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Which do you prefer, a house on a hill, in a valley, or on a level lot?
Personally, I try to buy houses built on a hill (as long as the driveway isn't steep). I like being able to look out over nearby houses, and if there's a bad storm my house won't flood. Plus, my community isn't that high above sea level. So a house on a hill can have a nice basement, which means we have a room that's usually 5-10 degrees cooler than the rest of the house during the hot summers.
By the way, this was a a side topic touched on in another thread. Someone said she'd prefer a level lot to a house built on a hill. I wanted to respond but didn't want to high jack the thread, so I thought I'd start a new one. Kudos to the person who brought it up in the first place, it was a very interesting thing to say.
Provided I am not living in a mountainous region, I want a level lot.
My first house was at the bottom of a hill, and that was awful. When you live in a town full of multi-million dollar lake front homes and you make $30K a year (and rent for a 1 bedroom starts at $900-1000 with long waiting lists), you take what you can get in the $100-150K range and the lot doesn't get much consideration.
Current house has a level front yard and my very large back yard slopes downhill, then about 40 yards out, back uphill slightly. Not a level spot in the whole back yard. (Backyard is close to 3/4 of an acre.) This drive me crazy because it isn't usable. My family wanted to do a holiday barbecue at my house, but we would have to be out front, which is not ideal. No privacy. When my niece comes over, I have to set her pool up in the front yard and we play out there. I hate it. I would like to build a large deck in the back so I do have some usable space in the back, but my house is already over-improved, so it would be money wasted. I'm still on the fence, since this is not a forever home. I purchased during the winter- I didn't even SEE the backyard until the inspection day, and then it was still snow covered. I had did not realize that there wasn't a single level speck of land in all of the backyard until I owned the place. It wouldn't have prevented me from buying, as the inventory was very low, and my backyard is beautiful, but it is impractical.
Too many variables. Does the valley flood? Does the hill get lots of rain/snow so landslides are a possibility? What about other weather like tornadoes, or how about forest fires? Is it all alone or are their tons of houses around? What's the view?
As always, location - location - location is the biggest factor in your question.
Hill. I’ve seen way too many drainage issues on level lots - especially with flash flooding. We have to have at least a small slope to make my husband happy (engineer).
Base of a hill is a valley, no way. Mid way or up toward the top of a slope please. Even in snow country.
Level lot. Not in a flood plain. No question. I've seen houses in WV, PA, and the Ozarks where admonishing a child to "Go play in the yard" is a threat.
I’d prefer a house in the valley because I might be dependent on carrying water from the river.
In a developing country? Or at least living with plumbing?
I’d be able to enjoy a little status with a home higher up on a hill.
Here & now ?
A level lot please! I’ve got kids, n inflatable swimming pools, n trampolines ...
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