What's more important to you?

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: The overall interior of your home or the neighborhood you're in?? DH and I are looking for a new home. We like this house, but we hate the ambiance (sp?) outside. It's a great neighborhood, but these new suburban subdivisions have no trees! And why live in Colorado if you don't have a view of the mountains or an aspen nearby??! All you see from my back door are roof tops and trampolines.

So we went looking this last weekend and found a beautiful area right in the middle of pine trees...it was exactly what I imagine Colorado living to be like. There are trails behind the houses and we would have some land! We would be further from stores of course, but I'm feeling okay about that. Oh shoot...no Target!! Anyway, the exception is that these homes are way more expensive because the scenery is BEAUTIFUL, but the house we may get could be "less" inside. KWIM? Not necessarily downsizing, but older quality inside than what we currently have. I figure we can always remodel, but let's be realistic with two kids!

So I'm trying to figure out whether the scenery is more important to me or the house itself. It's hard to find both, unless we had a lot of money, which is not the case.

mckayleesmom replied: I would keep searching until I found both.

holley79 replied: That is always a hard thing. DH had this house before we met. It's in a nice neighborhood with a nice big yard. It's older though so things break. The bad thing is we don't have an "emergency" fund for when things go wrong. That can really put a strain on things. Also the school district we are in is not the best.

BUT HEY we got the yard, trees and plenty of inside space.

Boys r us replied: Hmmm..it's really a matter of personal preference, I don't think that there is a right or wrong answer to this.

Me..I just want it all No seriously, I gave up target and the mall to have trees and no neighbors in my backyard. We live in a bedroom town, we're surrounded by trees. There is a subdivision across the street, but this whole side of the road is owned by my family. Between our land and my brother's land and my parent's land, there's over 90 acres, so have plenty of breathing room! On the other hand, it's not the country either..We have everything at 5 minute drive!
I could never live in a subdivision, I think it would make me batty..but my DS hates that we don't live in a subdivion b/c he has no one to play with next door. So depending on who you ask, there are pros and cons of either!

ETA: I think that the schools are the most important factor when a parent looks for a house. We have people who move to our town all of the time just b/c the school system here is PHENOMINAL!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
You are right...there is no right or wrong answer really. I like the convenience of being close to everything, but it makes me batty to look outside every day. I know I should feel fortunate for what I have, and I am, but it depresses DH to no end although the man works for a home builder (subdivision galore!). As a matter of fact, DH grew up close to where you live Nichole, so he misses all the trees! I on the other hand grew up in the burbs in California, so I'm sorta used to it, but I'm starting to feel environment is more important as long as we are still in a good school district and we're not so far that I have to stock up at the store for months on end! I do want it all and I'm sure we will find both someday, but when you buy a resale home, you always have to compromise on something.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well for me.. it is different then most. But I think neighborhood and privacy are most important.

I live in a private location.. in the middle of nowhere. I drive lots of miles to and from.. and at times in the winter I can't go anywhere. But I do this for a safe neighborhood to raise my children.. which to us happen to be no neighborhood. I don't have to worry about my children being kidnapped..if someone comes to my house they are lost..or from the bank is the joke. I don't have to worry about strange neighbors and drug deals.

I have pretty scenary..and I love the privacy of doing what I want. Because I live so rural my children go to small schools which is the choice I wanted for them. It is better all around. They don't have near the hard time fitting in and dressing right. It seems kids who feed and water cows before school don't care as much about clothes.. though some do. My girls do. I think it is harder on girls.

For me.. I could go with a smaller home.. to live in the country and have my freedom and animals. To raise my kids where they can ride their bikes out side.. and down the road to ask the neighbor for a tomatoe from his garden that he still plows with his mule.. and KNOW that with out a doubt they will be right back.
To me that is worth more than any house in a fancy neighborhood..

We do drive alot.. spend more in gas than most.. but it makes it okay.. on the weekends when we can ride horses all day long.. or in the winter when the boys can hunt in there own back yard. That is what is right for us.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Thanks for being so honest Mel. I guess that's what DH and I are sorta looking for. I wouldn't know how to take care of a farm in the slightest, but just somewhere where the neighbors are not peeking over our fence or I get people ringing my doorbell selling me junk.

