https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:08:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard/page/2#post-315808 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:16:40 +0000 luckypenny 315808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in the Bay Area and for our budget ($450k) will only get you a condo! So no yard for us as first time homebuyers. I always get so depressed watching House Hunters and seeing what that kind of money can get you anywhere else in the country :( hopefully in 10 years we can afford our forever home with a yard (or be in a position to move!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard/page/2#post-315771 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:04:40 +0000 BoogieBea 315771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We almost bought one with pretty much no yard. The house was very close to a park though. But at the end we decided that we need a yard. It's very drizzly here in the winters with pockets of sun throughout the day. It's much easier to just let the kids in the yard when the sun does come out. I can let them out while preparing dinner and still keep an eye on them. Also, we just really enjoy eating outside during the summers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard/page/2#post-315756 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:53:22 +0000 birdofafeather 315756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i would want a yard when DH and i buy because we love to garden and even want chickens. but i realize that's not for everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315601 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:46:31 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 315601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update -</p> <p>We actually went to look today and checked out an already-built home that would be similar. Turns out we will indeed have a side yard, and a patio, and a porch! Nothing as big as what most people who aren't city-dwellers would envision, but it's roomy enough for a small kid to run around or have some big outdoor toys, and would be enough for small dogs. I think that plus the parks will be OK.</p> <p>In an ideal world, we would buy in an established, historic neighborhood, but there is only one such place here that fits my criteria: good schools plus quick access to shopping/downtown and the like. And our money would not go as far there, particularly because we can't count the sizable amount we get from our tenants back in our old town toward another mortgage. (We could wait that out, but who knows what interest rates will do in the meantime, and we probably don't need as much house as we could then buy anyway.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315576 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:36:44 +0000 BSB 315576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: I can't wait for the day I can just open the door and let my dog take herself out. We are in an apartment complex so we have to be dressed to take her out. Also, she can be a pain. She won't go if she is distracted by people or other dogs. I have to remind her to go to the bathroom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315565 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:31:44 +0000 BSB 315565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I buy a house, I would want a yard but I wonder how much upkeep it will be. Like how often do you have to mow the lawn? It will be nice to have one because we have a dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315551 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:26:21 +0000 ladyfingers 315551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. We have a dog who likes to run around so it was a dealbreaker for us. Plus for get-togethers/BBQs, and getting playsets and stuff for LO, that would be ideal. If it's just like, there's no fence but we could make a yard further down the line by putting one up, fine. But if there's no space for it and no option, I would not buy that house. Especially if it's the norm in your area, like you mentioned, for resale purposes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315194 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:07:40 +0000 Meridian 315194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're currently in a condo, but going to start house hunting next year. A fenced in yard is super important because we have a dog and can't wait to just let her out sometimes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315083 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:33:00 +0000 Rock n Roll 315083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a pretty small fenced in yard right now and live across the street from a park. It's big enough to grill in, but not much else (and it's mostly concrete, which is not as fun for the kids.) I like it, and we go to the park all the time. But we also rent. I think if we were buying I would really want a decent sized yard. I really like to entertain with BBQs in the summer and have everyone outside.</p> <p>But, I don't think a tiny yard would necessarily be a dealbreaker. I'd have to consider everything else the house offered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315070 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:29:06 +0000 Mrs. Bee 315070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: yep but if we buy in park slope, no yard is a possibility. although the past 3 places we've lived in have all had a yard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315054 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:23:41 +0000 Andrea 315054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: the wife is pickier?? never!! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315047 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:21:41 +0000 mrbee 315047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: I'm less picky than Mrs. Bee. I'm sure if we buy something, it will have a yard! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315042 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:20:51 +0000 Andrea 315042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: @Mrs. Bee: haha funny, you have different answers! i wonder if your future house will have a yard or not?? :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315014 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:13:08 +0000 Andrea 315014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. We love having a yard and that is a big part of why we moved away from Manhattan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315013 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:13:04 +0000 mrbee 315013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally buy a place without a backyard, if everything else about it was great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315010 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:12:51 +0000 lawbee11 315010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We wouldn't. But then again, we moved to the 'burbs with the intention of getting a big yard (which we got). It just depends how high up on the priority list it is for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315005 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:10:38 +0000 Mrs. Pen 315005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd consider it... given that the park and grassy knoll is a minute walk away, I would buy it if I liked the house and community enough. But a yard is important to me. I grew up on 5 acres and LOVED the freedom to roam. We lived rurally, and my brother and I played outside by ourselves ALL the time. My mom never had to worry about us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-315004 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:10:00 +0000 yoursilverlining 315004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently have no yard (condo with large balconies) and at the end of our street is a large, nice park. I don't want much of a yard, but I would want a small grassy area for pets and BBQ, cookouts, etc. So, if you would get a small grassy area I would be fine with that, but if you have to 100% rely on the park for playing outside, that would be a dealbreaker for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314997 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:08:08 +0000 spaniellove 314997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm...when we were looking for a house we thought we wanted acreage. Like, 3 acres. Now we're on a much much smaller lot and the yard work is tremendous but we've never actually enjoyed the yard! I can't even imagine that I'd be able to play with a child here b/c we have no privacy, although other kids seem to play in my yard. So if I could choose proximity to places I wanted to go, yeah I'd choose that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314996 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:07:56 +0000 DillonLion 314996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Moving out of our apartment and into a house was heavily influenced by the fact that a house would have a yard. We have a dog and DH loves working the yard, so it would be a 100% deal breaker for us if a house did not have a yard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314993 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:06:19 +0000 LivsMama 314993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>dealbreaker. We fell in love with a house near here-everything about the house and neighborhood was perfect. But we said no because it didnt have a yard </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314992 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:06:07 +0000 Sammyfab 314992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's a tough decision. We have a dog and a LO who I'm sure will be a terror on legs when he starts walking so a yard would be great. With that said, we really want to move to a city where a house with a yard is way out of our price range. If the climate in your city allows you to be outside and walk to your amenities often then I would be ok forgoing a yard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314988 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:05:30 +0000 SugarplumsMom 314988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It would be a deal breaker for us. We want a yard. But those types of new development w/o a yard is getting pretty popular here as well. A lot of people hate garden maintenance! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314981 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:01:32 +0000 mediagirl 314981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That would be tough. If we were buying a house, I want a yard for us to play in. If we were buying a townhome, sure, that makes sense. I have seen the types of houses you are talking about and couldn't imagine living in one. We also like our privacy, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314953 Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:50:05 +0000 Alivoo01 314953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. I enjoy having a yard and that space of privacy between me and the neighbors! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314257 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:18:35 +0000 pinkcupcake 314257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I'd like a yard - we like being outside and we both enjoy gardening. Plus we have a dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314118 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:45:08 +0000 rachiecakes 314118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! Hate yard work, hate gardening. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314112 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:44:04 +0000 heffalump 314112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way. But we have a dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314091 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:40:13 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 314091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It would be a deal breaker for us because we have dogs. And we want to have a yard for our kids to run around in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-buy-a-house-without-a-yard#post-314078 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:37:37 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 314078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sigh! I figured the other stuff might help compensate. I'm really attracted to the idea of being able to walk LO to school, for instance. And @Foodnerd81: the park is very close. Once he was a bit older I'd be OK with him going with a friend. </p> <p>I didn't think about the dog factor. Food for thought... </p>