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First-time buyers are considering new builds over older properties more than they ever have before. A survey from October 2025 suggests that 44% of aspiring first-time buyers would prefer to buy a new build, compared to 30% who said they would prefer to buy an older property, signifying a jump in popularity for new builds. So, why are first-time buyers choosing new builds over older properties?
First-time buyers are choosing new homes over older properties because:
Keep reading to go in-depth on the reasons that first-time buyers are choosing new builds over older properties.
There are three core pillars for why first-time buyers are choosing to buy new builds rather than existing homes:
More new builds are being constructed across the UK to fulfil Labour’s plans for 1.9m new homes built by 2029 in their attempt to combat the housing crisis. The BBC reports that the number of planning applications for new homes in England has reached a four-year peak.
With this in mind, it’s clear to see that new builds are going to be the majority option for prospective homeowners in the coming years.
First-time home buyers cite the inherent features of new builds as their primary reasons for choosing a new build over an existing home. These include:
Over half of prospective first-time buyers say they would prefer a new build because it comes fitted and ready for the requirements and energy demands of modern appliances, not to mention the modern features that take some of the hassle out of daily life.
31% of first-time buyers like the idea of a chain-free purchase, meaning that transactions are quicker and suffer fewer disruptions. This is possible since new builds don’t have any previous owners to worry about buying up and down the property ladder alongside your own purchase.
Energy bills for new builds are cheaper than old builds thanks to their superior, energy-efficient design. New builds in 2026 are 27% cheaper to run than older properties, and 87% of new builds have an EPC rating of A or B (meanwhile, only 5% of older properties achieve the same).
New builds and the people moving into them can easily become tight-knit communities, since everyone typically experiences the development freshly at the same time. It’s always hard getting to know your neighbours, but new builds provide a great excuse to come together and lend a hand.
Once a new build has been constructed, it’s ready for move-in! No faffing around with chains, previous homeowners, or interim renovation work. Not only that, but everything is exactly how you expect it to be—if there is a slanted doorframe or other fundamental issue, new builds can come with excellent warranties to keep you protected.
New builds also offer first-time buyers the opportunity to express themselves fully for the first time, with no historical deficiencies or landlord preferences getting in the way! This is great for the wannabe interior decorator or load-bearing-pillar-destroyer.
As a first-time buyer, you have access to home-buying schemes that can slash the market value price dramatically, offer alternative ways of paying, or lower the deposit requirements outright. These homeownership accessibility schemes include (but are not limited to):
The First Homes scheme allows first-time buyers to pay less than the market value of a home, sometimes for 30–50% less! The home you intend to buy must be either:
To be eligible for the First Homes scheme, you must be over 18, a first-time buyer, able to get a mortgage for at least half the price of the home, and not earn over £80k a year (£90k in London). You can buy a home under the scheme as a group, broadly following the same restrictions.
Homes bought under the First Homes scheme must be advertised as such; you cannot use this scheme to buy any new-build home. New-build First Homes cannot cost more than £250k (£420k in London) after the discount has been applied. The First Homes scheme is only available on selected new-build properties; you cannot use this scheme to buy any new-build home. A minimum 30% discount is applied to the open market value, meaning the price you pay is significantly reduced. In England, prices are capped at £250,000 after the discount (£420,000 in London).
For example, a home valued at around £357,000 could be sold for approximately £250,000 once the 30% discount is applied.
Shared Ownership allows first-time buyers who cannot afford all of the deposit or mortgage payments to buy a share of a home and pay rent based on their percentage of ownership.
Over time, shared ownership homeowners can ‘staircase’ their shares up to 100% ownership, at which point they stop paying rent and have complete control of the property.
Plumlife offers a range of Shared Ownership properties across Manchester, Yorkshire, and the North West of England. Browse our developments online.
Right to Buy allows tenants of council housing to buy their rented home at a discount of up to 70%. The discount is determined by:
Rent to Buy helps first-time buyers to save for a deposit on a home while renting at a discounted rate. Rent-to-Buy homes are offered at a reduced rate—often up to 20% lower than local rents—allowing tenants to pocket the leftover money and save more effectively for a deposit on their first home.
Plumlife offers a range of Rent to Buy homes and apartments all across Greater Manchester, browse our developments online.
Plumlife Homes is the top new-build developer in the north of England, offering affordable, quality homes for first-time buyers. We help our tenants by providing homebuying options across a range of schemes, too, including Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.
You can learn more about those schemes, the people we help, and how you could move into your dream home sooner than you’d think on our website. Get in touch and start your journey.
Our New Builds Shared Ownership Eligibility Checker
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