Thinking about buying a new house? You might want to think again.
The price of a new home has gone up significantly in recent years. In states like New York, Illinois, and North Dakota, the cost of a house has gone up by over 6% annually. While this hasn’t reduced interest in home-buying—new single-family home sales went up by 20.5% in August, 2025—the market does seem to be in a state of flux.
Experts say that many who would have, in previous generations, already had a home are now waiting to buy one. Additionally, while houses are selling, first-time home buyers are only making up a fraction of the market. NBC News reports that first-time home buyers only account for 21% of new purchases—a historic low.
But, if you choose to buy a new home, you’re at least getting an investment that will last long into the future, right? One TikToker says that you can’t be too sure of that.
What’s Wrong With This New House?
In a video with over 590,000 views, TikTok user Max (@sktndie) explains why he tells viewers, “Do not buy a house [made after] 2020.”
“Most of these houses go up in four days. No joke,” he starts. “We pour the foundation. They don’t even wait a day for it to cure.”
In the caption, he notes this is simply his own, personal opinion. Still, to prove his claim, he walks through a newly framed house. There are uneven corners, supports that aren’t properly aligned, and “connected” pieces with visible space between them.
“You want something good, you gotta do it yourself,” he shares. He closes by saying that, at the end of the day, the builders will likely just “slap some cheap drywall” over the frame and hide all the issues.
“If you want something sturdy or something that’ll last you a few tornadoes, don’t buy a new home,” he writes in the caption. “These houses are going up in a week. Fast production doesn’t always mean good production.”
Is It True That Houses Are Getting Worse?
It’s certainly a commonly held belief that new houses are of lower quality than older ones.
While issues like the ones noted by Max are alarming, they aren’t necessarily new. Poor construction has been a homebuilding practice for decades, which is why many experts recommend independent inspection during the homebuilding process.
This not only helps ensure the safety of the house, but it also prevents unscrupulous builders from simply “slap[ping] some cheap drywall” over the problem, as Max suggests.
Additionally, for all their perceived faults, newer homes must also meet a variety of safety standards that older homes did not. Older homes also have many elements, such as electrical work, ductwork, and piping, that are prone to failure over time. Furthermore, many old homes were not built with things like energy efficiency in mind.
Plus, buying an old home often comes with a host of renovation costs. The U.S. Census estimates that the median new owner of an old home spends about $3,900 per year in maintenance and home improvements—significantly more than long-term old homeowners.
That’s not to say that new houses are problem-free. Builders have complained about everything from cheap materials to cookie-cutter design to a lack of repairability as reasons why one might consider not buying a new home. However, they also say that some homes from the 1950s to the 1980s also have these problems—meaning that it’s not as simple as “old home good, new home bad.”
@sktndie Woa woa woa woa slow ya roll there, I’m not associated with anybody but this is my opinion if you want something sturdy or something that’ll last you a few tornados don’t buy a new home. These houses are going up in a week. Fast production doesn’t always mean good production. #homebuyer #fhaloan #newhomeowners #fyp #fha
Commenters Aren’t Happy
In the comments section, users expressed their disappointment at the state of the current housing market. Many users noted that houses were, in fact, going up quickly, raising questions about the quality of the homes.
“He’s not lying. I watched a whole five bedroom house get built in two weeks down the street,” said a user.
“That make sense why people go everyday to check on their house getting build,” offered another.
“You gotta buy a house that was made in the early 2000’s and the 1900s,” stated a third.
That said, others countered that older is not always superior.
“Older homes are not any better!” exclaimed a commenter. “have tons of problems with electrical, old plumbing, old AC unit ect.”
BroBible reached out to Max via TikTok DM, comment, and email.