Would you buy an otherwise perfect, fantastic house w/ very little backyard and on a main street?

[Anonymous]

Is this it? http://www.realtourinc.com/index.cfm?action=NewTourMRIS&ido=27188541#2

If so, it doesn't seem like that big a street.

[Anonymous]

17:05 poster again. More detail about that house (if this is it) http://www.cbmove.com/property/details/551803/MLS-MC7660089/7400-Holly-Avenue-Takoma-Park-MD-20912.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this it? http://www.realtourinc.com/index.cfm?action=NewTourMRIS&ido=27188541#2

If so, it doesn't seem like that big a street.

No -- it's not on the market. We are negotiating a private sale--the house I'm describing is not listed. It's def. a bigger street than Maple. I looked at this house ^^^ which, while a great location, and w/ separate quarters for an IL, was a split-level (not great in our minds when you have little kids), was quite dated, and needed a TON of work. That house actually has a huge backyard, would have been thrilled w/ it!

And PP, yes, we did check where it is relative to the purple line, and it won't be impacted by it. Good thought though!

[Anonymous]

I'm a backyard person myself, so I would totally value the yard above much else.

Can you rip out the driveway and make that into a yard? Fight the tyranny of our car culture! Why should cars take up our valuable real estate when they can park on the street?

Alternatively, how about building an addition to your current house instead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a backyard person myself, so I would totally value the yard above much else.

Can you rip out the driveway and make that into a yard? Fight the tyranny of our car culture! Why should cars take up our valuable real estate when they can park on the street?

Alternatively, how about building an addition to your current house instead?

OP here. I like the way you think (and we would, I'm pretty sure, go down to 1 car if we bought this house), but even if we took out the driveway we wouldn't get much of a backyard. Maybe 12-15 feet deep, I think, as it's a short driveway given the shape of the lot. But it would be something.

We are moving from an area w/ not great school options to MoCo as part of the equation. MIL moving to live w/ us is the major other part of the equation. O/wise, we'd stay where we are, as we love our backyard and our neighbors. Just don't love the schools, nor the aesthetic and walkability (or lack thereof) of our current house. The new house is walking distance to everything--Metro, schools, grocery, cafe's, restaurants, stores, etc.--while still being very residential, leafy, lovely.

[Anonymous]

I would go for it. If you have 30 feet in the front , think about ways to make it more private and more like a back yard with landscaping or whatever you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go for it. If you have 30 feet in the front , think about ways to make it more private and more like a back yard with landscaping or whatever you need.

This. You said its a historic property, so why not try to find out now what you can/cannot change? Honestly, with 30 ft in the front I'd fence it in and be happy I found something that fits my needs in every other way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go for it. If you have 30 feet in the front , think about ways to make it more private and more like a back yard with landscaping or whatever you need.

This. You said its a historic property, so why not try to find out now what you can/cannot change? Honestly, with 30 ft in the front I'd fence it in and be happy I found something that fits my needs in every other way.

OP again. Thanks. I drove past the house again today to double-check my memory. There are actually probably only 15-18 feet in the front yard, plus a 1 foot border/wall, and then 4 feet of sidewalk. But, it feels relatively deep. The back could be fenced, leaving only one space in the driveway--again, would probably give us 12 feet of backyard in the back, plus about 15 feet on the side. I think I just need to get comfortable with the limited yard space, b/c it does fit our needs in every other way.

Thanks again, everyone, for the thoughtful feedback.

[Anonymous]

OP, really look into the Historic District stuff. It is a pain to do anything to the exterior.

[Anonymous]

If you are close to a park, don't worry about the back yard. My son is 2, and although we have a lovely back yard, he wants to go to the park instead to see other kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, really look into the Historic District stuff. It is a pain to do anything to the exterior.

OP here. Yes, thanks, and I agree. We have many friends in the Historic District and have heard the stories. That's part of what drives our interest in this house, b/c it's been fully rehabbed, addition and deck already permitted and built, etc. (and, recently). The only thing we'd need to deal w/ is the fence. Which, I'm sure, can be a PIS and quite protracted. But it is possible; we have friends and neighbors who have done so.

13:19--thanks, and that is good to know about your son. We always retreat to our backyard, w/ our neighbors, to play and hang out, but I think that is largely b/c we don't currently have a park or playground nearby, and b/c our yard is big w/ the tree house, sandbox, etc.--it's the natural spot for gathering. There would be alternatives (inlcuding friends' backyards) in the new neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would go for it! I love TP and the right house in the historic district is really hard to find, which you know since you are in the "know" and negotiating a private sale.