A clicky WWYD...

brideonjuly8

DH and I found a builder we like in a school district we LOVE and a price we might just be able to afford.  The school district is the main thing.

BUT the neighborood is very tiny and does not have a park or a pool.  The pool isn't so much of a big deal, but the fact that there isn't a playground within walking distance really bugs me.  We walk at least 4-5 days a week and go to the park. 

There are lots of parks around within driving distance though.  And there might be one within walking dostance one day, but this small neighborhood kinda stands alone right now without anything around it yet.

[Poll]

joyco

There is a playground 4 houses down from our house, but it's attached to a school (not really a big deal, as we can "break in" after school is over if we wanted), but when we want to do a playground, we always hop in the car and head to another one about 3 miles away.  A playground would not make or break buying a house for us.  We're working on getting our own playground so we don't really have to go anywhere.    Hell, we  can't even really walk in our 'hood b/c there aren't any sidewalks!  So, by your standards, you'd never move to our neck of the woods (not that anyone would).  But we bought the house for the property more than anything, and the fact that there's a river park (no playground) with access to the Guadalupe.

fjaril

I gave up a playground in a walking distance and most days I'm fine with it, but others I hate it.

actually I gave up a lot of _my_ wants for this house, but it's beautiful, in a great school district and we can put in a pool. Oh and the view. That keeps me going, but I digress.

I think I could walk to 2 playgrounds, BUT we don't really have sidewalks up in the hills so I have to get over my fears (like every other person I see pushing a stroller) and walk. It's like a mile to the nearest parks which is walkable really, just not my ideal distance.

So what I'm saying is, how far are you really ok with walking? Is the yard going to be big enough to put in something fun to play at home if you don't feel like driving?

amyliisa

Ditto joyco. We have 2 parks within walking distance, which we do walk to often, but we also just as often get in the car and drive to others because they are better or just different. No park in the neighborhood right now would not be a deal-breaker for us, esp if we loved the neighborhood/school district.

ACR

I feel like the number of years I would be visiting the park with any kind of regularity would be way less than the number of years my kids will be in school...so I'd pick school over park.

I've never lived anywhere with a park in walking distance, so it doesn't seem strange to me to drive to one. Granted, we don't go all that often because I'd rather just play in the yard.

mlf625

Our house in Austin had a great park right across the street.  No park in walking distance to our new house, and it doesn't bother me in the least.  We either play in our yard or drive to a park.  No biggie to lose that, imo, especially for great schools!

ali-1411

School, definitely.  Good schools are invaluable.  We hardly ever use our neighborhood park.  And only when Jakob is in school, that's when I take Layna there.  Jakob and his friends are completely bored with the park, they've outgrown it.  Its mainly a hangout for teenagers.

I would have a harder time giving up the pool.  We go almost every day in the summer.

HSartteach

ACR:

I feel like the number of years I would be visiting the park with any kind of regularity would be way less than the number of years my kids will be in school...so I'd pick school over park.

I've never lived anywhere with a park in walking distance, so it doesn't seem strange to me to drive to one. Granted, we don't go all that often because I'd rather just play in the yard.

This is my feelings.  While at the moment, I miss the park that was by our old house and think of how nice it would be to be able to walk, but in the long run, L plays in the yard and with the boy across the street, so no biggie to me.  Besides, in the Texas summer--who wants to walk to the park

Abrooks

Since my oldest will start school in 2012 - I am going w/ school district.  You can always find a park. You can buy a playset for your yard. You can take a walk in the neighborhood. You cannot however easily change school districts. When we bought 5 years ago, I thought no way would we still be in our house when we needed to think about school. Wrong.  And now we will be paying for private school b/c I don't care for our district (unless we find a great affordable home in an awesome district in the next 12 months.)  School is their foundation for life.  Drive to a park and build in the good district.

maribel922

Y'all are so lucky to have parks so close by!  I am jealous!  Our neighborhood has no park, other than a school park and it stinks.  I am used to driving 10 minutes to get to a park, so I don't see it as a big deal.  Schools are way more important, IMO.  

oliverncherie

special snowflake.... do any of the schools have playgrounds? and you could drive to a park...

mcgee

I said maybe. In general, I'd choose school over a playground any day, especially if you can afford to put a playscape in your backyard.

That said, whether or not I'd say go for it and build a new house really depends on a lot of other factors like do you have a house to sell now? Can you break even or make a profit, or would you have to sell at a loss? Your son is still young - what are the odds that he'd still go to that elementary school in a few years? How big is the elementary the new house is zoned for and how close to or overcapacity are they? If the school is bursting at the seams, there's a decent chance boundary lines could be redrawn as new schools are added. I'm not saying don't buy, but I'd definitely check the district's website and check the boundary map carefully.