I do like a subdivision for the kids though. There are so many kids around and they're always out in the yards. The place we're talking about is really only about five minutes from a Walmart (they're building one) and maybe twenty minutes max from the freeway, so it's really not that rural...but you feel like it is because it's totally surrounded by pines. It's so beautiful! Now I just hope we can afford it!

coasterqueen replied: Well it's hard to answer in your situation, but for me it's ALL about the neighborhood and privacy like Mel said. I like that I can walk outside in my robe, that Dh can pee anywhere he wants outside (only when he's drunk ), LOTS of yardage (land). I used to be a city girl and there are times when it sounds appealing (not having to mow a lot of yard, etc) but I would never change anything, country living is much better. I don't really care where the store is. I just make sure I drive by there on my way home from work.

A&A'smommy replied: I say keep looking until you find a house in a beautiful area with the right interior unless your willing to fix it up and it has potentional to be something you would love because you don't want to buy a house unless you know your going to be completly happy with it!

MyLuvBugs replied: Neighborhood. The interior and exterior of a home can always be fixed and redone, but if the neighborhood is crappy to begin with, you can't change that.

MM'sMama replied: I think both to some extent but I know what you mean. DH and I are at the mountain foot hills sort of (BM area). And I love the tree and the view so much I could not live with out it. Good luck house hunting.

Jamison'smama replied: Neighborhood was most important when we bought this house. We decided to move somewhere surrounded by families and playmates for our kids. Not a lot of privacy or mature trees but she loves playing outside with friends and I know the parents of the kids. The feeling of neighborhood is outstanding here---Halloween was amazing with everyone passing out candy from their driveways to enjoy each other. We have a lovely home just not the land you are describing. We chose a surrounding town with a low crime rate, great schools and a safer atmosphere. We had the privacy before we had kids and loved it--now we wanted Jamison and Jack to grow up surrounded by playing kids.

ammommy replied:

For us, it was all about the yard and neighborhood. The last thing that we wanted was to live in a vinyl village. As long as the floor plan works for you, the interior can either be changed or you may be able to live with what you first thought was awful. My kitchen turned out to be option 2

kimberley replied: ITA about neighborhood. had a decent apartment in a not so great neighborhood and boy did i pay. i nearly never let the boys play outside because all the neighbor kids were foul mouthed, unattended and dirty. all summer you'd hear party after party with all my alchie neighbors. and the school.. lets just say they only went there for 6mos. i am now in an older house in a wonderful neighborhood. my kids will never get away with anything because all the neighbors look out for each other. it is a nice change.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Houses can be changed. It's a lot harder to change the landscape. I'd go for view any day!

mckayleesmom replied: See...we just moved from Minnesota and were in the middle of nowhere.....I hated it. I love that Mckaylee can go outside and find a couple kids to play with...or we can walk to the park and play on the playground. I don't think I would ever chose an overcrowded area, but I would want neighbors to some extent.

TANNER'S MOM replied: I am sure it is just this area.. but in town alot of the neighborhoods.. have kids just running everywhere and not really supervises.

There are somethings my kids have missed.. Tanner didn't know what an ice cream truck was until last year.. which to me was fine. Because those drivers freak me out. But to give my kids someone to play with they do other stuff and join groups.

And to be honest.. they go outside and use there imagination alot. They always have something to do in that big ole yard and pasture. So, they can really have some fun. They build forts.. read bikes.. exercise, jump stuff. Hide and seek in the woods..etc.

Now even when they were small.. they went outside, and had plenty to do. I don't feel like I am begruding them anything by not having real close neighbors. And I will say this.. when there friends come over.. they love it. Think they so much to do.

coasterqueen replied:
I spent most of my life "in town" and so I could go next door and play with all the kids or get ice cream from the ice cream truck, walk to school, ride my bike to the grocery store, etc. This was great and I had a huge adjustment when we moved out in the country. I will be very sad that my girls won't get to experience that, but at the same time I know I won't have to worry about things like my mother did. I was followed by strangers a lot, etc. I won't have to worry about these things w/my girls and that makes me happy.

We'll just have to do what my parents did and drive us over to see our friends or they'll ride the school bus home w/the girls, etc.

