https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 04:07:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520387 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 09:59:48 +0000 Ginabean3 2520387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Location all the way! We have a big backyard (DH really pushed for it) and we never use it and hate maintaining it). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520287 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 01:20:15 +0000 misolee 2520287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm leaning towards house 2. It's important that you love the neighborhood and neighbors. We moved into this brand new neighborhood that was just built. My LO is too young to play outside by herself but our neighbors who have older kids play together outside all the time which is nice. They all have nice big backyards (whose parents spent a lot of $$nto maintain and make it pretty) but they are more interested in playing in the front yard area on their doorsteps it seems. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520278 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 23:51:48 +0000 MamaCate 2520278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SunriseMama: I would vote #2! We moved last year to a house with a smallish yard but good access to a pool, walking trail, and park. It is a planned community so all our neighbors have the same limited space. The kids all end up riding bikes and scooters in the culdesac right outside our house. The neighborhood kids are 3-8 and it has been great! The parents are outside too so we chat. LO (4) has built in friends and we have gotten to know the neighbors. I now feel more a sense of community and it really is a big plus in liking where we live! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520273 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 22:56:17 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2520273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>House 2- I think neighborhood and good community trumps a big yard. Also, a the minute walk to school is appealing. As long as there is some grass and play space I would be happy with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520142 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 18:21:16 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2520142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>House two for sure- if only for the walkability! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520119 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 17:41:50 +0000 youboots 2520119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a big yard but a park closely that is really nice so I prefer to go there- since you can walk 👌. Kids all over the world live in places without backyards. I'd still live in my awesome neighborhood with no yard. Being able to walk to school is awesome.</p> <p>Ultimately I voted 2. I think it's important your husband is happy with the neighborhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520114 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 17:29:50 +0000 Eko 2520114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was torn. I live in a place that has no yard and am within a 10 minute park to the park. I can easily see the convenience in just going outside in the back yard to play. Having a big yard is super important to me. However I did vote for house 2 because of money and the fact that 3700 sq ft I think is too much house. Also it's a big plus imo to walk to school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520076 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:19:50 +0000 Ms.Badger 2520076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think since you found two houses you like so much in a short time period, I would keep looking waiting for something that felt a little more perfect unless you need to move like yesterday (Disclaimer: i'm a person that felt it was very important to have a yard, even though we have a very nice park less than 3 blocks away) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520070 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:13:54 +0000 QBbride 2520070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't even have to read the descriptions. Ideal neighbourhood, hands down. Location is everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520022 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:31:35 +0000 Alba4 2520022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You don't need a huge yard if you can walk to a beautiful park. #2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520021 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:29:41 +0000 caterw 2520021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live an apartment and my child gets plenty of outside time. I would definitely prioritize school and neighbors over yard. You can have some outside things for them and then take them places (maybe to the school playground that is walkable for you) if they need extra exercise. Or make friends with your new neighbors that have big yards :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2520010 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:21:32 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2520010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SunriseMama: I love our big yard, but to me, inside space in important too. When they are middle school/teenagers, does house 2 have room for them to go play video games or have a homework table? A room they could close the door and watch a movie with friends? I really really want a bonus room! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519997 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:08:26 +0000 sapphire 2519997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The neighborhood and walkability would be a no brainer in my book for #2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519995 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:07:43 +0000 avivoca 2519995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>House 2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519994 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:07:25 +0000 SunriseMama 2519994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, thank you all so much! I love to hear all this perspective! It is incredibly helpful!</p> <p>@kodybear: House 1 is on a culdesac, but a fairly long one, so more traffic. House 2 is on the corner, and the street to the side is a short culdesac. I think the front yard may not be able to be fenced due to HOA regulations. They couldn't really bike or play out front at the ages they are now unless I was out there too.<br /> @Mrs Green Grass: I didn't even think about that they'll both be in school full-time soon-ish and playing and getting energy out there. Good point!