Buy existing or new construction? Advantages and disadvantages explained – definition & recommendation

Existing or new construction – When buying real estate, you can choose between two types of real estate: Existing real estate and new construction real estate. Both bring their own advantages and disadvantages. Above all, your personal investment strategy and your personal goals are decisive. Whether you are an owner-occupier or an investor, you can find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of existing and new properties, including recommendations, here.

Buy existing property: From old building to hardly used

An existing property is a project that has already been built – be it a house, an apartment or a multi-family house. Here, the year of construction of the property can vary immensely. Compared to new construction, the main characteristic here is that the property is occupied or has been occupied in the past. Here are the advantages and disadvantages compared.

Advantages: Low purchase price, high rental yield

Compared to new construction, the purchase price of existing properties is much lower. The low purchase price is also accompanied by lower ancillary purchase costs. This has a particularly positive effect on the financing of the property. This means that far less equity is required than for the purchase of a new building.

All advantages at a glance:

  • Low purchase price
  • Fewer ancillary purchase costs
  • Little equity required
  • High rental yield
  • Ready to move in

Disadvantages: High costs for maintenance & repairs

Many existing properties are old buildings – that is, properties built up to 1953. The great age of these houses and apartments often leads to high maintenance costs. Repairs are also frequent and regular after purchase. Some real estate investors take advantage of this. They buy an existing property, renovate and refurbish it, and then rent it out at a high rental yield.

Here are the disadvantages:

  • High maintenance and repair costs
  • Technical inspection before purchase

Buy new construction property: Freshly built & unoccupied

Of course, you also have the option to invest in new construction. These are buildings that are either completely new and not yet occupied, or properties that are still under construction.

Advantages of new real estate: modern technology, no repair costs

Since the new-build properties are completely new, there are hardly any repair costs after the purchase. The technology is up to date and there are no signs of use. Depending on the construction phase, you can also have a say in the design of the interior.

You can enjoy the following advantages when buying a new and still unoccupied property:

  • High technology standard
  • Low risk for repairs
  • Low maintenance costs
  • Co-determination in the construction phase

Disadvantages of new real estate: high purchase price with high loss of value

At the same time, the investment costs for new construction are significantly higher. The purchase price is far higher than that of existing properties. This also leads to higher ancillary purchase costs and an increased equity investment. At the same time, the rental yield is very low and the value of the property drops rapidly after the initial move-in.

So here are the disadvantages:

  • High purchase price and high incidental purchase costs
  • High loss of value after initial collection
  • Low rental yield
  • Not directly habitable if still in construction phase

Conclusion: Buy existing or new building?

The answer to this question depends on your personal goals. If you want to buy an income property, then you should look at existing properties in B and C locations. Especially if it is your first real estate investment, it is recommended to invest in existing properties. If a high technical standard and a say in the interior design are important to you, then new buildings are the right choice for you.

You can now find even more facts about new construction and existing real estate on my new project for real estate buyers (Immobilien-Erfahrung.de):

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