Why no yard Fences? (Dallas, San Antonio: homes, live, fencing)

[ETex2]

I would say that homes in at least 90% of urban and suburban neighborhoods have fenced back yards. I have no idea where you're getting this idea.

[cmabc123]

Thanks to everyone who posted a reply. Sorry if I upset anyone. I wasn't trying to insult Texas or anyone who lives there. Where I'm from there just seems to be fences EVERYWHERE. It feels very odd to me to walk out into a back yard and there be no privacy fencing.

Also, being from Oregon, spending most of my time on the coast, I can tell myself yes Texas has a drought but it's simply not the first response I make, being there is so much water in Oregon to go around - all the time.

Now I was primarily looking in the Wichita Falls area and most of the neighborhoods I've been looking at were lower income, around $20k for houses or less. At least the houses I shop for are priced around there.

It sounds like it just depends on the city/region on fencing. And it makes sense that grass wouldn't be watered in a drought. I will say, that one house on the block, the only one with a bright green yard, really looked odd.

Thanks again.

cm

[Pooua]

Not every home in Texas has privacy fencing. Chain link is popular, too.

All the homes in my neighborhood in Plano have fencing, 99% with privacy fencing.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by cmabc123

Thanks to everyone who posted a reply. Sorry if I upset anyone. I wasn't trying to insult Texas or anyone who lives there. Where I'm from there just seems to be fences EVERYWHERE. It feels very odd to me to walk out into a back yard and there be no privacy fencing.

Also, being from Oregon, spending most of my time on the coast, I can tell myself yes Texas has a drought but it's simply not the first response I make, being there is so much water in Oregon to go around - all the time.

Now I was primarily looking in the Wichita Falls area and most of the neighborhoods I've been looking at were lower income, around $20k for houses or less. At least the houses I shop for are priced around there.

It sounds like it just depends on the city/region on fencing. And it makes sense that grass wouldn't be watered in a drought. I will say, that one house on the block, the only one with a bright green yard, really looked odd.

Thanks again.

cm

I think your original post was rather silly. Texas is an enormous state. Why on earth would to try to associate what you found in Wichita Falls with the entire state? Oregon has fewer people than Houston alone does.

Different communities within a mid-size city in Texas may have different rules about fences due to HOA restrictions.

[High_Plains_Retired]

Cm,

Having been on the south plains for most of forty years, I know what you are looking at. I have a small rental house in Muleshoe, Texas that's close to your price range. It sits on a half-city block and has no fence and never has had one. No one in that neighborhood has fences in front or in back of their houses.

What most folks here are probably talking about are the neighborhoods where homes are selling for $75,000 and upward and are closer together. As opposed to the Muleshoe house, my old mid-1980s house (then about $39,000, now about $120,000?) in SW Lubbock had a rear yard privacy made of cedar from the time it was built.

Water is a tough issue right now in parts of Texas. All the grass, and even the weeds, on my Texas south plains farm are dead. I mowed once in 2011 and only because I bought some grassland that hadn't been mowed in probably 30 years.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by cmabc123

Now I was primarily looking in the Wichita Falls area and most of the neighborhoods I've been looking at were lower income, around $20k for houses or less. At least the houses I shop for are priced around there.

It can cost $2,000 - $3,000 to put up a wood privacy fence around a small yard, more if jackhammers are needed to remove the rock for post holes. Not many $20K homeowners can afford that. Much less pay for enough water during a drought to keep the grass green.

[BobTex]

Originally Posted by cmabc123

Hi,

I've been looking at residential real estate online for awhile now and I've noticed that few houses have fenced yards. I'm doing this by taking the listed address, putting it in Google maps and using the street view to tool around the area and see what it looks like, check proximity to stores, etc.

It seems as if most people do not water their grass and have no fences. One one block I was looking at only one person had green grass and it really stood out from everyone else. Is the lack of fencing typical in Texas? I'm from Oregon and it seems like EVERYONE has fences or hedges or something to define the boundaries.

It doesn't matter to be personally but I was just curious if I moved to Texas would I be looked at as strange to put up a fence?

Thanks,

cm

Texas is a big place.

[SVTRay]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

It can cost $2,000 - $3,000 to put up a wood privacy fence around a small yard, more if jackhammers are needed to remove the rock for post holes. Not many $20K homeowners can afford that. Much less pay for enough water during a drought to keep the grass green.

You beat me to it

Now you will see a lot of places with the back yard only fenced, our current neighbor and our old neighbor hood was/is this way.

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by cmabc123

Now I was primarily looking in the Wichita Falls area and most of the neighborhoods I've been looking at were lower income, around $20k for houses or less. At least the houses I shop for are priced around there.

That explains a bit. A nice privacy fence in that area could run you over 25% of the value of the house.

[texasdiver]

A lot of upscale suburban developments with large lots also prohibit privacy fencing in the HOA bylaws. I used to live in such a neighborhood. They would allow decorative metal fences but not the standard cedar privacy fence because they wanted to maintain the open ranch-like feel of the neighborhood. Of course those types of neighborhoods are not really what you are talking about and the large lot size and landscaping is what people us for privacy rather than fencing. For example. No fences are allowed in this subdivision near Waco:

210 White Tail Creek Dr China Spring TX - Home For Sale and Real Estate Listing - MLS #143245 - Realtor.com®