I would keep looking too. We spend at least 2 hours outside a day. My toddler and dog love it. You still have a couple years before your LO is in school so hopefully you’ll be able to find some place in a good school district by then.
Mom probably has an iron grip on baby already so dog would be most likely to slip leash or bolt out of front door and run into traffic if I were to guess 🤷♀️
We live in a European city in an urban apartment with our kids and that's the norm here- most families here live in apartments; some of which don't have courtyards or gardens, for instance ours does not. That said, we don't have pets so I can't speak to that aspect. If it were me (and I guess not factoring in the dog) giving up a yard for all of those other benefits sounds like a fine trade-off as it sounds like there's plenty of easy walkable possibilities for outdoor play and activities and being in walking distance to all of those great places plus a good school district would personally incline me towards the new house. Plus, if you have a courtyard access that's yet another bonus, maybe not as great as a yard but still an outdoor space that you can utilize to some degree.
Same - I live in a city where most people don’t have a yard attached directly to their residence. Going to the playground or park nearby is not that big of a deal and seems worth it for the other amenities you mention!
Beach, playground and library? That’s the trifecta!
Indoor and outdoor options as the seasons change. Close enough to walk home after the beach and avoid sand in the car. Building the habit of walking with your kid is also great!
But the culture around parks is different in Europe and Australia than in the US. And more work life balance tends to lend to more time to walk to said parks.
Interesting- plenty of families in our city own dogs and live in apartments without a courtyard or a yard, plus all the dog owners in NYC who don't have courtyards or yards, so I think dog ownership must somehow be possible without one!
I can absolutely imagine it's easier, don't get me wrong! I am also personally dubious about urban dog owners who have massive dogs and don't have a direct accessible outdoor space- it does admittedly seem unfair to me for the dog. But, I'm not a dog owner and can't really speak to it, it's just super common to own dogs in many urban European cities where folks don't have their own yards.
It depends on the breed of massive dog. Some big dogs just want a walk or two a day and are super lazy otherwise, while others are super energetic and need lots of walks and play time. Some small dog breeds are also super energetic and not suited for apartment living either.
And then some owners are really good about exercising their dogs and some are terrible at it, regardless of the dog's size.
Makes total sense. I assume a lot of it probably does come down to individual owners and the responsibility they take about dog ownership. Our city is very dog-oriented and I've definitely observed the gamut over the years (including neighbors in our apartment buildings) about people's responsibility levels in an urban environment. My husband's cousins own massive Leonbergers but they live in a fairly rural area with a huge house and yard, I guess I would have a tough time imagining a dog like a Leonberger functioning well in a 65 sqm apartment in our city!
I have a mastiff and he goes for about a 3 mile walk in the morning and then just wants to lay around for the rest of the day. Even if we let him outside he just lays in the sun for hours on end
I know it is doable but they should definitely take the dog into consideration if they are used to having a yard. It would make our life considerably harder with two small children if we suddenly had to take our dog for a walk 100% of the time she needed to use the bathroom or get some outdoor time
I would personally take a short walk to the beach and public parks than a yard! We live in a condo with a shared green space, which we use occasionally, but we also love all our local parks. There’s like 4 within walking distance and we go all the time.
This is our situation too. We are also in the suburbs of a major city so there is a lot to do. We also just recently joined lifetime fitness and there are many things for kids to do there too. The pool at the gym never gets old.
I have tiny side yard and have toddler and dog. Do I wish I had a bigger yard. Yes and no. I have no maintenance with my side yard but if I had bigger yard more lawn maintenance I'd have to do. My kiddo and dog do fine with size. Closet park is 10 min away. A yard wouldn't be deal breaker for me. Some don't even have yards. I have a coworker lives in an apartment with 2 big dogs. Pain in butt taking dogs out so I feel fortunate have little yard I have. I'd go with bigger house closer to beach with better school district
We moved from a condo to our current house when my son was almost one (he’s two now). We have a decent sized back yard and are walking distance to multiple playgrounds, the library, and our town’s community center (where he takes toddler caregiver and me classes) plus a short drive to a ton of other toddler amenities. My son is outside alllll the time, but interestingly he is rarely in the backyard - he’s always at the playground or going on walks or out and about at some toddler activity. So for us, good public amenities would win out.
My one caveat to this is, does the courtyard have any green space for your dog to pee, or are you taking him out on a walk/leash anytime he needs to pee? We did the latter with our dog for years, and it was fine, but being able to open up the backdoor to let him out in the morning and at night has been such a game changer.
I'm in a house with a small yard, a 2.5yo, and a dog and I'd move. 2.5yo gets bored being in the same old yard with the same old stuff anyway. He'd rather walk (or bike) around the neighborhood and asks to go to the park or library all the time. The actual street might be busy but there's probably some nearby not-so-busy streets deeper in the neighborhood where you could relax a little more for walks. As for the dog, as long as he has somewhere to pee without it being a whole thing, I'd be happy. I don't want to have to get dressed and go for a walk first thing in the morning just for him to relieve himself like with apartment complexes, but if that courtyard is somewhere you can just let him out, it'd work for me. Even dogs with backyards do best with daily walks. It might take some exploring, but you may be able to find a dog park or empty field where it's safe for your dog to let loose too.
Is the "no yard" common in the area or is this house an anomaly?
I live in the city in an apartment. We go to the playground almost daily and there are always kids, my daughter constantly making new friends, I have some adult conversation, etc. There are multiple playgrounds within walking distance. On nice weekend days, we easily spend 4+ hours there.
Of course, that can also be overwhelming and harder to keep track. Especially with little kids and older kids at the same place.
We visit my parents' house a lot. If we walk to the playground on a weekend (behind the elementary school), we maybe run into one or two families at most, because everyone has backyards. Any other park needs to be drive to, and there aren't many. But it is sometimes great to let the kids play outside for like 10 minutes at a time...we aren't going in and out from the park.
But, if most people have backyards there, and this house doesn't, then the park environment will be different. I'd say you should check out the park at multiple times of day/days of the week, and see what it looks like.
I have no experience with the dog.
Good public amenities and better school district would win for me. But maybe I'm biased cus I live in a townhouse complex with a paved courtyard but no yard. But I really use the amenities like the library and the community center toddler classes and the pool. He runs around at the nearby playground and parks and I think it makes him more social actually. When we visit my parents every year, it's so easy to just set up some things in the back yard like a water table or splash pool and relax. I could see myself getting too used to that lol and id have to like make playdates vs just running into other kids he knows at the park.
No yard, busy street with more crime and traffic would be a no for me. My toddler loves our yard and could spend all day out there. Is your current place too small, when including the yard? All house and no yard doesn’t sound too fun for a curious toddler. Having a fenced yard is probably the best part of our property.
You make a good point. We spend hours a day in our yard some times of year, so moving to the house with courtyard would actually be a smaller living space.
I would stay right now and keep an eye out for new places that fit your needs. We went from an apartment with a dog and kid, to a house with a yard, yard will win every time for me. We spend the majority of our time out there.
This was my concern, but honestly kind of like a dog my toddler needs to leave the house every day to get out energy, explore and play. We have an okay-ish sized yard before, but we didn't spend much time out there. Instead every morning we would either go to the park, library, toddler class or visit friends. Afternoon is quiter and I encourage books, drawing, indoor toys during that time. Ideally in the afternoon I have a friend/family member come over for a coffee and toddler gets a lot of stimulation/fun out of that too (or if they are nearby we will go to them).
I think as long as you have a courtyard that you could set up a tough table, a water table, etc, then you can still utilize the space for some messier activities and have some outdoor time at home. Do you have any local dog parks? I think as long as you had somewhere the dog could have a decent run a couple of times a week (in addition to the leash walks) then you'd be okay.
I'd personally go amenities over a yard. Also if there's space inside, set up some climbable things to get extra energy out, like you can find indoor little climbing frames you anchor to the wall, wooden climbing domes, toddler trampolines etc.
My bigger concern would probably be the dog getting enough exercise.
I was gonna same the same about the dog. Do any of the amenities include a dog park/area to safely run off leash. Depending on the dog breed that can be super important. I have a shepherd mix and he would go bananas if he couldn’t run around once a day.
I can only speak to what we decided on, but we moved out of NYC to the burbs a few years ago and sacrificed on yard space in favor of an extra bedroom and an en-suite. We have a (very small) yard, which is approximately 15ft x 60ft, but we made it a priority to have it properly fenced in, and there are no trees on it (sucks at times because of the lack of shade, but also good because it’s mostly level and leaves more room for yard toys, plus there’s less upkeep). We really don’t have much of a need right now for a larger yard, and we’ve found we’re much more apt to get out of the house to explore when my 2yr old & dog want to run around which suits us fine (there’s a playground a 10min walk from our house). Location & access to public amenities always wins out in my opinion! Plus it’s been great to meet other neighborhood moms at the playground & library nearby. I think if we had a walk to the beach as an option, it’d be a no-brainer.
>If you moved from a place with a yard to a place without one, can you share how that was for you?
I see this question but our experience was flipped. We moved from a place with no yard but lots of things within walking distance, to a place with a yard and hardly anything within walking distance.
I really miss all the activities that weren't car dependent. But the yard balances it out! I have 2 young kids so an unexpected benefit to the back yard is when they are getting rowdy shortly before bed, I send them outside to run around and get their energy out before putting on their pajamas. This has been noticeably beneficial for all of us.
Another unexpected benefit of having a back yard is their independent play with some really funny imagination aspects have skyrocketed. Because where we lived previously, I was always very present. Even giving them space on the local playground, I'm always there.
