Pros and cons to not having a backyard?

[Anonymous]

Think about maintenance. If you will be doing mowing and weeding yourself instead of outsourcing, look for a relatively small, flat yard! Ours is not even that big (.25 acre) but it's hilly, and a pain to maintain as we are currently doing all the housework and yardwork. We are close to either paying for a cleaning service or a lawn care service. And we don't even have kids yet!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Think about maintenance. If you will be doing mowing and weeding yourself instead of outsourcing, look for a relatively small, flat yard! Ours is not even that big (.25 acre) but it's hilly, and a pain to maintain as we are currently doing all the housework and yardwork. We are close to either paying for a cleaning service or a lawn care service. And we don't even have kids yet!

Put some of that weed block fabric down in your flower/shrub areas and cover with mulch. That'll help to cut down on the weeding.

[Anonymous]

^As far as cleaning up after only 2 people who are out of the house most of the day (at work). That is about as easy as life will ever get.

Just wait until you have kids and possibly pets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's not assume that because OP is a single parent that they don't have any money. As a single parent myself, I get that all the time and it's an unfair stereotype and untrue in my case anyway.

OP, I moved from a townhouse to a SFH with a huge yard when my kids were 6 and 3. They have played in the yard maybe a dozen times in 6 years. They just prefer indoor sports and activities, and as they've gotten older, we're not home that often after school and on weekends.

We are moving this summer and I would love to find a great townhouse. I hate yard work and have not at all enjoyed having a big yard. I can't wait to say goodbye to endless clean-up, mowing, raking, mosquito spraying, etc. I'd rather spend that time and money doing something with my kids.

I think you have to go by what is best for you and your kid. Just because a lot of people see a SFH as a step up from a townhouse doesn't mean that's the right choice for everyone. I keep reminding myself of that when yet another real estate agent assumes I am looking at a townhouse because I can't afford something 'better'.

I find hiring a lawn service costs less than HOA/Condo fees.

[Anonymous]

We just moved from a condo to a townhouse with a front porch and backyard. We rarely use the yard but love the porch. As long as you have some relaxing outdoor space for yourself, you should be ok. Kids don't need a yard. Parents do.

[Anonymous]

I have the exact same issue as the OP. It is awful to live in a townhouse with no backyard when you have a young kid. An absolute nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just moved from a condo to a townhouse with a front porch and backyard. We rarely use the yard but love the porch. As long as you have some relaxing outdoor space for yourself, you should be ok. Kids don't need a yard. Parents do.

I haven't found that to be true at all. My kids spend tons of time in the yard, especially in summer. They run around, play tag, run in the sprinkler etc.; I can't imagine not having one for them.

[Anonymous]

I was very glad when we moved from our townhouse to a house with a small yard. It's great to have room for a basketball goal, lacrosse net, etc. If your kid isn't into sports, it may not matter as much.

[Anonymous]

I used to always blabber on that paths were walking distance so backyard wasn't so important.

However, after watching the Germany v Italy exciting match my 8 and 10-year old boys have been out back for a few hours shooting goals against the rebounder.

We live close-in, but have a reasonable sized flat backyard---we put in nice patio and left lots of green space and are outside all the time. Grow a lot of peppers, lettuce, basil too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to always blabber on that paths were walking distance so backyard wasn't so important.

However, after watching the Germany v Italy exciting match my 8 and 10-year old boys have been out back for a few hours shooting goals against the rebounder.

We live close-in, but have a reasonable sized flat backyard---we put in nice patio and left lots of green space and are outside all the time. Grow a lot of peppers, lettuce, basil too.

Parks not paths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just moved from a condo to a townhouse with a front porch and backyard. We rarely use the yard but love the porch. As long as you have some relaxing outdoor space for yourself, you should be ok. Kids don't need a yard. Parents do.

I haven't found that to be true at all. My kids spend tons of time in the yard, especially in summer. They run around, play tag, run in the sprinkler etc.; I can't imagine not having one for them.

+1 I have a 4yo and 6yo and they are outside for at least a little while every day. They have a playset and like playing on the hammock or their water table. They like to help me plant flowers, look at bugs, and run around and play in the sprinkler or with their water guns. They have friends over and they play outside. When they were younger we had a sand box and water table on the deck that they were obsessed with. It's nice for me to let them go out while i do chores inside or i will sit on the deck with my kindle or ipad while they do stuff.

Look for a low maintenance lawn. Some are, some aren't. Find a lot that just need to be mowed. They don't need to be "treated" for mice or other pests lol. Some people on here are a bit to urban clueless.

[Anonymous]

At least a postage stamp yard is nice.

It gives you another space to entertain (with some more privacy) - so both for you and a guest and when you kid has a friend over. Front porches are nice but unless you can plant around it some I don't know if you'll be out there in your pajamas. Even in urban backyards where you know 50 people can see you, going out in pajamas feels okay.

For me, I need a bit of outdoor space because it is soul soothing - but not everyone feels the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think about maintenance. If you will be doing mowing and weeding yourself instead of outsourcing, look for a relatively small, flat yard! Ours is not even that big (.25 acre) but it's hilly, and a pain to maintain as we are currently doing all the housework and yardwork. We are close to either paying for a cleaning service or a lawn care service. And we don't even have kids yet!

Put some of that weed block fabric down in your flower/shrub areas and cover with mulch. That'll help to cut down on the weeding.

... and it will be a big mess a few years down the road when the mulch on top of the fabric has started to form a nice growing medium and weeds will actually grow on top of the fabric as well as through it. Landscape fabric as weed blocker is a terrible idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the exact same issue as the OP. It is awful to live in a townhouse with no backyard when you have a young kid. An absolute nightmare.

OP here, care to explain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Think about maintenance. If you will be doing mowing and weeding yourself instead of outsourcing, look for a relatively small, flat yard! Ours is not even that big (.25 acre) but it's hilly, and a pain to maintain as we are currently doing all the housework and yardwork. We are close to either paying for a cleaning service or a lawn care service. And we don't even have kids yet!

Put some of that weed block fabric down in your flower/shrub areas and cover with mulch. That'll help to cut down on the weeding.

... and it will be a big mess a few years down the road when the mulch on top of the fabric has started to form a nice growing medium and weeds will actually grow on top of the fabric as well as through it. Landscape fabric as weed blocker is a terrible idea.

Weeds do grow on the fabric but they are much easier to pull. You don't need to dig them up.