How can you own a new home in 2023?

Are you thinking about investing in your next home? While there are many options to choose from, it can be daunting to know where to start. 

In this article, we explain the various ways to get a new home whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking for your next step. With the pros and cons of each option, you can make an informed decision about which type of house is right for you.

4 ways to find a new home

There are several ways to go about getting a new home, the most popular of which include the following: 

• Buy an existing house

• Relocate an existing house

• Build a new house on-site

• Build a new house off-site

Buying an existing house 

Buying an existing house is a popular choice for many prospective homeowners because it is often the most straightforward route. In a nutshell, you find a home you like, make an offer, and move in straight away.

However, the availability of homes can vary greatly depending on your location and needs. In a competitive market, it can be challenging to find a home that fits your criteria and budget. Additionally, older homes generally require more maintenance, which can be more expensive in the long run. 

Pros of buying an existing house

• You can move in sooner

• Potential for character features

• Save on building costs

Cons of Buying an existing house

• High renovation costs

• Not customised to your needs and tastes

• Limited housing stock available
  
  

Relocating an existing house

If you're looking for an affordable option, you may be tempted to buy and relocate an older home. This involves finding an older home and relocating it to a new site. This is particularly suitable if you have land to move a low-cost home onto. This may be a family section or land that you can buy locally. If you are looking for a home with unique character and charm, this option is well worth considering. 

However, buying a house for relocation can be a complicated process. You need to hire a contractor to move the house, find a new site to place the home on, and complete renovations once it is installed. This process is time-consuming and expensive, particularly for older homes that aren’t up to current New Zealand building standards. 

Pros of relocating an existing house

• Lower initial cost

• Unique character and style

• Move to your desired location

Cons of relocating an existing house

• Requires extensive renovations 

• Expensive total cost

• Not customisable

• Dependent on available stock
  
  

Building a house on-site

A conventional home builder specialises in building homes on location. With this approach, you'll have more control over the design of your home to make sure it meets your personal needs and tastes.

Building a custom home can be expensive and takes longer than the other options listed in this article. That’s because the building site is exposed to the elements and labour costs are much higher, due to increased travel time and unexpected delays. 

Pros of building a house on-site

• Highly customisable designs and finishes

• Suitable for most site conditions

Cons of building a house on-site

• Long construction times

• High travel and labour costs

• More delays and complications

• Disruptions to your site
  
  

Building a house off-site

Offsite manufacturing (OSM) is increasingly popular around the world, largely because it is cost-effective and far more efficient. One example of offsite manufacturing is prefabrication, where the house is built in a factory and then transported to its final location. It effectively blends the benefits of building a new home with the convenience of a relocatable.

Factory-built prefab homes are more affordable than building on-site because construction is quicker and more predictable. With fewer delays and lower labour costs, prefab homes are cost-effective and relatively hassle-free.  

Since prefabs need to fit on a truck, you may be restricted in terms of the size and layout of your home. You’ll also need to make sure that your site is accessible. Your building company should have experience with these challenges so ask them for advice and recommendations. 

Pros of building a house off-site

• Fast construction 

• Customisable designs

• Few delays

• Minimal site disruptions

• Low labour costs 

• Full compliance

Cons of building a house off-site

• Limited by delivery requirements 

• Not suitable for steep sites

The prefab construction process

Here at Manor Build, our construction process is designed to provide you with a seamless, hassle-free experience. There are six key steps involved: 

1. Financing

The Manor Build team will discuss your needs to ensure our processes match your lender’s expectations. We can also help you to obtain financing through various grants, including the KiwiSaver First Home Grant and Kāinga Ora First Home Loans or put you in touch with a specialist mortgage broker for prefabricated homes.

2. Site consultation

Before the planning and construction can begin, we need to assess the suitability of your building site. If you are based in Taranaki, a member of our team can complete a free on-site consultation, checking accessibility, site services, and any potential challenges. Alternatively, this can be done over the phone if you are outside of the region.

3. Choosing prefab house plans

Now for the fun part – deciding on the floor plan and finishes of your new home. Taking into account natural light, indoor-outdoor flow, size, and shape, our experts will help you choose a plan that perfectly fits your needs. If our standard plans aren’t quite right, talk to our team about customising your preferred plan based on your requirements. 

4. Signing the contract

We will cover the finer design details, finalise your plan, and sign the contract. From here, we will schedule your home for construction in our factory. 

5. Construction 

We estimate 6 months to complete your build from sign-up to delivery. Our team will send you regular photo updates of the construction progress to keep you in the loop and build anticipation.

6. Delivery

When your new prefabricated home is ready, it will be transported on a flatbed truck to your building site. Our team will complete a few minor touch-ups and connect the house to site utilities, ready for you to move in.



Our prefabricated home method ensures your new home isn’t subject to the usual complications of an on-site build. So, instead of being stressed, you can focus on enjoying the experience. Talk to our friendly team today or download our brochure to see our full range of prefab homes available.