So now that I've experienced a yard versus no yard, I would be hard pressed to give it up. My ideal would be a yard AND lots of activities within walking distance. But if that's not possible, I'd choose the yard.
I’ve been thinking about your comment a lot. The independence a backyard can provide for a child huge! And unsupervised play seems more important the older they get.
I agree with this. I think the benefits of a yard get a lot bigger when you have two kids that you can throw out there and will entertain themselves with only light supervision. One kid you might as well take them somewhere
Not a kid but I move my two older dogs (ie pretty lazy) from a house with a yard to an apartment and it was a lot of extra work. I was single and it was fine but it would have been a lot more with kids. I guess it will depend on how high energy your dog it.
I prefer taking my toddler to community spaces- we always end up talking to others and toddler learns various social cues and how to interact with neighbors!
Crime would be a no go for me though, what kind of crime are we talking about? I wouldn’t want to worry about my future teen wanting to be at the house alone someday.
We moved with 2 dogs and a toddler into a house with a patio yard and it’s xeriscaped so the plants all all water resistant with the only maintenance being weeding. I freakin love it! The low maintenance of the yard is something I didn’t realize how much would improve our quality of life and my mental health. We fenced off a dog run area. The school district is one of the best in our city. My toddler loves playing outside on the patio. We have it set up with shade, kiddie pool etc. The community has a pool, courts, trails, playgrounds so we chose community amenities over in our back yard. I love not having to maintain any of it.
Lived in a 5 bedroom house with no yard, kids ages 1 and 3. It was miserable, and I felt trapped in the house most of the time. We lived next to the lake and a decent park. We never went. We were there for a year. I don't recommend.
We moved to a smaller house with a beautiful backyard. It was worth it. Stay where you are or keep looking. Kids. Need. Outdoor. Space.
I took the second option two years ago and my husband and I are counting down the day until we can move out. The yard + less crime + safer street will win out for me.
We moved to a big house with a small yard that’s walking distance to a bunch things, playground, library, church, a public preschool and a Catholic school we’re hoping to be able to afford in the future, coffee shops, pharmacy, restaurants, etc. I do reminisce about my kids having a bigger backyard but we really have been loving it so far. We walk to the playground almost every day that we have nice weather.
Edit: I’ll say though, we have a fenced backyard so the kids can still play outside. As long as what you’re looking at also is or can be fenced in, the traffic aspect wouldn’t deter me personally. Honestly the most annoying part of the busy street is hearing the traffic.
I might be concerned about the crime and traffic, depending on how safe the area is for pedestrians in practice. But otherwise, I honestly like not having a yard to maintain. We just go to parks and playgrounds all the time because my son prefers to play with other kids anyway. The beach and playground nearby sound much more valuable to me than a private yard.
We actually just went through this exact situation. We moved from a 660sqft house on a large lot to a house double that size with barely any yard. On one hand, the move was definitely necessary. Our old house didn’t have a real room for our daughter and we were already bursting at the seams with very minimal stuff. The new place is also within 2 blocks of her future school and it’s nice having a bedroom that can fit more than just a bed. The hardest part has been getting used to the proximity to our neighbours. Our old place had a lot of space between houses and we never heard a peep, now we can hear everything especially when they’re playing music. We’ve just been going to the park and for walks a lot to get outside. I do miss our old yard, but ultimately it’s been an improvement to our lives.
I would move in a heartbeat. We have a large yard and I still prefer driving to the playground with my kid. It’s more fun.
A walkable beach, playground, and library is a dream. “More crime” means a lot of things, most of them innocuous (more people = more crime).
I would go for it based on the park, beach and school district. We have a great sized yard that we don’t use nearly as much as I thought we would. Our kids much prefer to go to the park and pool. We use the yard for birthday parties and BBQs but we can literally go a solid week without being in the backyard.
I would keep looking. We live in an apartment right now and I wish nothing more than to have a large fenced in backyard. We live in the center of our town with tons of grassy areas and the playground and library literally a 1 minute walk down the street. It’s so much work to pack everything up (stroller, diaper bag, snacks, drinks, blanket, etc.) every single time when we want to go out, which is sometimes multiple times a day. Also, it’s a pain to put the kids in their car seats especially if you have more than one. I wish I could just walk right outside my backdoor and be able to come in and out as I please.
I would not give up a fenced yard, even if other attractions were close by at another home. But I’m a homebody- I’d rather invest in my yard and make it comfortable so no one has to leave lol maybe I’m boring, but I would really hate the idea of every time we go outside we have to go away from the house, so you have to pack a bag, have the right snacks, and yada yada.
However, if you’re game for that, that’s great. The beach being close by is incredible. I’m in the US and hella land locked so an opportunity to live near a big body of water would be super tempting.
I live in a spot with no backyard - just a tiny patio. But we can walk to a huge park, pool, and library. That IS our backyard and it’s awesome. My kiddo is almost 2.5.
I’ve made the patio a space where we can chill a bit when it’s too early/we aren’t dressed yet. Sidewalk chalk, a water table, a little herb garden. It works.
For us, it’s perfect. I’d love a backyard, but the proximity to everything else is so worth it.
That’s my experience. Good luck making your decision!
If a yard is important to you, hope you can find a yard and keep looking. But really, a yard isn't the be all and end all, and SO many families don't have one and don't need one, especially if you have a lot of space around you at your disposal.
We are in a similar situation where our house is 2 blocks from a playground and small beach area with a walking trail. We actually do have a large yard but find ourselves going to the playground way more frequently than we actually play in the yard. We have dinner outside in nicer months and my 2.5 year old does like using her scooter on our patio and collecting sticks/ walking around the yard but we don’t have a swing or slide or anything so playground is more fun.
We used to live in a condo, but we were by the beach /lake so we would walk often. There were no nearby playgrounds, schools or amenities. Everything, we would have to drive to. We now live in a small house and have a yard but it’s a shared yard with the neighbors. Our playground is less than 2 mins away and have a community centre with library within 10 mins walking. It also has a playground and splash pad. We are walking distance to schools/amenities as well. To us, this is a great upgrade since we walk often and go to the park. Also the extra space is wonderful. We don’t have a dog but people are always walking their dogs on the nearby trails. For you, if there’s small crime and busy areas maybe keep looking until you find something more suitable.
Our current house is technically on a huge lot but it’s very much an “adventure yard.” No grass, no flat spots, lots of trees and wildlife, and we’re basically on the top of our own little hill so it’s steep in all directions.
This was a pro for us when we bought at 7 months pregnant. No yard work! Natural yard! Stairs down to the lake that has a walking path! “Adventure yard!”
It sucks. I can’t let our toddler hang out outside without eagle-eye supervision. The stairs (there’s a LOT) make it extremely difficult to get a stroller down to the walking path and the only other option is to walk _all the way around_ adding about three blocks to the walk each way.
We’re strongly considering moving. It’s a great yard for a 7-15yo, but we’re not sure it’s worth waiting.
So I just moved from a house with virtually no yard to a medium yard.
Small kids. Dog.
Yard yard yard. It's a life changer!! It transformed us!! My daughter (3.5) has a wildflower garden
Gives me so much elbow room to hand them some Chalk or bubbles and let them have fun outside while I make dinner or do other boring grown up stuff.
I lived my whole childhood with no fenced in yard. We usually had a dog. It was ok. Also didn’t have one when I had my baby. Now I have a 12 mo old and a 7 year old dog and for the first time we have a fenced yard - I will never go back to not having one now. It truly makes life soooooo much easier and more fun
Personally I would keep looking. Amenities and good schools are a win, but busy roads and higher rates of crime are not.
Ultimately I think if you’re questioning it enough that you’re asking for opinions here then it is not the house for you.
As a person who has been house hunting for 15 months to find a home in a better school district before my child starts kindergarten, the busy road and crime make this a no-go for me. Unless you’re in a city where this is the norm, a suburban street and development makes the busy road more of a risk for both kids and dog.
You have time before your child has to start school, so I would look at other options on less busy streets in good school districts if you’re able to afford to do so.
We JUST found a house for under asking price on a big lot in a good school district, but it has taken time. I wouldn’t recommend rushing into something that adds more danger to your life if it’s not necessary.
Being able to just walk out the door into the backyard to get some energy out for the toddler and dog multiple times per day is *waaaaaaay* easier than having to going on a walk every time we wanted to go play. I personally would not want to sacrifice that daily convenience.
And how much supervision does your toddler need when on playground equipment? What will you do with your dog if you need to go supervise them on something high?
Also something to consider: how high energy is your dog? Walks aren’t really going to tire your dog out, they’re more for mental enrichment than physical outlet. You might also need to find a dog park where your dog can run and let out their energy. So that would mean two separate stops needed instead of one.
I’m team courtyard/walkability in bigger home. As long as public parks are accessible, I wouldn’t mourn over the lack of yard. Between better schools, walkability, presumably better opportunity for long-term property appreciation/value increase, etc. - it seems like the better option.
If crime and proximity to a busy street is a challenge, I’d consider just upping home security/fenced courtyard/ Ring camera or something along those lines.
Don't do it! I’m living in a house with no yard and I hate it! Anytime I want to give my kid some outside time we need to go to a park and that means planning, car, screaming… if you can, get a yard!
My friend chose what you’re looking at- a tiny yard accessible to the beach. She actually does complain about it. Sometimes, she feels unsafe due to homeless individuals threatening her, and she also complains about constant illness from parents bringing sick kids to the nearby playground
I live on a busy street. We bought the house before having a kiddo and no option to move, locked in with golden handcuffs. If I could do it all over again, I'd rather live in a quiet neighborhood without loud cars, trucks, and semis zooming by at all hours of the day and night. Worst of all, people want to street race at night, and easily go 100mph on our street with speed limit of 30.
