New build or resale: Which offers better value in a buyer’s market?

In the property market, supply and demand dictates almost everything, from sale prices to where new build property developers focus their efforts. In general, we can be either in a seller’s market (where demand outstrips supply) or a buyer’s market (where there’s more supply than demand).

In 2025, we’re undoubtedly in a buyer’s market, with buyers and sellers both reporting transactions at an average of £6,632 under the asking price according to Barclays. And as we work with a variety of homebuyers across our developments, we’re seeing more people reconsider their preference for a new build or resale home as it becomes possible for their budgets to stretch further.

Whether you’ve never considered a new build home or wouldn’t consider anything but, the current shape of the market will influence the right decision for you.

The costs of new builds versus resale homes

It would be natural to assume that a new build home will always be more expensive than one that’s been lived in for decades, but the reality is considerably more complex. While one survey from Unlatch estimated that new build homes were 40.2% more expensive than existing property, this headline comparison fails to capture what’s really happening.

The danger of looking at average prices

The average property price for an existing home comes from looking at the market as a whole. That means including every tired old property, every uninhabitable renovation project and everything else. In this context, it’s unsurprising that the sale price of a new build home will skew significantly higher than the resale average. At the same time, a buyer’s market means all sellers may be more open to negotiation than usual, helping to bring upfront costs down.

The hidden maintenance expenses

Whatever the upfront costs of your home, maintenance expenses can quickly escalate over time, especially if you discover frustrations that you didn’t notice in your viewing or survey. According to Check A Trade, the best practice is to set aside 1% of your property’s value for routine maintenance every year (like roof maintenance and boiler servicing). However, this doesn’t account for unexpected, larger projects. A new build home will typically undergo an extensive quality assurance process, reducing the likelihood of costly maintenance for years to come.

Planning for long-term value in your house purchase

In the same way as you should consider long-term maintenance costs as you choose between a new build or resale home, it’s also important to think about future value. The property market continues to trend upwards and this isn’t likely to change. But the property market and buyer preferences are constantly evolving and the potential resale value of your home may affect your decision.

Meeting rising sustainability requirements

Energy saving features are an effective way to reduce your ongoing utility bills. For example, at Brookworth, we build properties with best-in-class insulation, efficient underfloor heating, smart home functionality and future-proof air source heat pumps. As reported by Which, even high-quality cavity wall insulation alone could reduce your annual energy bill by as much as £410.

Beyond this immediate saving, though, a home with lower carbon emissions and energy efficient technology could help you preserve your property’s value and increase buyer appeal if you decide to sell.

The power of renovating a resale home

In contrast, if you have additional budget to renovate or expand a lived-in existing property, you can create entirely new long-term value by adding functionality, bedrooms and increased living space.

Homebuilding & Renovating estimates that:

• Loft conversions increase property values up to 20%

• Double storey extensions add between 10% and 12%

• Kitchen extensions and garages add around 10%

New builds vs resale: design and features for your lifestyle

Buying a property is about more than optimising how you spend your money. It’s about finding a place to call home, where its design and features fit the way you want to live. When it comes to your lifestyle and personal preferences, both new builds and existing homes have their own pros and cons.

New build homes: personalisation and customisation

With a new build home, you’re always starting from a clean canvas of considered design, elegant layout and a quality finish throughout. But there are also opportunities to tailor your new build home around your personality and preferences.

At Brookworth, we offer a choice of specifications for many of our developments, across three levels: Lifestyle (for elegant simplicity), Premium (for enhanced luxury) and Signature for the ultimate experience. As a result, you can personalise your home when you order a new plot, creating the perfect foundation for your vision and creativity.

Resale homes: established style and character

If you’re more interested in a home with an existing character and rich history, a resale home seems like the obvious choice. This is how you’ll be able to find a home with its own story to tell, especially if those all-important period features have been lovingly preserved over the years.

However, this kind of period character undoubtedly adds cost to your purchase. While it may be true that a resale home is typically more affordable than a luxury new build, this may no longer apply to the most diligently cared for historic homes.

Finding a home in the right location

Sometimes, buying a home is driven by a change in lifestyle. Suddenly, you need a larger, more spacious house to support your family, or a sleek apartment to downsize in later life. But location is one of the top reasons that people move home and, in this case, your choice between a new build or presale home may be more limited than you think.

The constant flow of resale homes

Whether you’re trying to reposition yourself in the catchment area for a competitive school or escaping city life for a quiet place in the country, a move driven by location will be limited to what the market has to offer. Presale homes are always coming back onto the market, while new developments may be more infrequent and luxury new build homes may be more of a rarity.

Joining a welcoming community

There can often be the sense that an existing home with a long history will help you become part of a more established community. That’s why, at Brookworth, we go further to create a sense of community in the developments we build.

Creating communities that feel like home is a key aspect of the Brookworth Difference. This starts with engaging the local community whenever we propose a new development, then establishing Community Leaders at our developments. These are homeowners to actively welcome people to the area and offer tours of their home to prospective new additions.

Considering your timeline as you compare your options

Finally, there are timing implications of the choice between a new build or existing property. If you’re planning your move around a specific timeline, it’s important to account for some key differences between the two types of property.

A resale home may be immediately available on the surface, potentially enabling you to complete your move sooner. However, the complexities of property chains can introduce a great deal of uncertainty. Your Property Blog estimates that the average chain involves three or four properties, with the most complex chains involving eight or more. And The Negotiator, a news source for estate agents, reports that one in three transactions fall through.

In contrast, while new build homes under construction may encounter delays, the fact that there’s no onward chain gives you more control over when you complete your transaction.

Finding your perfect home in a buyer’s market

In a buyer’s market, you have more negotiating power and that’s an advantage for new build and resale property purchases alike. Whether you’re looking for a stylish luxury new build, complete with premium appliances and smart home technology, or a quaint, characterful pre-loved home, you’re in a position to find your perfect match, in the right place, at the right price.

At Brookworth, we create high-end homes in highly desirable locations, inspired by the communities that surround them. It’s something you’ll see not just in the locations we select, but also our choice of local, sustainable materials and architectural flourishes. Explore our developments to see what makes our homes different, or get in touch with our experienced sales teams for more help.