Wilmette house with no back yard-thoughts? (buying, subdivision, fence)

[trickygal]

My husband and I found a great house that we really like in Wilmette, but it has a 3 foot back yard. Literally, it is a three foot sidewalk that divides the house from the neighbors fence next door. Now it does have a great side yard big enough for a swing set and a huge deck for entertaining.

We are from the city and couldn't care less about the back yard and I feel there are some quirks that we just have to accept when buying property in Wilmette, but what are your thoughts on resale? Anyone experienced in Wilmette properties have thoughts?

Thanks!

[chet everett]

The vast majority of suburban home buyers really prefer a lot that allows the house to be sited in a way that makes access / view of the back yard possible from kitchen and family room.

If the home you are considering does not have this, but offers other desirable features it might still make sense for you, so long as realize that this sort of problem is unlikely to be "remediable" short of buying the lot next to you and greatly expanding the home. Thus any discount you get will have to be made down the road when you choose to move.


All-in-all this might make sense, just go into it with your eyes open...

[trickygal]

Thanks so much Chet. I will check out the thread. Interesting that you point this out, as it is one of the main sticking points for not buying the house is that I can not see the backyard from my kitchen window.

[Chummy Waters]

If you were/are able to fence in the side yard, that would certainly help. A good number of people would not even entertain the idea of having an open side yard. Enclosed would certainly make it more palatable.
I really enjoy a good goulash from time to time.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Chummy Waters

...I really enjoy a good goulash from time to time.

[Rlest8]

As a productive realtor in the area I would suggest you keep looking. The lack of a back yard and not being able to see the side yard from the kitchen will eliminate many future buyers when time to sell. My advice-keep looking. Additional inventory will be coming on after Labor Day.

[cubssoxfan]

We bought our house in AH 13 years ago. It's a corner lot and the back yard out the kitchen is really a side yard. Large enough for a good size deck. The side yard is really a huge backyard and we could see the playset and about 1/4 of side yard from the eating area but not main kitchen area. We bought cheapest home in subdivision and generally have been happy. Biggest complaint is when we are on deck and neighbors are in back yard on their deck, it's too close. I wish we had more privacy and a "normal" back yard. Under similar circumstances I would buy this house again. But if I could use hindsight, I would have found a way to afford the extra $20-$25K needed to stay off the corner lot and have a "normal" back yard.

[ccjarider]

I agree with Cubsoxfan and am very glad we have nice AH backyard as opposed to corner lot. The relatively small $ difference is not worth the "bargain."

From resale standpoint, no need to compromise right now with amount of inventory on market.