It’s clear the pandemic has shaped the types of homes we want to live in.
How Help to Buy has helped New Home sales
Help to Buy is a scheme aimed at helping first-time buyers get on the property ladder and buy a new-build home. With lots of talk of its future and what will replace it when it ends in 2023, this New Homes Week we look at how many people it has helped most recently. Although it won’t be until May 2022 when the annual figures for 2021 will be released by the government Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, we can see the data from July to September 2021.
A new version of the Help to Buy scheme launched in April 2021, called the Help to Buy Equity Scheme. It includes property price caps by region, with the exception of London where the £600,000 price cap remains; and is only accessible and available to first-time buyers. We look at some of the figures from when the new scheme took effect.
Between 1 July and 30 September 2021, 7270 properties were bought with a Help to Buy Equity Loan, this is a decrease of 39% compared to the same period in 2019. (For a truer comparison, the data compares 2021 with 2019, as the 2020 data varies considerably as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic).
With the introduction of the new scheme there also followed a reduction in the number of completions going through with Help to Buy. This was most notable in Q3 2021, July to September 2021, where it became clear the scheme was having different impacts in different regions of the country. For example, the North West saw the greatest decrease at 61%, while the South West saw the least at 17%. This might well have something to so with the price caps in these areas, against the average property prices.
Five reasons to buy a new-build home
This New Homes Week we must look at the benefits of buying a new-build home, as there are so many. Here are our top 5…
1. New homes are greener and far better for the planet than older homes. Yes, new-build homes are much more energy efficient with better insulation and heating systems, and this means you can save on expensive energy bills as much as do your bit for the environment. There’s biodiversity to consider too. Many new home developments ensure the landscape in and around the new communities is developed to encourage birds, wildlife, and natural habitats to thrive.
2. You can be sure of a modern home with a new-build. Because they are brand new, they are modern in their design, suiting how we like to live in today’s world. Space is something you will find in new-build homes, with open plan kitchen dining areas often coming as standard – no need to knock walls down in a new-build! There are often utility areas, storage space, and good-sized bedrooms too, to accommodate modern living for families of all sizes.
3. You can be sure of good quality. Homes are built to a high-quality specification and often you can speak with your developer to upgrade certain elements of your new home. Of course, all homes come with a warranty and now there is the New Homes Quality Code which housing developers must adhere to. And if you aren’t satisfied with any issues with your new home having spoken with your developer, you can get help and assistance from the New Homes Quality Board. You don’t get this much support when you buy an older home!
4. There are deals to be had. Yes, sometimes you can find a great deal when you buy a new-build home. Whether it’s the flooring included, legal fees paid for, or stamp duty covered, keep your eyes peeled for deals when you are looking for a new-build home. And as we mentioned, all new homes come with a 10-year warranty as standard.
5. It has to be the fact the home is brand new. When you get the keys, you know that nobody has lived there before you. Everything is shiny, fresh, sparkling, and new. You don’t need to worry about the expense of redecorating or fixing old problems. You can move in and get settled, decorating from a neutral palette if you really want to. A new-build home is a fantastic blank canvas on which to build your family future.
Don’t miss these new homes featured on New Homes Place
As a leading new homes portal, our website lists a huge number of new-build homes across the country. Whether it’s on developments large or small, from apartments to detached homes, we list homes from leading house builders right down to regional, local property developers.
By using our portal, you need only search by the location you hope to live in, and we will bring you all the new-build homes close by.
The Fairfields development from Redmile Homes in Sheffield
Redmile Homes are one of South Yorkshire’s most established housebuilders, and they have a new development in the Aston cum Aughton area of Sheffield, with Fairfields. The development is in a beautiful village location, which neighbours Rother Valley Country Park. It features 2, 3, 4, and 5-bedroom homes, each one spacious and stylish for modern living. It is only a few minutes’ drive away from the M1 and you can get to Sheffield city centre in the car, in 20 minutes. With its rural surroundings, several schools nearby, and excellent transport links, it makes a great location for families and commuters alike.
This is the Doveridge, a four-bedroom detached home on the Fairfields development, available from £350,000.
See more homes on the Fairfields developmenthere.
Sanderling Reach on Mersea Island, Essex from City & Country
Fancy living close to the sea? With already 40% of the homes sold on this development from City & Country, Sanderling Reach on Mersea Island is just a 5-minute walk from the Essex coast. You can see why it’s popular! The development offers a collection of elegant 2, 3, and 4-bedroom homes, perfect for professionals, first-time buyers, even downsizers. There are lots of sporting and leisure attractions to enjoy in the main residential area of West Mersea, while Colchester which is 9 miles away, offers transport links to London and beyond.
This three-bedroom semi-detached home on Sanderling Reach overlooks beautiful green space surrounding the development and comes with high-quality fixtures, fittings, and details which must not be missed! Prices for this property start from £435,000.
See more homes on the Sanderling Reach development here.
Centurion Village from David Wilson Homes near Leyland in Lancashire
You can enjoy rural life and the open Lancashire countryside just South of Preston at Centurion Village, which is located in South Ribble close to Leyland. You will find a selection of 3 and 4-bedroom homes on the development with enough space to allow for working from home comfortably.
There are plenty of outstanding schools nearby, as is the M6 motorway to make commuting or travelling to other towns and cities, easier. As this is a large new development, a local centre is due to be completed there so that residents can be self-sufficient with picking up essentials.
This is a three-bedroom detached home available from David Wilson Homes on the Centurion Village development. Space has been set as a precedent with this home, making it ideal for growing families. Prices for this home start at £283,000.
To see other homes available at Centurion Village, click here.
Make New Homes Week the time to find your dream new home. Wherever you want to live, in whatever size new-build home you want to buy, we have new homes for every budget.
Start your search for your new home here.