MommyToAshley replied:
ITA! Not just the scenery, but the neighborhood (including the neighbors) and the school district are important. We chose a house that fit our "style" in a neighborhood we liked. If we had a child at the time or were even thinking of having children right away, we probably wouldn't have chosen this particular house. But, it fit our needs at the time and I love our neighborhood.

I would downsize a little to get a house in a neighborhood I wanted, as long as the house fit my overall needs. And, from an investment point of view, location is a KEY factor in appreciation and resale value.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:
I got hit by the Ice-cream truck when I was younger! Sorry that was random just reminded me and made me laugh thinking I don't mind Tay not knowing who he is either!

We live 'in town' right now but we still have an acre of land and our town is about 1500 people.So it is still country living. When we buy or build the house we will stay in forever, it will be out with land all around us and no neighbors. This is great for now-Bill is gone so much and we have neighbors close enough that we watch out for eachother. I say neighborhood is the most important thing if you have to comprimise on something then I would say something nice but a little smaller is better than a nice big house next to the Adams Family! Lol!

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: Well we live in the middle of subdivision town I like it. We can see into our neighbors yards so they can obviously see into ours but in general our back yard seems isolated from evryone. My parents are out in black forest and it is nice having all the trees and nature around but for the couple months we were living there I couldn't get used to having to drive a half hour to get into town. Neither of us have ever really had trees so we don't miss them and living where we are is the best choice for us. The only change I would make is not living on a hill so when we play in the front yard I don't have to chase the ball down the street and around the corner

jcc64 replied: We bought our house before we had kids. We live on a mountain, and although we have neighbors, they are far from sight and it is most definitely not a "neighborhood." This was exactly what we wanted at the time- dh is a musician, and we had loud parties, and we didn't want to worry about annoying the neighbors. It was perfect.
Flash forward. Oldest ds is now 13. I'd say the kids have missed out some by living in an isolated location- no ice cream man, no kids down the street, no riding the bikes to a friend's house. They are jealous of their friends who live close to town.
But truth be told, they are really just passing though. In 5 yrs, gasp, my oldest will be off at college, and dh and I will, once again, be living a different kind of life. We are not, as I said, neighborhood people. I don't want any neighbors in my business, I don't want to feel pressured to have my lawn look a certain way, and I want to be able to walk outside without having to talk to anyone. I want my dog to be able to run free, and I never want to have to pick up her poop in a plastic bag like my mom in the suburbs has to.
So, my kids will have to put up with the inconvenience of needing a ride everywhere until they drive, but somehow they manage. It's how everyone lives around here. And I wouldn't give up my mountains, and streams, and forests, and deer, and bears, all right out my back window, for anything. Even my kids. They're getting something out of it too, even if they don't realize it yet.

coasterqueen replied:
You said it SOOOOO perfectly for me. I should just let you explain me most of the time.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Well Lisa and I live pretty close to each other...so Oh dear, I hope I didn't offend you lady. I find nothing wrong with subdivisions at all. DH makes his living this way! As a matter of fact, the house we found in the forest is considered a subdivision, but it has trees everywhere and the homes are much further apart. But you can definitely see the house next door! It's in a good school district.

I think each has it's good and it's bad. I've done urban living and now the suburbs, so I guess it's only time to try a more rural area. I'm only afraid that we will be spending a significant amount more for a home just because it's in a beautiful area. But not getting the value in the actual home, kwim? So my original question was really if you only had one to choose from, would you take a gorgeous home in an okay environment or an okay home in a gorgeous environment?? Only if you had one choice.

Now don't laugh, but my question to you all that live in rural areas...you may feel safer from sexual predators, etc...but what about wild animals?! We have bears in Colorado!! My friend was only ten feet from one once while she was out walking her newborn!! I'm not sure if I can deal with that!

My2Beauties replied: Well we live downtown right now, in a completely nasty neighborhood that I loathe, but the rent was cheap and we signed the lease before I was pg with Hanna. The house was barely big enough for the two of us let alone a baby! Desiree was supposed to have gotten the room Hanna has now. It makes me feel awful that she comes over and there isn't enough room in this house for even another twin bed for her - I'm being honest. I wish I had pics that show all of Hanna's room on this 'puter at work to show you what I am talking about, we have no closet space for storage, no basement, no nothing, our house is so cluttered and I cannot wait to move and I like your question because come April/May time frame I'll be asking myself the same question.

