Keep talking up the hills, OP. My house has an awful, hill-y yard that is good for nothing, and we're about to list it.

HILLS ARE AWESOME. PAY AN EXTRA PREMIUM FOR HILLS! BOOOOOOO FLAT LOTS!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our lot slopes up from the back of our house, but a good drainage system prevents any water issues.

The back yard is tiered with a lot of hardscaping. Several patios. Big trees and a flat spot for a kids playset at the highest level. For a standard sized N. Arlington lot (under 10,000 sqft), we have a lot of privacy because of the slope.

We can't really grow grass back there due to the slope and the shade trees, but even if we could our two big dogs would tear it up.

For our particular situation, a sloping lot is great, maybe even ideal.

All of that being said, the appeal of a flat lot to most people is pretty obvious.

Yes for Boring hobbies like jumping on a trampoline in the back yard

Umm ok, most houses are discounted for not having a flat lot

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here? I think most people prefer flat lots bc they're more versatile. I just don't understand topics like this that just require maybe 35 seconds of genuine reflection by the OP.

If you look at the most desirable neighborhoods close in, they are Great Falls, North Arlington (Maywood and Country Club Hills), Belle View, etc - all hilly neighborhoods.

But DCUM land thinks non-flat land is "unusable." Sorry it takes me more than 35 seconds to figure out the typical DCUM mind.

These areas are desirable despite the lots being hilly, not because of them. Unless you are up on the top of a huge hill overlooking the potomac or something, a flat lot is always more desirable. Let me put it this way, have you ever heard of someone paying to add hills to their lot? Plenty of people pay lots of money to make their lot flatter or to carve out flat spots from a hilly lot.

No those areas are nice BECAUSE they are hilly

Anonymous wrote:Our lot slopes up from the back of our house, but a good drainage system prevents any water issues.

The back yard is tiered with a lot of hardscaping. Several patios. Big trees and a flat spot for a kids playset at the highest level. For a standard sized N. Arlington lot (under 10,000 sqft), we have a lot of privacy because of the slope.

We can't really grow grass back there due to the slope and the shade trees, but even if we could our two big dogs would tear it up.

For our particular situation, a sloping lot is great, maybe even ideal.

All of that being said, the appeal of a flat lot to most people is pretty obvious.

Yes for Boring hobbies like jumping on a trampoline in the back yard

Our lot slopes up from the back of our house, but a good drainage system prevents any water issues.

The back yard is tiered with a lot of hardscaping. Several patios. Big trees and a flat spot for a kids playset at the highest level. For a standard sized N. Arlington lot (under 10,000 sqft), we have a lot of privacy because of the slope.

We can't really grow grass back there due to the slope and the shade trees, but even if we could our two big dogs would tear it up.

For our particular situation, a sloping lot is great, maybe even ideal.

All of that being said, the appeal of a flat lot to most people is pretty obvious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here? I think most people prefer flat lots bc they're more versatile. I just don't understand topics like this that just require maybe 35 seconds of genuine reflection by the OP.

If you look at the most desirable neighborhoods close in, they are Great Falls, North Arlington (Maywood and Country Club Hills), Belle View, etc - all hilly neighborhoods.

But DCUM land thinks non-flat land is "unusable." Sorry it takes me more than 35 seconds to figure out the typical DCUM mind.

Wait, you think Great Falls is close in and we're supposed to listen to you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here? I think most people prefer flat lots bc they're more versatile. I just don't understand topics like this that just require maybe 35 seconds of genuine reflection by the OP.

If you look at the most desirable neighborhoods close in, they are Great Falls, North Arlington (Maywood and Country Club Hills), Belle View, etc - all hilly neighborhoods.

But DCUM land thinks non-flat land is "unusable." Sorry it takes me more than 35 seconds to figure out the typical DCUM mind.

Wait, you think Great Falls is close in and we're supposed to listen to you?