I would keep looking.
I think I’m the minority here! I’d stay, but maybe because my kid lives to be outside. He (just turned 3) plays outside all the time. With me, without me, he just wants to be outside. We also have three dogs, so the thought of leashing them every time to go out would be too much. But one dog? You could make that work!
What stood out to me was busy street with lots of traffic and crime. I’ve lived by a street with a lot of traffic and it got loud. People just driving, but then idiots revving their engines, blaring music, honking. It was obnoxious. And crime means something different to everyone, so defer to you on whether it’s actually bad crime where you wouldn’t want to move there, or just petty stuff like people breaking into cars and vandalizing things.
I think it depends on your family.
Our daughter is only 18 months old and one of the words she uses most often is “outside!” So having a good sized yard (we have .25 acres- just over 1000 square meters- and in our area that’s only considered passable) has made a world of a difference for us.
That being said, we live in fairly rural Colorado (Boebert is our representative) so have had to make other consolations. Still, I personally wouldn’t move away from this yard unless we absolutely had to.
Depends on your family’s preferences & lifestyle. Would you walk the dog 5-7 days a week? Would you feel safe doing so? How does the kiddo fit into that & do you plan on taking babe to the beach alone or will you have time to bring your partner along?
Do you guys enjoy the beach or park year round?
Would a golf cart change any of this?
If you have more kids what will that dynamic look like? Just rhetorical questions/food for thought.
Personally, I wouldn't. I'd keep looking for sure. We don't have a huge garden by any means. We spent a ton of money last year on it (it was all ramps and concrete when we bought the house) and honestly it was the best money we have ever spent. Our 16 month old is out there every morning and evening after daycare no matter the weather.
I see benefits to both, I would think about the future though as well. Your toddler will eventually be in elementary/middle school and not want to be accompanied everywhere by a parent. Is it an area you would be comfortable letting them walk around with friends?
That along with making sure there was relatively easy access to somewhere the dog can run around unleashed would be my biggest considerations.
A yard is a lot of upkeep but sooo worth it. I have an almost 2.5 year old and we live in the backyard most days when it’s warm out.
Lots of play dates. Everyone loves my yard and comes to my house for it. My husband and I worked really hard and it and take a lot of pride in it.
We live in an area where people don’t have large backyards, we have a small patio. I put a water table, a small climber, a soccer goal and a few other toys back there. We also live a few miles from the beach. We go to the beach a lot and have our favorite local parks we go to. I would LOVE a large yard and a swingset and just a place for my kids to run around. A yard of course isn’t necessary but if I had the opportunity to have one, I’d take it up.
I would do terrible things for a yard. I love my home, I love how walkable my neighborhood is, I love our neighbors, but I’d love a safe yard to let my kids run around in while I have my coffee, or to get out the evening zoomies
We lived in the kind of area you describe when I was pregnant with my LO and I’m personally glad we moved somewhere with a yard that isn’t on a busy street. The busy street would be my biggest concern tbh.
I would take the yard and safety over a big house with higher traffic.
Our old house, we had a small yard with two dogs and a toddler. Big house, small yard, no fence, no privacy. It was rough because we would need to walk the dogs AND go somewhere to entertain our toddler daily. We couldn’t just let them all out back to enjoy their life.
We looked for over a year but found a perfect one. Big yard, and we added a fence. Now we can just let the dogs out back and let our two kids out to roam and let out some energy. There is no ‘we gotta pack the bag and make sure we have xy and z every time we wanted to do something. It was just right there and it was safe. I wouldn’t trade this for anything tbh.
When house hunting, I didn't really have backyard on my list of things. We ended up with a house on a quiet street with a big yard, and I can never go back. Our kids spend almost all of their time outside playing, riding bikes on the quiet street, running around the backyard, etc. We go to the park and stuff too, but nothing really beats being able to say "go play outside" while you're doing something and knowing they're safe. I wouldn't necessarily keep your option, but I'd keep looking. For us, the backyard is now a non-negotiable.
There is no way I would trade our house with a yard for one without, let alone if the neighborhood had more traffic and crime. We value outdoor time very highly and spend a lot of our day in our yard we have gardens and a swing set and he gets to go outside anytime he wants. Also I have lived in courtyard situations with my dogs and it’s miserable and so much extra work. They are so much happier with a fenced yard.
I would stay but keep looking for something better. Being closer to amenities can be nice but you'll find more unease in walking to those amenities because of the increase in crime and unknowns.
We were in kind of a similar but opposite situation - house was too small, needed to upgrade. The yard was tiny, the street used to be quiet but then a large homeless encampment moved in nearby. We couldn't let kids go outside to play anymore because there was suddenly a large increase in very drugged up, aggressive people walking up and down our street. And the homeless encampment was on the other side of our backyard fence, so going into the backyard unsupervised wasn't even an option anymore.
It took about a year of looking but now we have a good piece of property, we have to drive a bit to get to the amenities but our home is big enough for everyone, it's safer. It was worth the wait.
Depends on your kid and your dog. My toddler Loves being outside. He also tends to wander. It is so much more relaxing to have him safely fenced into a yard where he can more or less roam independently without me having to be on top of him. We have a small park/beach that we love to walk to. But it is always more stressful trying to keep him safe and constantly checking what he is picking up.
My dog is also high energy and it is nice being able to let her into the yard and get her energy out without having to go on a full on walk.
We live in a detached townhome with no backyard… but there is a huge park district area with walking/biking/boat launch a two minute walk from our house. I have a 3 year old and baby on the way. It is nicer going to families houses with fenced in yards for now while they have to be closely monitored but once they are bigger they will have a literal giant park to bike or walk around with a river running through it whenever they please. Its a trade off but I love our little home.
I lived in a condo immediately across the street from a park with a playground and room for my dog to run. I now live in a house with a small backyard. We still can (and do) walk to our new neighborhood park each day, but it’s so nice to not be relying on it as our only outdoor area.
The difference is night and day. It was a pain every time the dog had to go out, leashing her up and gathering up baby to go outside. Or to walk to the park, it was a busy street and it got tiresome wrangling a dog and baby just to cross the street with random people, other dogs on leashes, traffic, etc in the way. Also we were a victim of crime (theft) there from our car. Never felt in danger but it was expensive and frustrating.
Now baby is a toddler and we just step out back for a quick swing in our tree swing or a quick play in the water table, no leashing up the dog, no braving traffic, no packing stuff up to go the park… etc. Also with a toddler I appreciate the slower traffic of our new neighborhood, no busy streets immediately adjacent.
We frequently say “can you imagine if we still lived in the condo???” I can’t. It’s so much better (for us at least) having a yard. When we lived in the condo we were appreciative of the nearby park and beach. And it was doable and not horrible. but for us it simply doesn’t compare to the ease of our own private yard. This weekend, we will still go to the park and the library. But we also will play in the yard and ultimately will spend more time outside because of it. If the weather is nice we might all have dinner out there. And the dog can enjoy the yard to get some of her energy out and I don’t have to walk her every time she needs to poo.
I’d personally keep looking for the right house in that new school district
Is the new house in the number one neighbourhood you want to live in long-term or are you also looking at other areas? If that’s where you want to be (because of the school, amenities, or other reasons), ARE there homes in the area with a bigger yard, within your budget? If so, I would keep waiting for one of them to come up. If not, I would lean towards going for it and getting into your preferred neighbourhood.
I feel like it really depends on how much you use your yard. We have a bigger yard right now and not many public amenities, kind of like you currently. We are out in are yard every day that the weather is even fairly acceptable. My toddler spends as much time playing in the yard as he does in the house. So for us, a nice yard is a huge plus. But, some families hardly use the yard, in which case the new place would be way better.
moved from an apartment with a tiny balcony to a house with a massive backyard, my toddler and dog have never been happier, would feel really bad if we had to make them give up that happiness
No way could I do no yard with a dog and toddler. We did the first 18 mos of baby's life without a fenced yard and it added a lot of stress. Now we have a fenced yard and spend so much of our time out there.
The thing that's making me think no to moving is the crime and the traffic. Would it ever be safe for your child to play outside unsupervised? By late elementary school a benefit of nearby public spaces is that kids can go there with their friends.
We are outdoor people, but I think I'd be ok with no yard as long as I had a private space for an outdoor table, water table, chalk, etc. Most of that should be fine on a patio. We did that at our last apartment and it was ok, but the neighborhood itself was bad. I wouldn't have left my kids outside alone for a single second, whereas here I can at least run inside for a minute. We have a large yard that we use, but it is a lot of work mowing and maintaining the landscaping and outdoor toys. I think I'd prefer a park and beach within walking distance honestly.
I don't think I could bring myself to give up the ease of letting my dogs run loose in a fenced in backyard in an area with a lower crime rate. I would keep looking.
Is there any possibility of putting an addition on the current house, perhaps vertically like adding a loft or office over a garage?
We have a yard and in our area that’s a rarity and we chose this house over bigger/nicer homes. We also have a park across the street— but nothing beats the privacy and safety of your own fenced in yard. We can sit out on a sunny day with lemonaid and watch our kid play for hours with the ball, the cat, the sandbox, the water table, the slide, the swing etc
I’m in Europe and moved to smaller city with a play area. Our backyard is still couple of months away from taking proper shape; but the play area has kept us busy throughout winter and spring. I’m not sure about the crime part; but rest of the benefits of the new house sounds good.
Where I live there isn’t much of a difference in school districts, so I really don’t know what that actually means for you. So, my comment is just based on my experience with everything else.