My question to myself and you is, do you spend a lot of time alone (just you and kid(s)) while DH is at work? do you spend any time alone while it's dark? See, I will, Brian has to go out of town every now and then and from day to day doesn't know whether he'll work first, second or third shift. So while my dream is to have a lot of land and trees surrounding me, no neighbors that I can see at least from my front porch, I don't want to be alone in an area like that, because if something happens no one can hear me scream Police,EMS, and Fire Depts are further away from rural areas as well, which for some reason is always on the back of my mind when we visit family that live in the country. I guess I am an inbetween gal, I would want somewhere that I loved my house and my land. I mean, I want neighbors, not 3 feet from my house (like they are now) but maybe the equivalent of what would be 2-3 regular lots away, by lots I mean you could fit 2-3 hours inbetween myself and my neighbor, I could still see them and they could see me. But I wouldn't want a suburb where the neighbors backyard backed up to mine and I could look out my window into their house - I would hate that. I would hate to be out in the middle of nowhere with nothing around and far from everyday conveniences too, that is just because I was always raised right downtown, never in suburbs or rural area, right freaking downtown Crime rate is high, people are dirty, yards are awful, so I want to get away from that but keep the convenience of the store being 5 minutes away and there being other kids for Hanna and Desiree to play with.

Did I make any sense just now

coasterqueen replied:
To answer your original question I'd take an ok home with a gorgeous environment. I say that because like many others have said, you can change the home, you can't change the environment. It's all how you look at it. For myself and my DH we plan to literally die on our land so we aren't going anywhere. We didn't like the little brown shack that was on our property when we moved on it (family land) so we tore it down after we built something new.

As far as wild animals...never had to experience bears but I'd still probably feel the same as I do about our wild animals. You just accept them as part of your surroundings and be aware. We have wolves and deer - those are our two major ones I guess, lol. We don't go out in the backyard in the dark by ourselves because if you encounter a pack of wolves, not a good idea. We hear them howling all night long lots of nights. I know people that live in areas of snakes, scorpians etc..their viewpoint is that they just take the precautions necessary just like with anything. It wouldn't stop me from living where I wanted to live, I would just have to get used to it over some time.

jcc64 replied: We have bears, poisonous snakes, wolves, bobcats, deer, the works. I just teach my kids what to do if they should encounter one, although only the snakes and the deer commonly cross our paths. The bears avoid people as much as possible, and the wolves and coyotes are only ever heard, rarely seen. (although I do suspect the coyotes with one of my cats' untimely end).
Idk, I think there are sexual predators everywhere- they're equal opportunity freaks, kwim? They work in the city, they work in the country. That's not a reason to run for the hills, imo. Just figure out where you're most comfy- for us, it's with lots of space around us so there's no one around to be offended by our lifestyle. The houses are admittedly less plush (why didn't people need closets and basements in the old days?!) and require more upkeep, but I like imagining what went on in my house 100 yrs ago, and wonder if its inhabitants are ever "present".

TANNER'S MOM replied: LeaAnn.. as you know I am more rural than anyone on here. 40 miles out of town.. 7 miles dirt road cross the creek.. no bridge thru the creek is what it is really is.. and nearest neighbor is a mile away as the crow flies..

And I feel way MORE safe than in town.. To me it is awesome. It is dark and quite. Of course there is wild animals. And to be honest.. in the mornings I don't let the kids out unless I look around in the spring because of Bears. We have snakes and spiders. We have animals that eat those though. But as far as just laying down to sleep.. I love it. I have a big dog outside. She only barks if she feels something is outside.. and it is usually a coyote. But I have no fear... In town when I have slept there.. I wake at every noise.. every car door... ever door shutting .. people talking.

I mean if you go thru the crime rates.. rural is the least. Most people who burgalize or murder.. it is for money. People who need money fast.. go right now.. not down a dirt road 7 miles. They can't tell when you are home.. or gone. We actually have a gate I put up when Randy is not home.. but they can't case my house to be exact.. Because I would see them. They can't park down the street and watch me.. because I would know it.. and when you see a strange car .. you really notice it. If they don't stop and say I am a new neighbor or building a house down the road.. then you really notice it.. as does the other neighbors.