<br /> @T.H.O.U.: House 1 is 3400 square feet, and House 2 is 2700 square feet. House 1 does have the bonus room that I think would be fun to use as a game room when the kids are older, and there would be more room to spread out in House 1. We have on average 340 days of sunshine a year here. It can get colder in the winters, and we get snow, but we now still go outside to play when it's snowy. We spend over an hour a day in our larger yard now, so I think that would be hard to give up. Thanks for all the insight! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519992 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:06:32 +0000 PurplePumps 2519992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Less yard, less to maintain! Since there's nice parks near by (that someone else has to maintain), it doesn't seem like a big deal to have a small yard to me. Plus being able to walk to all those places sounds awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519990 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:06:23 +0000 snowjewelz 2519990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>House 2... It's still close to family? </p> <p>Yard to me is not really an issue. I grew up in an apartment in concrete jungle! I think as long as there is some yard, and the park is so close, that's fine! We have a very spacious yard but we still walk DD to a park close by! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519988 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:04:27 +0000 mdf106 2519988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our house has no back yard (the pool takes up the whole thing) and is a short walk from a park. The front yard is very small. I really wish we had a decent fenced in yard for my two year old, it is a production to walk to the park. My house is basically house 2, but I would have bought house 1 if that were an option in my area. I also would appreciate the larger size. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519987 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 15:03:24 +0000 oskarsmommy 2519987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hands down house two! Location location location! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519983 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:56:14 +0000 Freckles 2519983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>#2. You're always going to be looking to move out of your so-so neighbourhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519981 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:55:03 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2519981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Location is huge but I feel like because the school is the most important factor, this is somewhat equal. But your DH obviously likes neighborhood 2. </p> <p>I would love to hear more about the house. While yard space is really important to me, 700 sq ft +/- can be a big deal if layout is wrong/missing storage/etc. With house #2, yes you loose the yard but you'd be walking to school each day. What weather do you have? How many outside days do you think you'd have and is there enough room in be cooped up inside with 2 kids for a stretch of bad weather? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519979 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:53:52 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2519979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>House 2 sounds great including the low maintenance yard.</p> <p>I grew up with a big backyard, but my favorite place to play was the park. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519972 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:48:04 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2519972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose House 1 because I know it is what we would choose. My husband loves having a lot of land, he loves to work in our yard, he and my son and the dog are always out there when the weather is nice. We also put up an expensive fence but for our lifestyle, it was necessary.</p> <p>For just me or if I was married to a less outdoorsy person, I'd probably prefer House 2 because I like being able to walk places and I don't like the maintenance of a large yard and I actually even wish our house was smaller too because it's so much to keep up with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519971 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:47:57 +0000 Tanjowen 2519971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved from a huge fenced in backyard to a home with no real backyard, but into a very nice neighborhood where we walk to the park almost every day it is nice. Otherwise LO is with us in the front yard playing, or inside. Sounds like #2 is a good fit for you all of you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519969 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:47:10 +0000 regberadaisy 2519969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hands down #2! It's cheaper, and has lots of great amenities near by. It's not like there is no yard, just a smaller ONE. The family friendly neighborhood is huge for us too.</p> <p>Do you like both physical houses equally? That would play a big part in my decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519967 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:44:09 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2519967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just moved to a house with a smaller backyard than we previously had (it has a pool which takes up nearly all space.) LO doesn't seem to care about the difference. He also runs and plays all day at school and we have numerous parks nearby... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519966 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:42:46 +0000 psw27 2519966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Less money, walkability and great parks nearby? That sounds great! Plus you won't spend all day mowing the lawn. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519963 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:39:19 +0000 deerylou 2519963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm all about neighborhood and walkability. We have limited personal outdoor space, but you get crafty and creative and the nearby parks and trails serve us well. I'd personally opt for Home # 2, but I also prefer smaller homes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519962 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:37:25 +0000 jetsa 2519962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>House 2. To me less yard is less maintenance and at some point I would assume you'll trust your kids to walk to the park by themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house#post-2519958 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:34:42 +0000 DenverMom 2519958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a giant back yard but my boy hardly ever wants to go play out there. He'd rather ride his tricycle around the driveway and sidewalk in front of the house, which then requires me to be out there with him supervising. So my vote is for house 2. I like the fact that you'd have access to a pool, playground, and trails. </p>