DP. agree that all the nicest areas are hilly. The bad areas are south of the city and flat and boggy.

Anonymous wrote:sandbox, swingset, badminton, croquet, frisbee, throwing a ball around, and a million other things to do outside with kids.

The only thing a hill is good for is sledding. As long as it doesn't end in a road or a stream, that is.

And woods? Have you ever lived in the woods? I have.... It's hell on a house. Wears it out more quickly. The gutters, the shingles, the decks, etc. Not to mention the wayward branch that might pierce through your roof during storms. Some trees are fine. Woods are not.

You're nuts. 99% of people would view backing to woods as a huge plus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here? I think most people prefer flat lots bc they're more versatile. I just don't understand topics like this that just require maybe 35 seconds of genuine reflection by the OP.

If you look at the most desirable neighborhoods close in, they are Great Falls, North Arlington (Maywood and Country Club Hills), Belle View, etc - all hilly neighborhoods.

But DCUM land thinks non-flat land is "unusable." Sorry it takes me more than 35 seconds to figure out the typical DCUM mind.

Wait, you think Great Falls is close in and we're supposed to listen to you?

Hills aren't that easy to play on for kids. And they're a pain to mow if you're doing your own yardwork. Plus you have to make sure the slope is away from the house so it doesn't flood. It's just as easy to garden on a flat lot (and cheaper if you don't have to spend time and money on terracing.)

Also, after having a neighbor's tree fall on my house and knowing several others who've had the same thing happen, I wouldn't want to back to woods, though the view would be nice.

Anonymous wrote:OP I agree. Sloped lots are far preferable. First of all you get a walkout basement with actual windows, which is 1000x better than a dark bomb shelter basement. Second, the setting is far more interesting. I would go insane on a flat boring lot sitting on my back deck like I'm in Kansas or something. So flat and boring. Everything looks the same. We have a gently sloping lot backing to woods and my only regret is that if isn't STEEPER. I love decks high up overlooking a hill.

thanks! Me too. I'll take the hills over the flat anytime.

Think about California - people pay the premium to live in places like San Fran, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport, etc. And I actually think the hilly landscape contributes significantly to the desirability, not what PP said about the places being desirable DESPITE the landscape.

OP I agree. Sloped lots are far preferable. First of all you get a walkout basement with actual windows, which is 1000x better than a dark bomb shelter basement. Second, the setting is far more interesting. I would go insane on a flat boring lot sitting on my back deck like I'm in Kansas or something. So flat and boring. Everything looks the same. We have a gently sloping lot backing to woods and my only regret is that if isn't STEEPER. I love decks high up overlooking a hill.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here? I think most people prefer flat lots bc they're more versatile. I just don't understand topics like this that just require maybe 35 seconds of genuine reflection by the OP.

If you look at the most desirable neighborhoods close in, they are Great Falls, North Arlington (Maywood and Country Club Hills), Belle View, etc - all hilly neighborhoods.

But DCUM land thinks non-flat land is "unusable." Sorry it takes me more than 35 seconds to figure out the typical DCUM mind.

These areas are desirable despite the lots being hilly, not because of them. Unless you are up on the top of a huge hill overlooking the potomac or something, a flat lot is always more desirable. Let me put it this way, have you ever heard of someone paying to add hills to their lot? Plenty of people pay lots of money to make their lot flatter or to carve out flat spots from a hilly lot.

^^ meant to say Belle Haven.

Belle View is flat.

Anonymous wrote:Here? I think most people prefer flat lots bc they're more versatile. I just don't understand topics like this that just require maybe 35 seconds of genuine reflection by the OP.

If you look at the most desirable neighborhoods close in, they are Great Falls, North Arlington (Maywood and Country Club Hills), Belle View, etc - all hilly neighborhoods.

But DCUM land thinks non-flat land is "unusable." Sorry it takes me more than 35 seconds to figure out the typical DCUM mind.