I always worry about privacy. When we moved here 32 yrs ago, we were considering two houses - same street, 2 blocks apart (long blocks). The one was ar the dead end of the street. Land on the side was owned by the country club, behind was a bit of the cc golf course. Across the street was a steep hill - we were told it would never be built on due to steep slope.

We ended up choosing the other house for many reasons, and boy are we glad we did. The CC gas sold off multiple lots in the woods, causing deer and coyotes to come out into the neighborhood- for the 3rd year in a row, the deer got many of the hosta in my front yard- apparently they consider deer-away spray "salad dressing". The woman who lives in the house (my dental tech!) says the deer gave destroyed her landscaping. And that steep hill across the street? An enormous, very tall house with a front retaining wall that looks like a medieval fortress, was built on it.

Pone never knows what may happen to empty land.

I have owned a home with west facing orientation for the family room & kitchen and would not choose it again. Afternoon sun in the summer months required window coverings to be drawn to comfortably use the rooms, view TV etc. The patio was very uncomfortable to use during the time the sun was setting and we had to purchase a large umbrella and tilt it on the vertical in order to sit outside and not be incinerated! Much prefer either eastern or southern orientation for the most used rooms. I also would be uncomfortable with a logging business going on behind my home over which I had no control. Are there other lots in the community available with different orientations?

I was going to say the same thing as mihelene regarding a western orientation if you will have a lot of windows on that side of the house.

As a Realtor who sells mostly second homes and condos on one of the Midwest's largest Lakes I can tell you that West facing homes and condos are MUCH harder to sell and do not bring a premium price. Mihelene summed it up with her response. I am sure that there are some areas that Western exposure is good though

We have an east facing home. The living room and two bedrooms face east, and the sun wakes the kids up. The family room, kitchen and master bedroom face west with lots of windows. While we added a patio, sun still comes into the first floor and has bleached the wood floors and some furniture. We shut the shades a lot as DH does not like watching TV with the sun reflecting on the screen, but I don't like dark rooms. No breeze comes into the house from the west so the patio doors can't even air out the house when it cools down in the evening. Look somewhere else.

Having your main rooms facing west means you'll be using your AC a heck of a lot more than if your orientation were North/South. In the afternoon from spring through fall, the hot afternoon sun will come streaming through your west facing windows heating up the house. And no, overhangs can't be low enough for spring and fall for the sun not to come streaming in.

If I were you I'd keep looking. I wouldn't want to have my view marred by a logging operation and even the other lot is subject to whatever that private land owner eventually decides to do with the land. Plus I don't care for western exposure. Even if you don't mind the heat you still have to take steps to prevent interior UV damage.

Dru, for resale specifically (I am a realtor in Texas)... (1) the market generally reflects a discount (a lower sales price) of approximately 10% if the view is marred by power lines, cell towers, culverts, backs up to busy freeways, backs up to a commercial operation of any kind (your scenario even if it is on private land), etc.; and (2) the square footage of the lot probably won't reflect a higher value for more square footage by an appraiser when you go to sale. If YOU love the 2 lots and want to only choose between those 2, I would be inclined to tell you to buy Lot #2 for resale. Hope this is helpful. I might recommend that you visit with an experienced realtor not associated with the project and get their opinion. They will know more about your local market and if a discount would even be in play. They might tell you that "hands down pick Lot #1". Good luck. Alamo Heights Real Estate

Agree I think the bigger issue here is the use of the land behind the property. It might be logging now and you might see some logs and equipment but it may eventually be sold and used for who knows what? Apartments, retail, industrial, auto wrecking yard, expressway? How good is the community about zoning and land use? I would try to avoid buying a property with this unknown. Anything could happen that could make the home very unpleasant to live in and impact resale (I'd say up to 25% not 10%).

I'd never face west again. The sun and glare are completely obnoxious. And if you are paying for a view to the west, you won't be able to enjoy it for many hours out of the day without 1) feeling like you are living on the surface of the sun and/ or 2) burning out your retinas. Plus - you get the added benefit of increasing your cooling loads to extreme amounts.

I am in Raleigh. Don't face west.

I was surprised to read all the comments about West facing houses, since I own one and have been happy with that orientation.

The west/front side of our house has the garage, formal living room and dining room, and one bedroom, while the family room, kitchen MBR and another bedroom face the backyard/east. This means we get morning sun in the kitchen, and in the evening the back yard, kitchen and family room are all in the shade. I guess its not a problem because we don't really use the west side of the house very much in the late afternoon and evening, so sun and heat is not problem. Our house is one story with a very highly pitched roof, so the entire back yard is in the shade in the late afternoon and evening.

Bruce

You probably have to be in the space to see the effects. Per feng shui, a home facing west is about endings, and yes, the afternoon sun can be hot and uncomfortable. Our house faces east, which is good feng shui, but our living areas are at the back of the house, which is west. Most of the summer, husband is shutting drapes and blinds and blocking out the light. And I live in WI, when daylight and heat is precious!

Does a west facing orientation keep those rooms warmer during the cold months?

Might depend on where you are. In the PNW, the sun is so far to the south in the winter that it barely comes through the west windows. Here it is better to face south for the winter sun, plus in the summer, when the sun is high in the sky, it won't shine through those south facing windows (if you have careful eave placement).

Interesting. We are west facing and I love my home and have no issues with sun. I open my curtains as soon as I get up and don't close them until I go to bed.

Our living space faces west and I love it too! Can't stand a dark house. Then again, I am in MI and it is only unbearably hot 1-2 months of the year.

Our new home will be west facing, as well, in Texas. I deliberately chose this orientation because we're building a tract home and selected the floor plan first. But... And it's a big but....

The garage, entry/foyer, and one small room face west. I wanted to minimize western exposure, because our current rental has a backyard/dining/powder/master that faces west, and it's pure torture. It is super important to me that the kitchen, dining, and living all face south for maximum light throughout (our current northern living spaces are depressingly dark), and I gotta have all of the bedrooms face north (bedrooms are only used for beds and clothing storage, no toys).

West-facing living areas or sleeping areas are a total deal breaker for me. Since I rejected the other lots, the sales associate opened up another section of the neighborhood for me.
Would that be an option for you, by any chance?

Smart lady ODD! Ya did it right. Even if the orientation is east/west, a house can still be designed to take advantage of the north/south light and minimize the west light.