We always build hard to find anything that kits us the way we want it to.

Buy. I could never deal with the time, energy and headaches of a new build. My OCD would cause way too many issues! Renovations are much more fun.

Depends on the person's comfort level / knowledge on construction and working with contractors and architects.

Hi there,

I'm getting married soon, and I have the same dilemma. Namely, we would love to buy a family house in Sydney.

I was thinking that buying asap is the best option, since I've read that property prices are going to grow like crazy. On the other hand, I've realized that the prices are quite high already (according to property price information in Sydney I've found).

So, now I do not know what to do anymore. To save for a few years and then buy, or to start to build.

Maybe to buy something more affordable now, and then renovate?

I'm confused. :)

NEW- in a heartbeat, after having owned many existing structures over decades. Having just built a custom home, ground-up- to our specs- we're over the moon. Not only does it reflect our exact needs, it also has (below-ground, up) everything new, is extremely energy efficient, and has a Builder's Warranty that protects us for years to come. Our energy/maintenance costs, over the next 5-10 years, kick the tail of any existing property we could possibly have bought.

If you have the time and energy to build new, it's a great option which will make you appreciate your finished home so much more. Of course, it certainly will not be for everybody.

So true. Thanks for the insight

Where's the "both" button? Depends on the existing situation. I like to do both.

Buying a new home is a big challenge. Whenever you are buying home for the first time, you may face many difficulties to make the final decision. Keep in mind, it's
an investment, not only about how much you wish to spend on your new
home. One can take help of professionals or navigate here to get the best options for buying home.

It really depends on what you want. If you already have an existing home and you love the neighborhood, then maybe build or renovate yourself your dream home. But if you want to move to a different neighborhood that suits your lifestyle, then go find a home that can accommodate all your needs. We actually made a video on this.

I would build. My husband and I love the process. We are getting a bit long in the tooth to do it one more time - but just may.

We are CURRENTLY building, and have been building for 1.5 years.
... and we worked with the architect and builder for almost a year before we broke ground.

It is a CUSTOM build on 3 acres in NoVA. While hubs and I both work full time (in DC area, that means 50+ hrs weekly at a minimum, as we are salaried and that is expected) -- I am a Project Manager by trade, so I've been "the force" behind getting this done as quickly as it has happened.

A custom build is VERY DIFFERENT from working with a large-scale builder on a new home. We have 2 different friends whose homes were built in about 6 months in communities, but we're currently in a "lovely, family-oriented community" with a less than lovely HOA and way-too-close neighbors ... and wanted a change. We didn't want another McMansion on a tiny lot. We wanted the opposite. LARGE lot with nice views, and a liveable home: 4 bedroom, 4 bath with mostly main-level living and a HUGE 3-car garage with workshop. We found our plans, architect, and a small-scale custom builder. And since my husband can work from home 2-3 days a week, he's at the house site daily to answer any questions (or to call me if/when needed).

It has been an exhausting process. It will be more expensive than planned. But we are getting exactly what we want, and what we can grow old in. If we had children that we were coordinating activities/etc for, we couldn't have done this.

We are in the FINAL STAGES and can't wait to relax by the warmth of the fire or hang out on the deck while enjoying the gorgeous views. I'm going from a 10 minute commute to a 40 minute commute (which in NoVA/DC, that's still shockingly short), but this frustrating marathon will be totally worth it!

I would ask how strong is your relationship with your SO. Building a house is exhausting mentally and imo can lead to justifiable homicide. Lol. My parents, my husband and I built our two house ourself and lived together while doing the construction. when we finally finished and moved into our home I didn't talk to mom or dad for at least three months. There are so many decisions, conflicts, and requirements. The biggest and hardest discussion was "what color white paint do you want on the walls?"

Same dilemma here :/

would never build my own custom home again...buy a home with good bones, good neighborhood and remodel as necessary to suit your own needs and taste.

We're planning on building our forever home so we get what we want. Don't have to worry about the neighborhood as it will be on (hopefully) a minimum of 10 acres. But, if we find something that's almost perfect we'll buy.