Buying new gives you so much choice; ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE.

TIMING is everything, and now really is a great time to buy your new dream home. With prices at their most affordable for years, and with builders offering a wide range of deals and incentives, this is a fantastic time to take the plunge and buy a new home.

New Homes Week starting today will see events being held on housebuilders' sites up and down the country aimed at explaining the many benefits of new homes.

There is a huge range of new-build homes now available; whether a house or a flat, contemporary or period style, each is designed with a specific type of householder in mind. Be it families, couples, singles, first-time buyers or older people looking to move to a purpose-built retirement home, there is a new-build property out there to suit everybody's needs.

And because new homes are built to far higher environmental standards, they are on average six times more energy efficient than older houses. This means that your new home is not only better for the environment but it also saves you money - on average more than pounds 550 a year. David Pretty, chairman of the New Homes Marketing Board, which is co-ordinating New Homes Week, said: "Traditionally we are a country of homeowners, and we know from independent surveys that people are still keen to own their own homes.

"Buying new really is a perfectly fresh start, and there is a new home available to suit everyone's needs."

Many housebuilders are now offering prospective buyers assistance with their deposit or stamp duty, as well as discounts and partexchange deals. There is also now a range of Government and housebuilder-backed finance options available that are aimed at making home ownership affordable for more people.

Moving in to a newbuild home is also a much less stressful experience. For a start there is no long chain and the inevitable concerns about a link in that chain breaking. There is just the housebuilder to deal with, whose experienced sales team can help the buyer through every stage of the process.

New homes are specifically built to suit today's modern lifestyle and represent a blank canvas. Everything is new including stylish and modern fitted kitchens and bathrooms - with some builders even offering a bespoke service if early enough in the construction process that enables buyers to choose certain specifications.

With your new home you aren't at the whim of the last occupant's choice of decor, and the fact that there are no previous DIY disasters to uncover and rectify means your time is your own. Virtually all new homes also come with a 10-year warranty that gives purchasers added reassurance and peace of mind.

So why not get down to a site near you during New Homes Week and see what deals are now on offer. More details on www.new-homes.co.uk

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HEART OF HOME There is a wide range of new-build properties available for all sorts of buyers. And some come with fantastic new fitted kitchens to ease your workload.