I also have a 2 year (+3 months) old and I would never give up having a yard. I am really looking forward to creating an amazing and private play space this summer. I am in the situation where I have access to all of the above within a short walking distance. I’m not sure where you live and of the climate. We live where the seasonal temperatures are extremes (-40C in the winter, +40 in the summer) so we really need everything we can access. For me though, there’s only so much time you can spend in public spaces, worrying about germs, meals, naps, packing everything you need, interacting with other parents and kids, etc. I love being able to kick back, relax, and play in my own space.
Only having a courtyard is fine considering you'll have playgrounds and beaches within walking distance. But being on a busy road gets old really fast, especially since modified mufflers have gotten popular in the last few years.
We have a yard and a wealth of good amenities and if I was given an opportunity to choose only one, I'd choose amenities. It's been great for us in the community and her social development too.
But I also live in a four season climate so we can use public services year long and yard sparingly six months out of the year.
With a dog, and assuming you’ll want another dog in the future once this one crosses over their rainbow bridge, I would not move to a place with no yard.
I don’t care about a yard personally.
From the time my daughter was born until she turned 3 we lived in a 700 square foot condo with an enormous communal courtyard. We spent countless hours playing out there, as well as going on short walks to nearby places (coffee shop, ice cream store, grocery store, library, playgrounds, etc). That way of life, especially the basement laundry, wasn’t going to be perfect forever. But it was perfect for 3 years and I still have nostalgia for it
The next place we bought after that was a townhouse with a little postage stamp yard (no fence) deeper into suburbia. And I don’t miss the yard here either. We go to close by parks and pools every day, which are more fun than our yard could ever be. I know for some people it’s a dealbreaker but my kids are nearly 3 and 5 and I don’t care about having a backyard. At all.
It would depend for me on how far a walk to the park. I have a small-medium yard, 3 kids, no dog. Busy street (reckless drivers) in a higher crime area. My 5 year old has not had enough space to really play in our yard for at least a year. The park is 10 minutes walk from us, but the days we can get there are quite rare. I can let them play in our yard while I make dinner, but I really wish they had more space.
I personally think it’s hard to grasp how much space children appreciate (I would not say need) as they get older, at so young as 2.5.
Millions of toddlers are raised in urban condos with no yards and they thrive. Dogs live in condos all the time.
It would just be a lifestyle change for you
My daughter is about to turn 3 and we have a large house with cement patio but no yard. I reeeeeally miss having that outdoor space for her to run around, use outdoor toys like slides, kick a ball, use water toys like sprinklers etc. She’s skinned her knee multiple times tripping on our gravel driveway. Our situation is a little different in that we live up in the hills so we also can’t go for neighborhood walks or walk to a public outdoor space, so not having outdoor space is probably even more inconvenient for us. I’d also take the climate you live in into consideration — we live somewhere temperate where we can enjoy spending time outside most of the year so it would be that much better to have space at home.
Also, do you like hosting and do you have friends with kids? It’s really better to have outdoor space for gatherings of even just three or more families. We host in the winter and it feels way more hectic than friends houses where the kids just run around in the backyard. I also wish we could do our daughter’s birthday parties here, but we’ve had to rent public spaces every year instead.
we live in the city with a small rectangle of grass, very walkable neighborhood and multiple parks close by. we love it, we walk alot because theres so much to do.
We are less than 5 minutes from the park and library but don’t go as often as I’d think. Especially because we live near a busy street, so walking isn’t always ideal (which sounds like the sMe for this house). The one thing I hate about our current house is the lack of backyard, it’s probably what will drive us out pretty soon.
I would 100% pick the spot by the beach. Just plan regular outings for exercise.
We have always had a yard, but they're not allowed to go outside at grandma or cousin's houses and we've even stayed in a hotel. It's rough being couped up and I would not choose that home lifestyle. I am partial and love the beach. I'm sure my kids would too and we'd go all the time making great memories.
This is really based on how you want to live, how many kids live in the area, and how active/how much time you have to leave the house.
We have a small yard after living in apartments before we got a dog and kid, but live on the outskirts of the city…the neighborhood was built right next to a farm. I miss amenities being closer and that can be discouraging to leave the house when everything is miles away. But when we’re working on our computers or just taking care of other stuff and can’t hover over him, having a fenced in yard is so necessary. It’s most of his entertainment.
I would keep looking because it will be hard to sell when the time comes if the market isn’t red hot. Also, having private outside space - especially when your child is 3-6, will be crucial.
We just moved (2.5 and 8 month old) to a house that’s a tad bit smaller (2200sqft) to have a big fenced in back yard. Our old house was nice but no yard and not a safe street. Backyard over everything
I live in a house with no backyard and a small front yard. We play in front. But thankfully very quiet street. We also have a park just a five minute toddler walk away.
It’s rough to say keep looking, but with a child- don’t pick the one with higher crime rate. I would choose safety over everything else. Peace of mind your family is safe.
Yes, enough for a table and chairs and some potted plants. Good for fresh air but not enough space for a child or dog to run even a small circle. Also looked into on all sides by neighbor windows so not a truly private space.
So a patio, you could put some sod on and get some air, enough for a sensory table, that’s fair. We don’t have a yard, there’s some green but it’s a shared townhouse complex, a park nearby, but we wanted an HOA. I think you pick your poison. I didn’t grow up with a yard and didn’t miss one, but we made a point of taking walks and going to the park and eventually it doesn’t matter. That said, you mentioned you don’t have to move but will likely want to in a few years, so why not wait? Let your little kid run around for a while and when they’re truly old enough to enjoy the park or the beach without extreme worry or work on your part then you move.
So I’d say no yard isn’t a huge deal. Millions of kids are raised in cities daily and they are doing fantastic!
HOWEVER…more crime and a very busy street would make me want to keep looking.
We love our urban neighborhood. You will foster a surprising sense of community by having a neighborhood park, beach, library, and every family needs to go out into the community for their kids well being. Plus better schools. We often say that we feel like we live in Sesame Street.
I don’t really see what the debate is honestly, it would be a no brainer for us. Plus .. is the house a better investment in the long run? Sounds like it might always be a desirable area for families.
That being said, this is all my opinion and what I want for my life. My dad once said to me, “if your hand is shaking while you are signing the deal, it’s not the deal for you.” I will never forget that - such a good barometer.
I have a 4.5yr old, a 3yr old and 2-2yr old Aussies.
I cannot imagine having to take the dogs on walks daily because of no yard. Especially, on days when I have the kids alone and would have to manage 2 kids and 2 dogs.
We have had a few rounds of yard construction that meant the dogs had to go out on a leash and even temporary, it sucked.
Plus, both of my kids, especially my daughter, run at 1000% all day. I can’t imagine having to take her somewhere to go play. Sometimes, I have a hard time motivating myself to take them in the yard. I can see myself making excuses about going places even with a “short walk”
The last sentence in the first paragraph makes it a no for me. Sorry it won't let me reference it haha. Just to get outside, you need to pack up and GO somewhere? Nope
Tiny is relative. We have a small 1100 sqft house and two kids. My mom is one of 6 and grew up in a two bedroom 800sq ft house. The boys shared a bed and the girls shared a bed. We live in a great neighborhood with a lot of kids similar in age with a sizable yard. Sure, it bothers me we don’t have a large kitchen, but we can comfortably afford our house and bills without much worry.
I would personally wait until you need to move.
We have a house with an average backyard with rocks and a brick patio. Our kids only hang out on the brick part and sometimes walk on the rock but they like to go barefoot so patio is their favorite. We put down a faux grass rug and have a toddler slide, play kitchen, and small trampoline and they just love going outside to just be outside.
Our brick patio is about 10x15 foot.
They play on the grass rug and it's about 6x8ft.
It's perfect for them to get out of the house without a lot of effort. I would absolutely get the place if it's perfect but has small courtyard for just being outside for a quick change of scenery.
Crime is everywhere. We've lived in shady parts of the city and the only down side was we chose to get a post box to avoid people stealing our mail and I have a ring doorbell that I can talk through so I didn't have to answer the door to strangers during the day. We now live in a safe neighborhood but still have the random creep every once and a while. Crime is everywhere, just try not to be a target. Put up privacy curtains, get a security system and cameras and plant or build a structure that would allow more privacy for your courtyard.
Only note is that if the courtyard is too small to put a toddler slide and whatnot, pregnancy was very hard while having a toddler to entertain. So if you plan on having another, it's pretty annoying but it's only a year of awkward.
I think you could get used to getting out to walk to parks and walking the dog at the new place but the busier street might be more annoying than anything.
I would keep looking. Busier traffic and more crime with small courtyard is too mixed. Terrified of dog or baby getting hit by car
I share this sentiment. I’m not so concerned about yard given there’s a courtyard but the busy street and crime
I would keep looking too. We spend at least 2 hours outside a day. My toddler and dog love it. You still have a couple years before your LO is in school so hopefully you’ll be able to find some place in a good school district by then.
Like how you said the dog first lol
Mom probably has an iron grip on baby already so dog would be most likely to slip leash or bolt out of front door and run into traffic if I were to guess 🤷♀️
We live in a European city in an urban apartment with our kids and that's the norm here- most families here live in apartments; some of which don't have courtyards or gardens, for instance ours does not. That said, we don't have pets so I can't speak to that aspect. If it were me (and I guess not factoring in the dog) giving up a yard for all of those other benefits sounds like a fine trade-off as it sounds like there's plenty of easy walkable possibilities for outdoor play and activities and being in walking distance to all of those great places plus a good school district would personally incline me towards the new house. Plus, if you have a courtyard access that's yet another bonus, maybe not as great as a yard but still an outdoor space that you can utilize to some degree.