Plus.. most people who live in the country have at least a snake gun..and they don't want to get shot..which might not be bad...lol It is good for the criminals to fear.lol

And more about wild animals. Not all are bad.. it is awesome to see wild turkeys flying and landing. To watch deer.. I have seen Doe's have their twin babies right in my pasture.. I have seen a coyote Momma with her pups.. Normally I would shoot a coyote.. but those pups were to cute.. eyes not even open yet. My kids are amazed at this. We have seen Bob Cats and Mountain Lions.. and all of these things.. other kids will never see. Someday we will be all concrete..and all these wild animals will have no place to go. At least my kids will get to talk about seeing these animals in the wild.. in there natural glory.. It is awesome.

Oh I remember.. when it dawned on me that I had in my life for the first time seen a LIVE armadillo.. I have seen alot of dead ones.. but NO live ones.. It was a kinda funny thing..lol

Oh I have to tell you are Ma and Pa too. Oh this is so long. But my nearest neighbors are Ma and pa they are in their 80's. They have a Mollie Mule..and every year never fail.. Pa hooks her up and begans plowing that garden with that Mule.. Ma grabs her sack and drops seed behind him.. As I watch this I am amazed. They have a tractor.. why do they use Mollie. Because even Mollie needs to earn her keep as does everyone or everything on the place. If you don't work then you are food.lol But they work all day.. and I always stop and watch them in silence. My kids are told to watch also.. because when Ma and Pa go.. we may never see that again. It is a thing to be proud of. A man working the land beside his wife he still loves even in there 80's ..with an awesome animal..

Come later in the spring.. they put out a sign that says.. Ma and Pa's Maters and Taters for sale.. that sign brings me the biggest smile!

My2Beauties replied:
That is a cute story

So you really feel safer in a rural area where no one is around? Maybe it's because I grew up in the city with people around and that is how I feel safe, but I have never tried being alone in the country, guess I'm just not used to it and city folk hear of the horrific country tales and I guess vice versa. It just scares me that no one is around for miles and that EMS and such is further away, but maybe statiscally if you look at crime rates you're less likely to be robbed than myself who lives in a very heavily populated area. I never thought about that, it's just the way I was brought up to think ya know. You got me thinking Mel, because I know this will be our big question when we move. Brian wants land, he wants a couple of acres and not a lot of houses around, I want some acres but I wanna see my neighbor and know them because I am a 'fraidy cat! So you have opened my eyes. I mean Brian's cousin lives down in Leitchfield, Ky and stays by herself all the time and she is never ever scared but I think that is all she knows and is used to and she tells me she wouldn't stay by herself in Louisville to save her soul because our crime rate is high - and I think I wouldn't stay down there alone to save my soul because some crazed maniac is going to take me hostage and no one will be around to know it! It's so funny people's different perceptions and viewpoints they have based on where they grew up at.

TANNER'S MOM replied: I have lived right outside Dallas.. and I was scared. But to be honest.. once you get used to being in the country.. it is all you would want... the privacy and the safety.

Oh and we pay dues to a rescue and evac system. Because we are so rural if there was an accident.. we couldn't get to town in time. And I mean a serious accident. If one of us or the kids got hurt or kicked by a horse.. we could die before we got to town. We pay rural dues.. which is $60.00 year for my whole family. When I call 911.. I can request Helicopter or ground rescue. Helicopter is Emergency only..and will land in my pasture. .. they came and made sure it was a place to land. The helicopter is promised to be there with in 5 to 15 minutes..and know where to land. It's worth it to me.. but to be honest.. I have lived in the country for many years and have thankfully never used this service. I have only seen it used one time..and that is when a woman crossed the creek when it was raising and rushing ..and she lost her children...and that was bad.

It also makes our homeowners insurance really cheap..

coasterqueen replied:
You only pay $60! I pay $150 for fire and rescue protection and they let your house burn to the ground unless there is an actual person stuck inside. That's even when they can get there in time to save the house too!

CantWait replied: I would say overall area. You can always redecorate for cheap. The house you're looking at sounds fantastic.