To build for convenience or for enjoyment

Parent Cafe
1

The other thread about building a house is interesting. We still have to engage with architects and builders in a couple of years. In the meantime, we need to agree on where to build. We have several possible building sites. Now it comes down to the two choices.

The first one is very convenient. It is about 5 miles to the city hall. As there is a back road in addition to the freeway, it is guaranteed for us to drive to downtown in 10 to 15 minutes, no matter the traffic. Walking to grocery stores, restaurants, Starbucks, Chipotle, USPS, UPS, etc. And 5 to 10 minutes’ drive to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. 5 minutes’ drive to the city’s best indoor shopping mall. And it is 5 or 6 miles to our flagship state university, which my kids have very high chance to attend.

The second one is a suburb community. It is still decently close to shopping and hospitals, but everything depends on drive. It is 8 miles to a shopping mall, restaurants, grocery stores, and Whole Foods, and it takes about 15 minutes. It is 10 miles (18 minutes) to one of the best hospitals in the US. But it is quite far away from down town; It is around 25 miles to the city hall, and it will take 35 minutes in good traffic.

The community close in are late 70’s tract homes. The original houses are about 2000 square foot on 1/3 acre lot. There is no HOA or any building restriction. If building here, we need to tear down the current rental house. Even though a very walkable community, there is no side walk here. And the houses in the community are mostly the original build, maybe with some addition. There are teardowns, but not as many, as the lots are very expensive here due to its proximity to the city. Besides, long term residents kind of resent all those new development.

The suburb community is all custom build with a few select builders. It was started in 2006, with maybe 10% empty now. There are about 200 lots on 400 acres, so most are 1 to 3 acres. Our site is on a gentle slope of 1.5 acre. As the HOA and architecture committee have very stringent requirement, the community looks very pretty. And we like the hiking trail and two natural ponds.

When looking to build our next house, the most important thing we want is a nice community that we can walk around. Typically, we walk one and a half hours every day, after lunch and dinner. We won’t mind driving a few more miles for stuff as both of us will be retired. I would think both of the sites are good, but we are leaning toward building in the suburb.

What do you think?

2

Do you need to be close to downtown for some reason? Where I live, the closer community as you described has a lot more traffic and the roads are much narrower. I hate driving in that area.

If the most important thing is being walkable, then the lack of sidewalks sounds like a deal-breaker.

Have you checked the crime rate in both areas? Also, try to picture both communities 10 years from now. If you’ll be retired, I would lean toward the suburb where you can safely walk around.

3

I think it depends on how you see your life changing once the kids are out. At some point, many people see the ability to walk to restaurants and the like as important. So “downtown” type locations become viable. Others don’t want to be that close to people and would rather be far away – so they by a farm out in the boonies.

2 things that strike me though. I would avoid an HOA like the plague. It may start out fine, but then the “do gooders” move in and it becomes a nightmare. Don’t ask how I know.

Second, the shops and such will probably change over the years. Make sure the “downtown” knows what they are doing to keep the place fresh.

4

We just made a similar decision as we were relocated out of state for a job. We had the option of using our budget to get a great house in a so-so location, or a big project in the ideal location (walkable to town, train, and lake and convenient to work). The other option was convenient for work but checked no other of the ideal location boxes. We opted to go for the location we wanted and haven’t regretted it for a minute (well maybe once or twice during renovation hiccups). I absolutely LOVE being able to walk everywhere and even sold my car. Best decision we made.

5

@chercheur
One good thing about the close in house is that it will be commutable for my kids, if they ever go to our state U. Sure it has more property crime when one lives close to the downtown. The mailing list of this neighborhood got quite a few lost package and USPS mails.

And lack of side walk definitely is something I have issue with. But it is still walkable; neighbors walking their dogs or pushing baby strollers. All the 70’s 80’s houses around here have the same issue. This is Texas. Guess nobody was taking a walk that time. :slight_smile:

@yourmomma
I am the rule follower, so I don’t have problem with HOA. I don’t like my neighbor parking their run down car in front of my house for months, which the first neighborhood do, though the median houses there are well over $1M. I want to walk around pretty houses and clean streets, though they might look so artificial for some people.

@momofsenior1
I hear you about walking to the shops. It is just that I don’t need to go shopping everyday, but I need take my twice daily walk.

6

My vote is the suburbs. I like HOA rules and sidewalks. The kids can come visit you, it’s not that far.

7

^ I wouldn’t let that factor into your decision. It sounds like you’ve really thought about the pros and cons of each. Maybe you should go to each community one afternoon, park the car, and take a walk. See how it feels. To me, the hiking trails and ponds would be nice features not only for you but your family as well.

8

This is a very individual thing. I live out in the sticks now and hate it, but some people would love it. Some of my friends tell me they’re dying to do what we did.

I totally agree with @yourmomma about HOAs. The idea of keeping your neighbors from leaving rusted out trucks in their yard or couches on their porch sounds good, but many HOAs have some illogical, ridiculous, and downright Draconian rules. We once lived in a neighborhood that allowed three choices of paint color for your front door. I am a rule follower, too, but don’t want to live in Stepford. Just read the fine print.

My absolute favorite location was a large suburban town near Boston. We had a half acre, so some privacy, and could walk everywhere. There were two Whole Foods and two Trader Joes within 4 miles.

9

I love close enough to walk, and I despise HOA rules. So my vote is the closer one.

10

I despise “planned” communities and love to be able to walk or bike to restaurants, shops, the library, etc. I’m in an innner most suburb from the city so getting there is also very convenient. H has a ten minute commute to the Capital. We now also have a rail trail which goes all the way through town for biking, walking, etc., and getting to our town’s center. I love seeing all the people out and about on it. Also, the thought of a large lot to have to take care of doesnt appeal to me at all. Our 1/3 acre is too big, imo. We certainly don’t need even that much yard - but at least it’s not a fortune to have it mowed every week or spring cleanup/fall clean up.

11

We have a neighborhood association, not a home owner’s association. We can’t enforce anything, but we meet monthly and advocate for our neighborhood. We invite the politicians to come talk. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors. I love it. While I get the appeal of having no neighbors, it is not for me. My only issue with our neighborhood is that it’s about a half mile walk to shops and restaurants that I’d want to go to.

12

OP, will you PM me the second locale? I live in the area and am curious where you are looking. I think I’ve got the first locale pegged. :wink:

13

I vote for the walkable neighborhood. Soon there will be more traffic, and everything will be less convenient to drive to from the suburban neighborhood.

14

I’m having trouble seeing how the closer neighborhood is walkable with no sidewalks. Where do you walk? That sounds dangerous to me, especially for a retired couple.

15

We already own the both properties. If we build on the first, we will sell the vacant lot; if we build on the second, most likely we will still keep the first as rental, as it is in a very desirable location.

I guess HOA is just a personal preference. It has its pros and cons.

@chercheur
We walked both places many times. And we will keep doing this for the next couple of years until we make the final call.

@Massmomm
Our second location is actually close to a suburban town of the big city.

@emilybee
The suburban community actually is not a planned community. Each individual house has different architectural style and design.

@mathmom
We like neighborhood too. Otherwise we will build on 10+ acre in the suburb.

@Youdon’tsay
Will PM you.

@Cardinal Fang
Both of us will be retired, so traffic is not a big concern.

16

You mention walking and Whole Foods a lot. Based on that, I’d recommend to move a close walk to Whole Foods. If that isn’t possible, then go for the shortest drive to Whole Foods.