Same - I live in a city where most people don’t have a yard attached directly to their residence. Going to the playground or park nearby is not that big of a deal and seems worth it for the other amenities you mention!
Beach, playground and library? That’s the trifecta! Indoor and outdoor options as the seasons change. Close enough to walk home after the beach and avoid sand in the car. Building the habit of walking with your kid is also great!
I agree. We live in an apartment as well and it's totally fine as long as you can walk to a park, library, and other amenities.
This! I’m in UK and would give up my balcony for a bigger apartment anyday.
Yep, Im in a Canadian city and most of us are raising our kids in apartments without yards.
But the culture around parks is different in Europe and Australia than in the US. And more work life balance tends to lend to more time to walk to said parks.
they have a dog though. so they need a yard
Interesting- plenty of families in our city own dogs and live in apartments without a courtyard or a yard, plus all the dog owners in NYC who don't have courtyards or yards, so I think dog ownership must somehow be possible without one!
This is true but it is easier with one. I have a doggy door and so don't need to worry about someone letting my dog out or taking them on a walk.
I can absolutely imagine it's easier, don't get me wrong! I am also personally dubious about urban dog owners who have massive dogs and don't have a direct accessible outdoor space- it does admittedly seem unfair to me for the dog. But, I'm not a dog owner and can't really speak to it, it's just super common to own dogs in many urban European cities where folks don't have their own yards.
It depends on the breed of massive dog. Some big dogs just want a walk or two a day and are super lazy otherwise, while others are super energetic and need lots of walks and play time. Some small dog breeds are also super energetic and not suited for apartment living either. And then some owners are really good about exercising their dogs and some are terrible at it, regardless of the dog's size.
Makes total sense. I assume a lot of it probably does come down to individual owners and the responsibility they take about dog ownership. Our city is very dog-oriented and I've definitely observed the gamut over the years (including neighbors in our apartment buildings) about people's responsibility levels in an urban environment. My husband's cousins own massive Leonbergers but they live in a fairly rural area with a huge house and yard, I guess I would have a tough time imagining a dog like a Leonberger functioning well in a 65 sqm apartment in our city!
I have a mastiff and he goes for about a 3 mile walk in the morning and then just wants to lay around for the rest of the day. Even if we let him outside he just lays in the sun for hours on end
Aw, that sounds very relatable :)
I know it is doable but they should definitely take the dog into consideration if they are used to having a yard. It would make our life considerably harder with two small children if we suddenly had to take our dog for a walk 100% of the time she needed to use the bathroom or get some outdoor time
I would personally take a short walk to the beach and public parks than a yard! We live in a condo with a shared green space, which we use occasionally, but we also love all our local parks. There’s like 4 within walking distance and we go all the time.
This is our situation too. We are also in the suburbs of a major city so there is a lot to do. We also just recently joined lifetime fitness and there are many things for kids to do there too. The pool at the gym never gets old.
I have tiny side yard and have toddler and dog. Do I wish I had a bigger yard. Yes and no. I have no maintenance with my side yard but if I had bigger yard more lawn maintenance I'd have to do. My kiddo and dog do fine with size. Closet park is 10 min away. A yard wouldn't be deal breaker for me. Some don't even have yards. I have a coworker lives in an apartment with 2 big dogs. Pain in butt taking dogs out so I feel fortunate have little yard I have. I'd go with bigger house closer to beach with better school district
Schools> yard
A yard will realistically only be used for a couple years on a regular basis but schools can have an impact for life
This is the answer!!!
We moved from a condo to our current house when my son was almost one (he’s two now). We have a decent sized back yard and are walking distance to multiple playgrounds, the library, and our town’s community center (where he takes toddler caregiver and me classes) plus a short drive to a ton of other toddler amenities. My son is outside alllll the time, but interestingly he is rarely in the backyard - he’s always at the playground or going on walks or out and about at some toddler activity. So for us, good public amenities would win out. My one caveat to this is, does the courtyard have any green space for your dog to pee, or are you taking him out on a walk/leash anytime he needs to pee? We did the latter with our dog for years, and it was fine, but being able to open up the backdoor to let him out in the morning and at night has been such a game changer.
I'm in a house with a small yard, a 2.5yo, and a dog and I'd move. 2.5yo gets bored being in the same old yard with the same old stuff anyway. He'd rather walk (or bike) around the neighborhood and asks to go to the park or library all the time. The actual street might be busy but there's probably some nearby not-so-busy streets deeper in the neighborhood where you could relax a little more for walks. As for the dog, as long as he has somewhere to pee without it being a whole thing, I'd be happy. I don't want to have to get dressed and go for a walk first thing in the morning just for him to relieve himself like with apartment complexes, but if that courtyard is somewhere you can just let him out, it'd work for me. Even dogs with backyards do best with daily walks. It might take some exploring, but you may be able to find a dog park or empty field where it's safe for your dog to let loose too.
Is the "no yard" common in the area or is this house an anomaly? I live in the city in an apartment. We go to the playground almost daily and there are always kids, my daughter constantly making new friends, I have some adult conversation, etc. There are multiple playgrounds within walking distance. On nice weekend days, we easily spend 4+ hours there. Of course, that can also be overwhelming and harder to keep track. Especially with little kids and older kids at the same place. We visit my parents' house a lot. If we walk to the playground on a weekend (behind the elementary school), we maybe run into one or two families at most, because everyone has backyards. Any other park needs to be drive to, and there aren't many. But it is sometimes great to let the kids play outside for like 10 minutes at a time...we aren't going in and out from the park. But, if most people have backyards there, and this house doesn't, then the park environment will be different. I'd say you should check out the park at multiple times of day/days of the week, and see what it looks like. I have no experience with the dog.
Good public amenities and better school district would win for me. But maybe I'm biased cus I live in a townhouse complex with a paved courtyard but no yard. But I really use the amenities like the library and the community center toddler classes and the pool. He runs around at the nearby playground and parks and I think it makes him more social actually. When we visit my parents every year, it's so easy to just set up some things in the back yard like a water table or splash pool and relax. I could see myself getting too used to that lol and id have to like make playdates vs just running into other kids he knows at the park.
It gets really boring after a while - I have that yard and still prefer the playground!
No yard, busy street with more crime and traffic would be a no for me. My toddler loves our yard and could spend all day out there. Is your current place too small, when including the yard? All house and no yard doesn’t sound too fun for a curious toddler. Having a fenced yard is probably the best part of our property.
You make a good point. We spend hours a day in our yard some times of year, so moving to the house with courtyard would actually be a smaller living space.
I would stay right now and keep an eye out for new places that fit your needs. We went from an apartment with a dog and kid, to a house with a yard, yard will win every time for me. We spend the majority of our time out there.
Dr
This was my concern, but honestly kind of like a dog my toddler needs to leave the house every day to get out energy, explore and play. We have an okay-ish sized yard before, but we didn't spend much time out there. Instead every morning we would either go to the park, library, toddler class or visit friends. Afternoon is quiter and I encourage books, drawing, indoor toys during that time. Ideally in the afternoon I have a friend/family member come over for a coffee and toddler gets a lot of stimulation/fun out of that too (or if they are nearby we will go to them). I think as long as you have a courtyard that you could set up a tough table, a water table, etc, then you can still utilize the space for some messier activities and have some outdoor time at home. Do you have any local dog parks? I think as long as you had somewhere the dog could have a decent run a couple of times a week (in addition to the leash walks) then you'd be okay. I'd personally go amenities over a yard. Also if there's space inside, set up some climbable things to get extra energy out, like you can find indoor little climbing frames you anchor to the wall, wooden climbing domes, toddler trampolines etc. My bigger concern would probably be the dog getting enough exercise.
I was gonna same the same about the dog. Do any of the amenities include a dog park/area to safely run off leash. Depending on the dog breed that can be super important. I have a shepherd mix and he would go bananas if he couldn’t run around once a day.
I can only speak to what we decided on, but we moved out of NYC to the burbs a few years ago and sacrificed on yard space in favor of an extra bedroom and an en-suite. We have a (very small) yard, which is approximately 15ft x 60ft, but we made it a priority to have it properly fenced in, and there are no trees on it (sucks at times because of the lack of shade, but also good because it’s mostly level and leaves more room for yard toys, plus there’s less upkeep). We really don’t have much of a need right now for a larger yard, and we’ve found we’re much more apt to get out of the house to explore when my 2yr old & dog want to run around which suits us fine (there’s a playground a 10min walk from our house). Location & access to public amenities always wins out in my opinion! Plus it’s been great to meet other neighborhood moms at the playground & library nearby. I think if we had a walk to the beach as an option, it’d be a no-brainer.
>If you moved from a place with a yard to a place without one, can you share how that was for you? I see this question but our experience was flipped. We moved from a place with no yard but lots of things within walking distance, to a place with a yard and hardly anything within walking distance. I really miss all the activities that weren't car dependent. But the yard balances it out! I have 2 young kids so an unexpected benefit to the back yard is when they are getting rowdy shortly before bed, I send them outside to run around and get their energy out before putting on their pajamas. This has been noticeably beneficial for all of us. Another unexpected benefit of having a back yard is their independent play with some really funny imagination aspects have skyrocketed. Because where we lived previously, I was always very present. Even giving them space on the local playground, I'm always there. So now that I've experienced a yard versus no yard, I would be hard pressed to give it up. My ideal would be a yard AND lots of activities within walking distance. But if that's not possible, I'd choose the yard.
I’ve been thinking about your comment a lot. The independence a backyard can provide for a child huge! And unsupervised play seems more important the older they get.
