Stephen and Claire

A New Home, Minus the Hold Ups: Why Buying a New Build Home is Great for Moving in Later Life

Buying a new-build home offers a level of certainty, energy efficiency and lifestyle ease that is increasingly hard to find in the second-hand market. These were the key motivating factors for couple, Stephen (60) and Claire (62), who recently purchased their four-bedroom new-build home at Fairview New Homes’ development, Wattons, a collection of high-quality houses in the picturesque village of Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire.

Stephen, a retired stockbroker and Claire, a retired exam administrator, knew that buying a new-build would be the best fit for their later life move. Stephen said, ‘we wanted a new-build because of the convenience of everything being new and to remove the issues you might expect from an older property, which we’ve previously experienced. The modern, open-plan layout and generous internal space were a real draw for us.’

Now settled in, the family are reaping the benefits of their home and local area at Wattons, which is set within a tight-knit village community surrounded by countryside. ‘We love the relaxed village vibe’, Stephen said, ‘Our daughters are happy here too, trains to London are frequent so they can get to the office when needed. Watton-at-Stone is one of the few villages in East Hertfordshire that benefits from a train station, which is just a short walk away with regular services into Moorgate. Moorgate supplies connectivity to Northern, Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan tube lines allowing for a seamless commute into the city.

The family have also seen their expectations confirmed, now enjoying the energy-efficiency benefits of the new-build. Despite moving from a smaller property – a three-bedroom apartment – Stephen estimates the family are saving 30% on bills.

Stephen and Claire decided to upsize from their previous property for more space and privacy when their two daughters, Louise and Isabel (both 25), decided to move back home. The family were previously living in an apartment four miles from Wattons and liked the area but became unhappy with the apartment layout, especially as their daughters work from home. Their new home provides flexible living spaces, a private garden and en-suite bedrooms, affording everyone their own space. 

After looking at various new-build homes for a while, Claire spotted Wattons on a drive. Charmed by the village’s traditional architecture, green spaces and surrounding countryside, she decided to book a viewing.

The couple were immediately impressed by the development, as Stephen explains: ‘We quickly realised the excellent standard of Fairview’s homes; from the construction of the home itself, the open plan living, and quality interior details.’ The homes’ classic redbrick design also blends seamlessly with the existing village.

The development and property ticked all the family’s boxes: from garage space to excellent transport links to London, as well as plenty of green spaces, woodland walks and riverbanks nearby to enjoy. Stephen and Claire were also impressed by Watton’s proximity to other towns and villages: ‘The development was also just a short journey to Hertford, Welwyn, and Ware- we spoke about how we could either visit for day out or use the amenities there’. With a quick move so integral to the couple’s buying process, the couple were certain a new-build home at Wattons was right for them.

With the wait time to complete a purchase on a second-hand property taking up to six months in complex chain cases, the family purchased a new-build home so they could move in and start living sooner. ‘We were looking for a quick move with no chain. We viewed the property at the end of August 2025 and moved in within three months’ Stephen said. ‘The sales representatives went above and beyond to ensure a swift moving process. We could not have wished for a better team!’

The family benefitted from Fairview’s Stamp Duty Tax contribution, which helped ease the cost of moving, and had the costs of new carpets and flooring included in their purchase too. They also used Fairview-recommended conveyancers to handle the couple’s sale and purchase. ‘They were excellent’, Stephen said.

Close to nature and tranquil but within touching distance of the city, developments like Wattons offer the best of both worlds. Stephen said: ‘we needed somewhere with great transport links, especially for our daughters, but we wanted to live in a village-style community, out of the way from the busyness of the city.’

Stephen continued: ‘The village has all the necessary amenities within walking distance – a post office, barber, cafés and very welcoming pubs. Everyone acknowledges us when we go on our walks. Talking to the locals and the other new homeowners here confirms we have made the right decision by buying here.’