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...wow location is everything I see. I leave nothing in the interior of my car and my trunk locked.
Of course I live in oakland, CA and I'd do that even if I had a garage.
Still, this seems like not a safe habit to practice, in my opinion
To your original it goes back to location, if I lived someplace with a brutal winter than it'd have to be a really good bargain for that house (not just a cheap house) I'd consider it.
I have lived in my current home for 9 years and there haven't been any car break-ins in my neighborhood. The only thefts in the area were in unlocked cars parked in the street with visible valuable items inside.
...wow location is everything I see. I leave nothing in the interior of my car and my trunk locked.
Of course I live in oakland, CA and I'd do that even if I had a garage.
Still, this seems like not a safe habit to practice, in my opinion
To your original it goes back to location, if I lived someplace with a brutal winter than it'd have to be a really good bargain for that house (not just a cheap house) I'd consider it.
I live in Oakland and thankfully not had a problem.
That said just about everyone I know that parks on the street has had problems... mostly sideswipe damage to cars being totaled...
Can't street how important it is to have at least off street parking and even more so with density increasing... hard to find a street spot the last few years.
I would buy a house without a garage if the price was right and if I could build one. I prefer a detached 2 car garage. If there is no room for a garage then I would consider buying the house for a rental property if the price was right. I wouldn't want to live there.
Why do neighbors care where I park my car as long as it is not in front of their house? Also most folks move their car out of garage before a snow storm. For instance my block growing up most houses had 80 foot driveways. if you put it in a garage and it snows overnight, you have to shovel 80 feet of driveway to get out.
So neighbors would all have bumper of car hanging over sidewalk and a piece of cardboard over windshield to prevent ice.
I had a 90 foot long driveway. I would simply fire up the John Deere and make a few passes. Or I'd just power my way out. Everything we had was AWD or 4WD.
When it's 15 degrees outside (or raining), and I have a parking garage underneath my office at work, one of the true luxuries is to go from one garage to another without having to be exposed to the elements. I used to live in Chicago for a few years. Had a two-car garage that was utterly useless for using for my car, due to configuration on the lot (back of the house with a sharp turn in/out). Had to park outside in the driveway. After 3 years of that, I swore never again will I get into a frozen car on a daily/routine basis. I HATED that!!
As far as I'm concerned, a garage is guaranteed parking, keeps your car (more) safe, and eliminates the problem of dealing with the elements (extreme cold, heat, hail, snowstorms, etc.) So no, I wouldn't be inclined to buy a place without a garage.
I thought that too. Until I found a strange vehicle blocking my way into my garage. And this was in a subdivision of SF homes. I tried checking with the neighbors on either side and got no answer. So I hooked up my tow strap, put it in 4WD and dragged it out into the street. Park in my driveway and I will take matters into my own hands.
In our old house, we didn't have a garage and a shared driveway. When I first moved in, there wasn't any on-street parking. We usually parked in front of the house. But, some people would park way in back-or on our side of the driveway.
I thought that too. Until I found a strange vehicle blocking my way into my garage. And this was in a subdivision of SF homes. I tried checking with the neighbors on either side and got no answer. So I hooked up my tow strap, put it in 4WD and dragged it out into the street. Park in my driveway and I will take matters into my own hands.
Well, okay, true--I had a neighbor do that at my old neighborhood as well (parking in my driveway.) But at least in that instance, you have legal recourse to get 'em out of your way and claim your space, unlike trying to find parking on a street or in a parking lot.
^^ Can you widen your driveway? With county permit approval we're allowed to do that where I live. Lot's of people have done that here.
Lot's of houses here have also enclosed their garages to become living space. Those houses were NOT an option.
Some models have two garages where ONE bay, closest to the house was inclosed and the other one was still a garage. THAT I would have considered. But NO garage -- Hehl no.
To me, turning the garage into "people space" is, not to put too fine a point on it, one of the STUPIDEST things a homeowner can do.
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