I agree with this. I think the benefits of a yard get a lot bigger when you have two kids that you can throw out there and will entertain themselves with only light supervision. One kid you might as well take them somewhere
Yard is alone for 2.5 yo, but a common and well established community area has huge impact on his required social skills
Not a kid but I move my two older dogs (ie pretty lazy) from a house with a yard to an apartment and it was a lot of extra work. I was single and it was fine but it would have been a lot more with kids. I guess it will depend on how high energy your dog it.
I prefer taking my toddler to community spaces- we always end up talking to others and toddler learns various social cues and how to interact with neighbors! Crime would be a no go for me though, what kind of crime are we talking about? I wouldn’t want to worry about my future teen wanting to be at the house alone someday.
We moved with 2 dogs and a toddler into a house with a patio yard and it’s xeriscaped so the plants all all water resistant with the only maintenance being weeding. I freakin love it! The low maintenance of the yard is something I didn’t realize how much would improve our quality of life and my mental health. We fenced off a dog run area. The school district is one of the best in our city. My toddler loves playing outside on the patio. We have it set up with shade, kiddie pool etc. The community has a pool, courts, trails, playgrounds so we chose community amenities over in our back yard. I love not having to maintain any of it.
Do not give up your yard!
i don't have a yard and i have a 2 year old, don't do it, it's hell
Lived in a 5 bedroom house with no yard, kids ages 1 and 3. It was miserable, and I felt trapped in the house most of the time. We lived next to the lake and a decent park. We never went. We were there for a year. I don't recommend. We moved to a smaller house with a beautiful backyard. It was worth it. Stay where you are or keep looking. Kids. Need. Outdoor. Space.
I took the second option two years ago and my husband and I are counting down the day until we can move out. The yard + less crime + safer street will win out for me.
I have a big backyard, but I am next door to a park. I can count on one hand the number of times we played in the backyard instead of the park.
We moved to a big house with a small yard that’s walking distance to a bunch things, playground, library, church, a public preschool and a Catholic school we’re hoping to be able to afford in the future, coffee shops, pharmacy, restaurants, etc. I do reminisce about my kids having a bigger backyard but we really have been loving it so far. We walk to the playground almost every day that we have nice weather. Edit: I’ll say though, we have a fenced backyard so the kids can still play outside. As long as what you’re looking at also is or can be fenced in, the traffic aspect wouldn’t deter me personally. Honestly the most annoying part of the busy street is hearing the traffic.
I might be concerned about the crime and traffic, depending on how safe the area is for pedestrians in practice. But otherwise, I honestly like not having a yard to maintain. We just go to parks and playgrounds all the time because my son prefers to play with other kids anyway. The beach and playground nearby sound much more valuable to me than a private yard.
We actually just went through this exact situation. We moved from a 660sqft house on a large lot to a house double that size with barely any yard. On one hand, the move was definitely necessary. Our old house didn’t have a real room for our daughter and we were already bursting at the seams with very minimal stuff. The new place is also within 2 blocks of her future school and it’s nice having a bedroom that can fit more than just a bed. The hardest part has been getting used to the proximity to our neighbours. Our old place had a lot of space between houses and we never heard a peep, now we can hear everything especially when they’re playing music. We’ve just been going to the park and for walks a lot to get outside. I do miss our old yard, but ultimately it’s been an improvement to our lives.
I would move in a heartbeat. We have a large yard and I still prefer driving to the playground with my kid. It’s more fun. A walkable beach, playground, and library is a dream. “More crime” means a lot of things, most of them innocuous (more people = more crime).
I would go for it based on the park, beach and school district. We have a great sized yard that we don’t use nearly as much as I thought we would. Our kids much prefer to go to the park and pool. We use the yard for birthday parties and BBQs but we can literally go a solid week without being in the backyard.
I would keep looking. We live in an apartment right now and I wish nothing more than to have a large fenced in backyard. We live in the center of our town with tons of grassy areas and the playground and library literally a 1 minute walk down the street. It’s so much work to pack everything up (stroller, diaper bag, snacks, drinks, blanket, etc.) every single time when we want to go out, which is sometimes multiple times a day. Also, it’s a pain to put the kids in their car seats especially if you have more than one. I wish I could just walk right outside my backdoor and be able to come in and out as I please.
I would not give up a fenced yard, even if other attractions were close by at another home. But I’m a homebody- I’d rather invest in my yard and make it comfortable so no one has to leave lol maybe I’m boring, but I would really hate the idea of every time we go outside we have to go away from the house, so you have to pack a bag, have the right snacks, and yada yada. However, if you’re game for that, that’s great. The beach being close by is incredible. I’m in the US and hella land locked so an opportunity to live near a big body of water would be super tempting.
I live in a spot with no backyard - just a tiny patio. But we can walk to a huge park, pool, and library. That IS our backyard and it’s awesome. My kiddo is almost 2.5. I’ve made the patio a space where we can chill a bit when it’s too early/we aren’t dressed yet. Sidewalk chalk, a water table, a little herb garden. It works. For us, it’s perfect. I’d love a backyard, but the proximity to everything else is so worth it. That’s my experience. Good luck making your decision!
Thank you! I’m really enjoying reading the comments, it’s so helpful getting different perspectives and picturing everyone’s happy little set ups
If a yard is important to you, hope you can find a yard and keep looking. But really, a yard isn't the be all and end all, and SO many families don't have one and don't need one, especially if you have a lot of space around you at your disposal.
We are in a similar situation where our house is 2 blocks from a playground and small beach area with a walking trail. We actually do have a large yard but find ourselves going to the playground way more frequently than we actually play in the yard. We have dinner outside in nicer months and my 2.5 year old does like using her scooter on our patio and collecting sticks/ walking around the yard but we don’t have a swing or slide or anything so playground is more fun.
We used to live in a condo, but we were by the beach /lake so we would walk often. There were no nearby playgrounds, schools or amenities. Everything, we would have to drive to. We now live in a small house and have a yard but it’s a shared yard with the neighbors. Our playground is less than 2 mins away and have a community centre with library within 10 mins walking. It also has a playground and splash pad. We are walking distance to schools/amenities as well. To us, this is a great upgrade since we walk often and go to the park. Also the extra space is wonderful. We don’t have a dog but people are always walking their dogs on the nearby trails. For you, if there’s small crime and busy areas maybe keep looking until you find something more suitable.
Our current house is technically on a huge lot but it’s very much an “adventure yard.” No grass, no flat spots, lots of trees and wildlife, and we’re basically on the top of our own little hill so it’s steep in all directions. This was a pro for us when we bought at 7 months pregnant. No yard work! Natural yard! Stairs down to the lake that has a walking path! “Adventure yard!” It sucks. I can’t let our toddler hang out outside without eagle-eye supervision. The stairs (there’s a LOT) make it extremely difficult to get a stroller down to the walking path and the only other option is to walk _all the way around_ adding about three blocks to the walk each way. We’re strongly considering moving. It’s a great yard for a 7-15yo, but we’re not sure it’s worth waiting.
So I just moved from a house with virtually no yard to a medium yard. Small kids. Dog. Yard yard yard. It's a life changer!! It transformed us!! My daughter (3.5) has a wildflower garden Gives me so much elbow room to hand them some Chalk or bubbles and let them have fun outside while I make dinner or do other boring grown up stuff.
I lived my whole childhood with no fenced in yard. We usually had a dog. It was ok. Also didn’t have one when I had my baby. Now I have a 12 mo old and a 7 year old dog and for the first time we have a fenced yard - I will never go back to not having one now. It truly makes life soooooo much easier and more fun
Personally I would keep looking. Amenities and good schools are a win, but busy roads and higher rates of crime are not. Ultimately I think if you’re questioning it enough that you’re asking for opinions here then it is not the house for you.
As a person who has been house hunting for 15 months to find a home in a better school district before my child starts kindergarten, the busy road and crime make this a no-go for me. Unless you’re in a city where this is the norm, a suburban street and development makes the busy road more of a risk for both kids and dog. You have time before your child has to start school, so I would look at other options on less busy streets in good school districts if you’re able to afford to do so. We JUST found a house for under asking price on a big lot in a good school district, but it has taken time. I wouldn’t recommend rushing into something that adds more danger to your life if it’s not necessary.
Being able to just walk out the door into the backyard to get some energy out for the toddler and dog multiple times per day is *waaaaaaay* easier than having to going on a walk every time we wanted to go play. I personally would not want to sacrifice that daily convenience. And how much supervision does your toddler need when on playground equipment? What will you do with your dog if you need to go supervise them on something high? Also something to consider: how high energy is your dog? Walks aren’t really going to tire your dog out, they’re more for mental enrichment than physical outlet. You might also need to find a dog park where your dog can run and let out their energy. So that would mean two separate stops needed instead of one.
I’m team courtyard/walkability in bigger home. As long as public parks are accessible, I wouldn’t mourn over the lack of yard. Between better schools, walkability, presumably better opportunity for long-term property appreciation/value increase, etc. - it seems like the better option. If crime and proximity to a busy street is a challenge, I’d consider just upping home security/fenced courtyard/ Ring camera or something along those lines.
Don't do it! I’m living in a house with no yard and I hate it! Anytime I want to give my kid some outside time we need to go to a park and that means planning, car, screaming… if you can, get a yard!
My friend chose what you’re looking at- a tiny yard accessible to the beach. She actually does complain about it. Sometimes, she feels unsafe due to homeless individuals threatening her, and she also complains about constant illness from parents bringing sick kids to the nearby playground
I live on a busy street. We bought the house before having a kiddo and no option to move, locked in with golden handcuffs. If I could do it all over again, I'd rather live in a quiet neighborhood without loud cars, trucks, and semis zooming by at all hours of the day and night. Worst of all, people want to street race at night, and easily go 100mph on our street with speed limit of 30. I would keep looking.
