Thread: Neighborhood or Estate

I'd go with the bigger 2-acre lot. NYspeedfreak is right when mentioning that there might be some future additions you'd like and if you buy a small lot in a neighborhood then you might be hindered from building in the future (keep in mind setback lines). Plus, you've gotta have room for the super garage you'll build some day! Best of luck and congrats on getting to build your home.

Yea guys, I'm a home builder and the wife has said that she doesn't want to move anymore. The neighborhood that we were looking at has really small lots for the houses to be worth close to $1 million. I can buy 2 or 3 acres very close to this area for less than 10 grand an acre. The neighborhood will charge me $200 grand for this type of land and I still wouldn't be able to get the pool, sport court and super garage I want without hearing my neighbors bitch, plus as far as the kids go, my neighbors would be a bunch of trust fund babies so I really wouldn't want my kids to grow up around that kind of attitude. Just my .02

my dad always told me to go in this order or budget

location of schools
location all together
land
quality of build
size
add ons.

Its not uncommon for the McMansion developments out my way to have 2 plus acres per house. Still a neighborhood in the sense that all the yards connect unless theres a fence around the property and that all the kids go to the same schools.

Originally Posted by redjeeper

Yea guys, I'm a home builder and the wife has said that she doesn't want to move anymore. The neighborhood that we were looking at has really small lots for the houses to be worth close to $1 million. I can buy 2 or 3 acres very close to this area for less than 10 grand an acre. The neighborhood will charge me $200 grand for this type of land and I still wouldn't be able to get the pool, sport court and super garage I want without hearing my neighbors bitch, plus as far as the kids go, my neighbors would be a bunch of trust fund babies so I really wouldn't want my kids to grow up around that kind of attitude. Just my .02

Sounds like you answered your own question. I agree. The estate seems to hold a greater overall value for you.

When's the party??

Having been raised in a neighborhood and also being raised on a 17 acre estate, I have some opinions on this matter. Although you are looking at 2 acres for your estate design, I would suggest 4-5 if you go this route. This leaves a lot of room for expansion and room to play for the kids. However the downside is, assuming there arent many homes around you, the kids will miss out on some things. I like both ideas, but for a kid, neighborhoods are so much fun! More friends, more things to do, more to explore etc.

So I suggest the nieghborhood if you are not getting 4-5 acres. Thats my opinion. Good luck with your decision!!

2 things...

1 . Location is the most important aspect of ANY real estate transaction.

2. Generally speaking...in life, you get what you pay for.

There's a reason for the price differences you mentioned. No one here can make this decision for you. Go with what works for you and your needs.

Best of luck.

This shouldn't even be a question. (IMO)
I'd go with as much land as you're willing to buy or can be found in the area in which you wish to build on. 10 would be great. 30 or 40 would be ideal. The more land the better IMO. 5 would be my absolute minimum.

Originally Posted by redjeeper

....... my neighbors would be a bunch of trust fund babies so I really wouldn't want my kids to grow up around that kind of attitude. Just my .02

Wait. Cancel my prior reply.

Your predisposed assumption has already decided this for you.
You should 6Ksf on a dime stamp lot. You'll understand why later.

Having grown up on 2+ acres my entire life I would never even consider living in a neighbourhood with houses jammed in like sardines. When I was younger I always wished I live closer to my friends in a neighbourhood but now that I look back I think it was actually beneficial for me to live where I did. Living on 2+acres taught me how to be a hard and diligent worker (my parents forced me to cut the grass/ clean the driveway/ work on the gardens). It kept me active since there was more room to play and use other toys (ie. snowmobiles, ATV's, dirtbikes, boats, sea doos, bikes). Although I did live near a forest, quarry and lake which was perfect for these activities! I think that not living close to friends may have also been beneficial for me as a child as well. Like you mentioned, living where I did prevented me from hanging out with the other wealthy, spoiled kids who got everything for nothing. I learned to work for what I got and was not influenced by the habits of other kids.

Not only this but a nice house on 2+ acres looks a lot better and has a lot more presence then the same house stuffed in a neighbourhood of similar houses side by side. Lastly, if you don't like your neighbours you are screwed if you live in a neighbourhood because they are always right there. If you live on 2+ acres your neighbours aren't going to bother walking over to your house to bother you.

Compare this with a house found in a neighbourhood...



much more "presence".