House hunting - I want my kids to have friends

AprilShowers04 · August 2012

So we are house hunting and we found a house that fits a lot of our specs. Here is the question what if you like the house but there aren't any kids in the neighborhood? My oldest is almost 7 and I really didn't want to wait for a neighborhood to flip.

This house does have the yard and flat driveway that we wanted. Is it worth it though with no buddies to play in it?

DomerJenC · August 2012

That'd be a deal breaker for me. It's so fun living on a street w/ lots of kids!

4EvR&4AlWz · August 2012

We passed up several homes that were awesome for the reason that there weren't any kids around. They werent in a neighborhood/plan though. Hence why we bought land in our same plan bc we love our plan.

waltsgirl102503 · August 2012

I have a 7 year old and while his school bus stop has 6 or 7 kids his age...none of them really come out to play. In fact, before he started kindy, I had no idea any of these kids even lived on our street! (I know, it's so odd!) It's hard at times, and I know he'd be outside playing more if he had buddies. But, if you like the house and everything else about the location, I'm not sure I'd not move there just on that reason alone. People move all of the time - and that can go both ways. You could buy a different house with kids next door and they could move tomorrow. Or someone could move in on your street shortly after you do.

Temp752290812504671 · August 2012

waltsgirl102503:
I have a 7 year old and while his school bus stop has 6 or 7 kids his age...none of them really come out to play. In fact, before he started kindy, I had no idea any of these kids even lived on our street! (I know, it's so odd!) It's hard at times, and I know he'd be outside playing more if he had buddies. But, if you like the house and everything else about the location, I'm not sure I'd not move there just on that reason alone. People move all of the time - and that can go both ways. You could buy a different house with kids next door and they could move tomorrow. Or someone could move in on your street shortly after you do.

Totally agree.

Meghan&Rich · August 2012

Ditto Amber. That definitely wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

Luckystar2 · August 2012

waltsgirl102503:
I have a 7 year old and while his school bus stop has 6 or 7 kids his age...none of them really come out to play. In fact, before he started kindy, I had no idea any of these kids even lived on our street! (I know, it's so odd!) It's hard at times, and I know he'd be outside playing more if he had buddies. But, if you like the house and everything else about the location, I'm not sure I'd not move there just on that reason alone. People move all of the time - and that can go both ways. You could buy a different house with kids next door and they could move tomorrow. Or someone could move in on your street shortly after you do.

Im leaning towards this way. One of my best friends when I was little was the girl down the street. She moved away at some point! I did play with a few other girls in the neighborhood. But by around 2nd grade I had a best friend through school and she didn't live near me. So we just went back and forth to each others' houses.

Like amber said you don't know who will move in or out. And just because there are kids in a neighborhood doesn't mean that your kid will get along with them enough. Even though I knew kids in my neighborhood my best friends were elsewhere so I wanted to play with them.

I guess it all depends on how much I loved the house and area and then I would look at the neighborhood and amount of kids. It wouldn't be a 100% deciding factor but would be something to consider.

gwennythepooh · August 2012

waltsgirl102503:
I have a 7 year old and while his school bus stop has 6 or 7 kids his age...none of them really come out to play. In fact, before he started kindy, I had no idea any of these kids even lived on our street! (I know, it's so odd!) It's hard at times, and I know he'd be outside playing more if he had buddies. But, if you like the house and everything else about the location, I'm not sure I'd not move there just on that reason alone. People move all of the time - and that can go both ways. You could buy a different house with kids next door and they could move tomorrow. Or someone could move in on your street shortly after you do.

I agree with this. I didn't think we had all that many young kids on our street, but slowly I'm seeing more and more.

october2004 · August 2012

Another ditto for Amber. It also depends on how picky you are about the house and location, too. If you are pretty confident that you can find something you like in a different street, then hold out.

AmandaJLewis · August 2012

So I did move into a neighborhood with a 'built in friend' for EJ... but that was not the main deciding factor in our decision. The house met all of our wants and needs and while it needs work, we are happy to take our time and make it what we envision it to be. It is awesome to have a playmate for her, I can't deny that. But I agree with the others who said their best friends once in school were not on my street. They were on the other side of town or a block or two away.

MandyMilller · August 2012

We live in a neighborhood now w/out many kids, but are moving to one w/ a bunch. I'm really looking forward to it b/c my DD loves playing with other kids, but I also agree w/ PPs that kids can move in or out, and you don't always know if they'll get along. It definitely factored into our decision that there were a lot of young families in this plan, but if I had loved another plan more it wouldn't have prevented us from building there.

Jcubed2003 · August 2012

I was given this advice when house hunting. The "kids in the neighborhood" thing only matters for so long. Then the kids will want to go and play with their friends from school which may not necissarily be the kids in the neighborhood. Something to consider.

Luckystar2 · August 2012

Ather thing to think about. Is this likely your forever home? If so I would certainly put less weight on the neighborhood kid issue. My parents moved into their house when I was 4. 28 years later they are still there. The fact that there was or was not kids in the neighborhood 28 years ago is a small factor. Sure it's nice and a bonus but if it's a house you love and an area you love, and you'll be living there a long time that is more important IMO. The amount of time I played with neighborhood kids is a fraction of the time my parents have lived there (and will continue to live there)

AprilShowers04 · August 2012

My daughter has a couple of buddies in our neighborhood. She started wanted to pal around with them more once she started school last year. When they aren't home she is bored and complaining. I also have two younger kids. They also visit with three women in our current neighborhood.

The house has a lot of what we want. I'm not sure it is the "one" though. I talked to the neighbor next door and she said she thought there were some kids on the corner. She said the neighbors are nice but keep to themselves. This concerns me since my kids are really social in our neighborhood.

AmandaJLewis · August 2012

AprilShowers04:
My daughter has a couple of buddies in our neighborhood. She started wanted to pal around with them more once she started school last year. When they aren't home she is bored and complaining. I also have two younger kids. They also visit with three women in our current neighborhood.
The house has a lot of what we want. I'm not sure it is the "one" though. I talked to the neighbor next door and she said she thought there were some kids on the corner. She said the neighbors are nice but keep to themselves. This concerns me since my kids are really social in our neighborhood.

Moving is stressful, I would keep looking because unless you are in love with the house it isn't worth the trouble ) This does seem like a deal breaker to you. So keep an eye out, something else will fit your needs and wants soon enough!

House hunting - I want my kids to have friends

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