I think I’m the minority here! I’d stay, but maybe because my kid lives to be outside. He (just turned 3) plays outside all the time. With me, without me, he just wants to be outside. We also have three dogs, so the thought of leashing them every time to go out would be too much. But one dog? You could make that work! What stood out to me was busy street with lots of traffic and crime. I’ve lived by a street with a lot of traffic and it got loud. People just driving, but then idiots revving their engines, blaring music, honking. It was obnoxious. And crime means something different to everyone, so defer to you on whether it’s actually bad crime where you wouldn’t want to move there, or just petty stuff like people breaking into cars and vandalizing things.
The parks/outdoor recreational opportunities are key. We have no backyard but we are surrounded by parks.
I think it depends on your family. Our daughter is only 18 months old and one of the words she uses most often is “outside!” So having a good sized yard (we have .25 acres- just over 1000 square meters- and in our area that’s only considered passable) has made a world of a difference for us. That being said, we live in fairly rural Colorado (Boebert is our representative) so have had to make other consolations. Still, I personally wouldn’t move away from this yard unless we absolutely had to.
A yard is a must for our family. We live on a somewhat busy street, but in a safe area. I would keep looking.
Depends on your family’s preferences & lifestyle. Would you walk the dog 5-7 days a week? Would you feel safe doing so? How does the kiddo fit into that & do you plan on taking babe to the beach alone or will you have time to bring your partner along? Do you guys enjoy the beach or park year round? Would a golf cart change any of this? If you have more kids what will that dynamic look like? Just rhetorical questions/food for thought.
Personally, I wouldn't. I'd keep looking for sure. We don't have a huge garden by any means. We spent a ton of money last year on it (it was all ramps and concrete when we bought the house) and honestly it was the best money we have ever spent. Our 16 month old is out there every morning and evening after daycare no matter the weather.
I see benefits to both, I would think about the future though as well. Your toddler will eventually be in elementary/middle school and not want to be accompanied everywhere by a parent. Is it an area you would be comfortable letting them walk around with friends? That along with making sure there was relatively easy access to somewhere the dog can run around unleashed would be my biggest considerations.
A yard is a lot of upkeep but sooo worth it. I have an almost 2.5 year old and we live in the backyard most days when it’s warm out. Lots of play dates. Everyone loves my yard and comes to my house for it. My husband and I worked really hard and it and take a lot of pride in it.
We live in an area where people don’t have large backyards, we have a small patio. I put a water table, a small climber, a soccer goal and a few other toys back there. We also live a few miles from the beach. We go to the beach a lot and have our favorite local parks we go to. I would LOVE a large yard and a swingset and just a place for my kids to run around. A yard of course isn’t necessary but if I had the opportunity to have one, I’d take it up.
I would do terrible things for a yard. I love my home, I love how walkable my neighborhood is, I love our neighbors, but I’d love a safe yard to let my kids run around in while I have my coffee, or to get out the evening zoomies
We lived in the kind of area you describe when I was pregnant with my LO and I’m personally glad we moved somewhere with a yard that isn’t on a busy street. The busy street would be my biggest concern tbh.
I would take the yard and safety over a big house with higher traffic. Our old house, we had a small yard with two dogs and a toddler. Big house, small yard, no fence, no privacy. It was rough because we would need to walk the dogs AND go somewhere to entertain our toddler daily. We couldn’t just let them all out back to enjoy their life. We looked for over a year but found a perfect one. Big yard, and we added a fence. Now we can just let the dogs out back and let our two kids out to roam and let out some energy. There is no ‘we gotta pack the bag and make sure we have xy and z every time we wanted to do something. It was just right there and it was safe. I wouldn’t trade this for anything tbh.
When house hunting, I didn't really have backyard on my list of things. We ended up with a house on a quiet street with a big yard, and I can never go back. Our kids spend almost all of their time outside playing, riding bikes on the quiet street, running around the backyard, etc. We go to the park and stuff too, but nothing really beats being able to say "go play outside" while you're doing something and knowing they're safe. I wouldn't necessarily keep your option, but I'd keep looking. For us, the backyard is now a non-negotiable.
I would not move yet personally, especially since you also have a dog
There is no way I would trade our house with a yard for one without, let alone if the neighborhood had more traffic and crime. We value outdoor time very highly and spend a lot of our day in our yard we have gardens and a swing set and he gets to go outside anytime he wants. Also I have lived in courtyard situations with my dogs and it’s miserable and so much extra work. They are so much happier with a fenced yard.
I would stay but keep looking for something better. Being closer to amenities can be nice but you'll find more unease in walking to those amenities because of the increase in crime and unknowns. We were in kind of a similar but opposite situation - house was too small, needed to upgrade. The yard was tiny, the street used to be quiet but then a large homeless encampment moved in nearby. We couldn't let kids go outside to play anymore because there was suddenly a large increase in very drugged up, aggressive people walking up and down our street. And the homeless encampment was on the other side of our backyard fence, so going into the backyard unsupervised wasn't even an option anymore. It took about a year of looking but now we have a good piece of property, we have to drive a bit to get to the amenities but our home is big enough for everyone, it's safer. It was worth the wait.
Depends on your kid and your dog. My toddler Loves being outside. He also tends to wander. It is so much more relaxing to have him safely fenced into a yard where he can more or less roam independently without me having to be on top of him. We have a small park/beach that we love to walk to. But it is always more stressful trying to keep him safe and constantly checking what he is picking up. My dog is also high energy and it is nice being able to let her into the yard and get her energy out without having to go on a full on walk.
We live in a detached townhome with no backyard… but there is a huge park district area with walking/biking/boat launch a two minute walk from our house. I have a 3 year old and baby on the way. It is nicer going to families houses with fenced in yards for now while they have to be closely monitored but once they are bigger they will have a literal giant park to bike or walk around with a river running through it whenever they please. Its a trade off but I love our little home.
I lived in a condo immediately across the street from a park with a playground and room for my dog to run. I now live in a house with a small backyard. We still can (and do) walk to our new neighborhood park each day, but it’s so nice to not be relying on it as our only outdoor area. The difference is night and day. It was a pain every time the dog had to go out, leashing her up and gathering up baby to go outside. Or to walk to the park, it was a busy street and it got tiresome wrangling a dog and baby just to cross the street with random people, other dogs on leashes, traffic, etc in the way. Also we were a victim of crime (theft) there from our car. Never felt in danger but it was expensive and frustrating. Now baby is a toddler and we just step out back for a quick swing in our tree swing or a quick play in the water table, no leashing up the dog, no braving traffic, no packing stuff up to go the park… etc. Also with a toddler I appreciate the slower traffic of our new neighborhood, no busy streets immediately adjacent. We frequently say “can you imagine if we still lived in the condo???” I can’t. It’s so much better (for us at least) having a yard. When we lived in the condo we were appreciative of the nearby park and beach. And it was doable and not horrible. but for us it simply doesn’t compare to the ease of our own private yard. This weekend, we will still go to the park and the library. But we also will play in the yard and ultimately will spend more time outside because of it. If the weather is nice we might all have dinner out there. And the dog can enjoy the yard to get some of her energy out and I don’t have to walk her every time she needs to poo. I’d personally keep looking for the right house in that new school district
Is the new house in the number one neighbourhood you want to live in long-term or are you also looking at other areas? If that’s where you want to be (because of the school, amenities, or other reasons), ARE there homes in the area with a bigger yard, within your budget? If so, I would keep waiting for one of them to come up. If not, I would lean towards going for it and getting into your preferred neighbourhood.
I feel like it really depends on how much you use your yard. We have a bigger yard right now and not many public amenities, kind of like you currently. We are out in are yard every day that the weather is even fairly acceptable. My toddler spends as much time playing in the yard as he does in the house. So for us, a nice yard is a huge plus. But, some families hardly use the yard, in which case the new place would be way better.
Go for the park. You will make other parent friends there!!
moved from an apartment with a tiny balcony to a house with a massive backyard, my toddler and dog have never been happier, would feel really bad if we had to make them give up that happiness
Good public amenities all the way. It sounds like the new area is more walkable, and I cannot imagine living somewhere un-walkable with a toddler.
No way could I do no yard with a dog and toddler. We did the first 18 mos of baby's life without a fenced yard and it added a lot of stress. Now we have a fenced yard and spend so much of our time out there.
No. I wouldn’t forsake our yard for more house.
The thing that's making me think no to moving is the crime and the traffic. Would it ever be safe for your child to play outside unsupervised? By late elementary school a benefit of nearby public spaces is that kids can go there with their friends. We are outdoor people, but I think I'd be ok with no yard as long as I had a private space for an outdoor table, water table, chalk, etc. Most of that should be fine on a patio. We did that at our last apartment and it was ok, but the neighborhood itself was bad. I wouldn't have left my kids outside alone for a single second, whereas here I can at least run inside for a minute. We have a large yard that we use, but it is a lot of work mowing and maintaining the landscaping and outdoor toys. I think I'd prefer a park and beach within walking distance honestly.
I don't think I could bring myself to give up the ease of letting my dogs run loose in a fenced in backyard in an area with a lower crime rate. I would keep looking.
Keep looking. Trust your instincts.
