Townhomes and backyards question (Charlotte, Raleigh: hoa, maintenance, landscaping)

[raccemup]

This has probably been asked before but I never saw any meaningful info about this here or anywhere, lol. Are there townhomes in the Raleigh area that have actual backyards? Not a courtyard or a common area... but an actual piece of land that can be fenced in for dogs? I'm just curious... I've never seen one here in almost 6 years. We'd like to move one day and we would consider a townhome if this were possible. We have 3 dogs that love/need their backyard (ok, im a little lazy and don't want to walk 3 dogs 4 times a day). So I won't move if they can't have that. They're just a little spoiled.

[JJingle]

I've seen a couple Ryan subdivisions like you describe in Richmond (VA) but never in Raleigh or Charlotte. (As a side note, I was only looking for new construction.)

[mdp_az]

I'm not sure if there are any around here or not, but if there are, they certainly are not the norm. That is a shame, too, because I think the lack of a true yard is one of the biggest deterrants to folks not buying a townhome when they otherwise would.

When we moved to Flagstaff in 1999, we looked at some townhomes and most of them had a fenced backyard that was about .05 acres...large enough! We were very pleased with that as dog owners. In fact, so many had true back yards that those without were automatically struck from our list.

[mommiewrites]

I had a friend who lived in one off of durant road (but the other side of it-across capital) in a new community and if I remember correctly, she had a small fenced in backyard. Can't remember the name though...it was a cute townhome too!

[toodie]

There's a townhome community in North Raliegh called Whitehall, and they have fenced-in yards. It's a beautiful place in a central location. Older, with established landscaping with large trees.
Can't even remember how to get there now though.
toodie

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by raccemup

This has probably been asked before but I never saw any meaningful info about this here or anywhere, lol. Are there townhomes in the Raleigh area that have actual backyards? Not a courtyard or a common area... but an actual piece of land that can be fenced in for dogs? I'm just curious... I've never seen one here in almost 6 years. We'd like to move one day and we would consider a townhome if this were possible. We have 3 dogs that love/need their backyard (ok, im a little lazy and don't want to walk 3 dogs 4 times a day). So I won't move if they can't have that. They're just a little spoiled.

Your dogs are large aren't they? Wouldn't you like something like a quarter acre?
It is hard to find townhomes with any really spacious back yards.

I did a quick search of all active TH's in Wake County with minimum .1 acre lot, and came up with about 30. But several of them were errors, i.e., there really isn't a townhome with a 3 acre lot available...

And the remainders are a mixed lot, from very small to $1,000,000 range in MacGregor.

It might be doable to find a small ayrd, but I think it would take some careful qualifying of the home, and flexibility in the other home amenities.

[raccemup]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

Your dogs are large aren't they? Wouldn't you like something like a quarter acre?
It is hard to find townhomes with any really spacious back yards.

yeah that's the problem. 2 large dogs and 1 small one. We currently have a .20 acre lot but we are not happy with our neighborhood. Sooo... we either stay or go to a smaller home in a better location which is fine but in our price range, anything in a desireable area will most likely be a townhome. So yeah.. i guess we are staying put for the "kids". At least for a little while...


PS did I mention how lazy we are? lol At this point, low maintenance living is looking very inviting!

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by raccemup

yeah that's the problem. 2 large dogs and 1 small one. We currently have a .20 acre lot but we are not happy with our neighborhood. Sooo... we either stay or go to a smaller home in a better location which is fine but in our price range, anything in a desireable area will most likely be a townhome. So yeah.. i guess we are staying put for the "kids". At least for a little while...


PS did I mention how lazy we are? lol At this point, low maintenance living is looking very inviting!

I'm afraid I am evolving that direction myself...

[VickiR]

Thats the whole point in buying a townhouse...someone to do the yard...someone to maintain the exterior (although thats not always the case)!

Most townhouses do have a small AREA that can be fenced (must check HOA covenants) but large dogs need more space, I would think.

With a townhouse, you do own a small amt. of yard. Perhaps if it were an end unit townhouse, you may get more yard.

Vicki