I had a yard -nice sized, in my 2600 sq ft TH! Not sure what yard I'd be missing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM. We used it more when our child was little. Elementary school age is filled with activities and other stuff and it gets little use. I would not want a townhouse though.

That's because you aren't the one commuting. For the breadwinner husband, townhouse can SFH may translate into hours less a week in the car and more time with kids. Likewise for working parents, close in TH means they have more time together as a family.

My husband commutes 50 minutes each way. He used to commute twice that long depending on traffic. We have a tiny house that gives him flexibility to change jobs as often as he needs. We also drive 30-45 each way for some activities. We live close to thing but there are still long drives. Even if we moved near his job, he'd switch every few years so no point in moving all the time. Yes, it sucks but that is part of living in this area.

Wow that is a long commute. Hopefully his job doesn't have long hours too

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM. We used it more when our child was little. Elementary school age is filled with activities and other stuff and it gets little use. I would not want a townhouse though.

That's because you aren't the one commuting. For the breadwinner husband, townhouse can SFH may translate into hours less a week in the car and more time with kids. Likewise for working parents, close in TH means they have more time together as a family.

My husband commutes 50 minutes each way. He used to commute twice that long depending on traffic. We have a tiny house that gives him flexibility to change jobs as often as he needs. We also drive 30-45 each way for some activities. We live close to thing but there are still long drives. Even if we moved near his job, he'd switch every few years so no point in moving all the time. Yes, it sucks but that is part of living in this area.

Anonymous wrote:Funny. I don't miss having a yard to take care of, but I do wish my preschooler could play in a yard I could see from the kitchen or family room windows. I see this issue going away though as the kids get older. My oldest is now in elementary school and not having a yard is less of a big deal because I'm ok with her playing in our courtyard or a few houses down at the end of the row as long as with a friend.

Me again. I think it's more a neighborhood/development thing than TH vs SFH thing. Open play space, not a lot of traffic, lots of same-age kids all more important than owning a yard.

Nope. I had a yard growing up. I don't see any need for it these days, especially with older kids who would rather do other things besides play outside. Plenty of public play areas in most TH communities.

We loved our TH but moved to get a yard when the kids were a few years older. Around age 5, it got too hard. We had to go out to the park every weekend.

i have an 11-yo who needs more exercise. so yes a backyard/patio makes this so much easier.

Yes, we have 15x15 back garden but it isn't the same.

I live in a townhouse and I have a yard. Sometimes I wish I still lived in my condo.

Funny. I don't miss having a yard to take care of, but I do wish my preschooler could play in a yard I could see from the kitchen or family room windows. I see this issue going away though as the kids get older. My oldest is now in elementary school and not having a yard is less of a big deal because I'm ok with her playing in our courtyard or a few houses down at the end of the row as long as with a friend.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a SAHM. We used it more when our child was little. Elementary school age is filled with activities and other stuff and it gets little use. I would not want a townhouse though.

That's because you aren't the one commuting. For the breadwinner husband, townhouse can SFH may translate into hours less a week in the car and more time with kids. Likewise for working parents, close in TH means they have more time together as a family.

I'm a SAHM. We used it more when our child was little. Elementary school age is filled with activities and other stuff and it gets little use. I would not want a townhouse though.

It only matters if you SAH. If you get home st 5pm weeknights, dinner and such will eat up most outdoor time.

Weekends will likely be activities, errands, and park visits.

Now if you are SAHM it's great to let kids run out back while you bake cookies or darn the socks or nap.

Yes, I miss it dearly. Oldest is 7 and we are renting a TH now, and even with a playground nearby in the TH community, it's not the same. We have to plan time on the weekends to take theme out to the playground (I won't let them go alone yet, it's not far but I can't see them from the house), or go to a neighborhood park. It was so much easier on a Saturday afternoon to set them free in the backyard while I do housework. We plan to move to a SFH as soon as we find one that suits us.

We are considering whether to buy a townhouse in Arlington/Alexandria, or a SFH somewhere farther out. We have two boys, ages 1 and 3, and are very happy living in our rental townhouse right now and don't miss having a yard. The kids are in preschool/daycare during the week and on weekends we walk to nearby playgrounds. DH and I have no interest in gardening or lawn care, so for our own sake, the lack of a yard in a townhouse is a plus, not a minus. But I wonder if we will regret it when the kids are older, say 5 and 7, and we can't just send them outside to throw a ball around. What have others found?