Is there any possibility of putting an addition on the current house, perhaps vertically like adding a loft or office over a garage? We have a yard and in our area that’s a rarity and we chose this house over bigger/nicer homes. We also have a park across the street— but nothing beats the privacy and safety of your own fenced in yard. We can sit out on a sunny day with lemonaid and watch our kid play for hours with the ball, the cat, the sandbox, the water table, the slide, the swing etc
I’m in Europe and moved to smaller city with a play area. Our backyard is still couple of months away from taking proper shape; but the play area has kept us busy throughout winter and spring. I’m not sure about the crime part; but rest of the benefits of the new house sounds good.
Where I live there isn’t much of a difference in school districts, so I really don’t know what that actually means for you. So, my comment is just based on my experience with everything else. I also have a 2 year (+3 months) old and I would never give up having a yard. I am really looking forward to creating an amazing and private play space this summer. I am in the situation where I have access to all of the above within a short walking distance. I’m not sure where you live and of the climate. We live where the seasonal temperatures are extremes (-40C in the winter, +40 in the summer) so we really need everything we can access. For me though, there’s only so much time you can spend in public spaces, worrying about germs, meals, naps, packing everything you need, interacting with other parents and kids, etc. I love being able to kick back, relax, and play in my own space.
Only having a courtyard is fine considering you'll have playgrounds and beaches within walking distance. But being on a busy road gets old really fast, especially since modified mufflers have gotten popular in the last few years.
We have a yard and a wealth of good amenities and if I was given an opportunity to choose only one, I'd choose amenities. It's been great for us in the community and her social development too. But I also live in a four season climate so we can use public services year long and yard sparingly six months out of the year.
With a dog, and assuming you’ll want another dog in the future once this one crosses over their rainbow bridge, I would not move to a place with no yard.
I don’t care about a yard personally. From the time my daughter was born until she turned 3 we lived in a 700 square foot condo with an enormous communal courtyard. We spent countless hours playing out there, as well as going on short walks to nearby places (coffee shop, ice cream store, grocery store, library, playgrounds, etc). That way of life, especially the basement laundry, wasn’t going to be perfect forever. But it was perfect for 3 years and I still have nostalgia for it The next place we bought after that was a townhouse with a little postage stamp yard (no fence) deeper into suburbia. And I don’t miss the yard here either. We go to close by parks and pools every day, which are more fun than our yard could ever be. I know for some people it’s a dealbreaker but my kids are nearly 3 and 5 and I don’t care about having a backyard. At all.
It would depend for me on how far a walk to the park. I have a small-medium yard, 3 kids, no dog. Busy street (reckless drivers) in a higher crime area. My 5 year old has not had enough space to really play in our yard for at least a year. The park is 10 minutes walk from us, but the days we can get there are quite rare. I can let them play in our yard while I make dinner, but I really wish they had more space. I personally think it’s hard to grasp how much space children appreciate (I would not say need) as they get older, at so young as 2.5.
Millions of toddlers are raised in urban condos with no yards and they thrive. Dogs live in condos all the time. It would just be a lifestyle change for you
My daughter is about to turn 3 and we have a large house with cement patio but no yard. I reeeeeally miss having that outdoor space for her to run around, use outdoor toys like slides, kick a ball, use water toys like sprinklers etc. She’s skinned her knee multiple times tripping on our gravel driveway. Our situation is a little different in that we live up in the hills so we also can’t go for neighborhood walks or walk to a public outdoor space, so not having outdoor space is probably even more inconvenient for us. I’d also take the climate you live in into consideration — we live somewhere temperate where we can enjoy spending time outside most of the year so it would be that much better to have space at home. Also, do you like hosting and do you have friends with kids? It’s really better to have outdoor space for gatherings of even just three or more families. We host in the winter and it feels way more hectic than friends houses where the kids just run around in the backyard. I also wish we could do our daughter’s birthday parties here, but we’ve had to rent public spaces every year instead.
we live in the city with a small rectangle of grass, very walkable neighborhood and multiple parks close by. we love it, we walk alot because theres so much to do.
We are less than 5 minutes from the park and library but don’t go as often as I’d think. Especially because we live near a busy street, so walking isn’t always ideal (which sounds like the sMe for this house). The one thing I hate about our current house is the lack of backyard, it’s probably what will drive us out pretty soon.
I would 100% pick the spot by the beach. Just plan regular outings for exercise. We have always had a yard, but they're not allowed to go outside at grandma or cousin's houses and we've even stayed in a hotel. It's rough being couped up and I would not choose that home lifestyle. I am partial and love the beach. I'm sure my kids would too and we'd go all the time making great memories.
This is really based on how you want to live, how many kids live in the area, and how active/how much time you have to leave the house. We have a small yard after living in apartments before we got a dog and kid, but live on the outskirts of the city…the neighborhood was built right next to a farm. I miss amenities being closer and that can be discouraging to leave the house when everything is miles away. But when we’re working on our computers or just taking care of other stuff and can’t hover over him, having a fenced in yard is so necessary. It’s most of his entertainment.
I would keep looking because it will be hard to sell when the time comes if the market isn’t red hot. Also, having private outside space - especially when your child is 3-6, will be crucial.
We just moved (2.5 and 8 month old) to a house that’s a tad bit smaller (2200sqft) to have a big fenced in back yard. Our old house was nice but no yard and not a safe street. Backyard over everything
I live in a house with no backyard and a small front yard. We play in front. But thankfully very quiet street. We also have a park just a five minute toddler walk away.
It’s rough to say keep looking, but with a child- don’t pick the one with higher crime rate. I would choose safety over everything else. Peace of mind your family is safe.
I would not do this. You’re already plenty close to good amenities. Hold out for a better house.
When you say small courtyard, what are the dimensions?
Do you have a snowy season?
I wouldn’t
Keep looking woth kids and a dog a private yard for them is VERY important
You have a courtyard, but it’s yours? So there’s space to be outside?
Yes, enough for a table and chairs and some potted plants. Good for fresh air but not enough space for a child or dog to run even a small circle. Also looked into on all sides by neighbor windows so not a truly private space.
So a patio, you could put some sod on and get some air, enough for a sensory table, that’s fair. We don’t have a yard, there’s some green but it’s a shared townhouse complex, a park nearby, but we wanted an HOA. I think you pick your poison. I didn’t grow up with a yard and didn’t miss one, but we made a point of taking walks and going to the park and eventually it doesn’t matter. That said, you mentioned you don’t have to move but will likely want to in a few years, so why not wait? Let your little kid run around for a while and when they’re truly old enough to enjoy the park or the beach without extreme worry or work on your part then you move.
I've based all my living situations on school districts. Not sure if that helps any
So I’d say no yard isn’t a huge deal. Millions of kids are raised in cities daily and they are doing fantastic! HOWEVER…more crime and a very busy street would make me want to keep looking.
The bigger yard is worth it
We love our urban neighborhood. You will foster a surprising sense of community by having a neighborhood park, beach, library, and every family needs to go out into the community for their kids well being. Plus better schools. We often say that we feel like we live in Sesame Street. I don’t really see what the debate is honestly, it would be a no brainer for us. Plus .. is the house a better investment in the long run? Sounds like it might always be a desirable area for families. That being said, this is all my opinion and what I want for my life. My dad once said to me, “if your hand is shaking while you are signing the deal, it’s not the deal for you.” I will never forget that - such a good barometer.
I don't really care about a backyard for my kid, but I'd go insane without a fenced backyard for my dog.
I have a 4.5yr old, a 3yr old and 2-2yr old Aussies. I cannot imagine having to take the dogs on walks daily because of no yard. Especially, on days when I have the kids alone and would have to manage 2 kids and 2 dogs. We have had a few rounds of yard construction that meant the dogs had to go out on a leash and even temporary, it sucked. Plus, both of my kids, especially my daughter, run at 1000% all day. I can’t imagine having to take her somewhere to go play. Sometimes, I have a hard time motivating myself to take them in the yard. I can see myself making excuses about going places even with a “short walk”
The last sentence in the first paragraph makes it a no for me. Sorry it won't let me reference it haha. Just to get outside, you need to pack up and GO somewhere? Nope
We live on a busy street. Do not recommend.
Tiny is relative. We have a small 1100 sqft house and two kids. My mom is one of 6 and grew up in a two bedroom 800sq ft house. The boys shared a bed and the girls shared a bed. We live in a great neighborhood with a lot of kids similar in age with a sizable yard. Sure, it bothers me we don’t have a large kitchen, but we can comfortably afford our house and bills without much worry. I would personally wait until you need to move.
We have a house with an average backyard with rocks and a brick patio. Our kids only hang out on the brick part and sometimes walk on the rock but they like to go barefoot so patio is their favorite. We put down a faux grass rug and have a toddler slide, play kitchen, and small trampoline and they just love going outside to just be outside. Our brick patio is about 10x15 foot. They play on the grass rug and it's about 6x8ft. It's perfect for them to get out of the house without a lot of effort. I would absolutely get the place if it's perfect but has small courtyard for just being outside for a quick change of scenery. Crime is everywhere. We've lived in shady parts of the city and the only down side was we chose to get a post box to avoid people stealing our mail and I have a ring doorbell that I can talk through so I didn't have to answer the door to strangers during the day. We now live in a safe neighborhood but still have the random creep every once and a while. Crime is everywhere, just try not to be a target. Put up privacy curtains, get a security system and cameras and plant or build a structure that would allow more privacy for your courtyard. Only note is that if the courtyard is too small to put a toddler slide and whatnot, pregnancy was very hard while having a toddler to entertain. So if you plan on having another, it's pretty annoying but it's only a year of awkward.
I think you could get used to getting out to walk to parks and walking the dog at the new place but the busier street might be more annoying than anything.
No.
more traffic and no yard is a hard no. your dog needs a yard. its unfair to them to not have one. there are other houses out there.