Does the deck change elevation in the middle? If so, that is the reason for the rail, so folks don't walk off the step when they aren't paying attention. I don't think having a deck that's two levels is particularly attractive or good use of space, so you may want to rethink or rebuild half at some point in the future when time and budget allow.

What is the retaining wall made of? I would have the home inspector take a good look at the wall since if it wasn't done right it could be a complex and expensive fix. Are there water or drainage problems related to the slope and wall?

Do you enjoy gardening? The slope will be a challenge to take care of unless planted with groundcover and shrubs that are low maintenance or you like gardening enough to put in a fair amount of work on that steep an area. I can't tell if what is there now is desirable or is just whatever weedy stuff sprouted.

I probably sound discouraging, but we get lots of questions from folks who buy properties with steep slopes that begin right behind the house and discover issues only after they have completed the purchase. Be sure to do your homework and get info on any possible issues in writing from the seller.

I personally agree with NHBabs,

as as someone who recently bought a home with a steep slope in back it's a huge challenge. If you haven't already bought the house you might want to seriously consider the possible effects of intense slopes, runoff water (potentially into the foundation), lack of gardening space or space to just be in the yard and so on.

If you truly love the house and are are willing to cope with all the work you'll have to invest a lot of time and likely money.

as for design ideas you can remove the current vegetation if it's not desirable and replant with something low growing, perhaps colorful for a nice pop.

I personally would have the deck leveled out, you could potentially out a hot tub next to the house where the deck ends depending on contractor advice and codes.

Your biggest issue is going to be to keep soil from washing down that hill. It can be done but it is difficult. Particularly depending on what is going on uphill. If there is potential erosion activity uphill, your deck will someday be a lot smaller. My grandma lived in a house with a hill and a nice walkway behind it. Now, the hill abuts the house and the new owner had to excavate to keep the hill from swallowing the house. More development uphill and the removal of some of the vegetation on the hill were the culprits.

Thanks everyone for the insights. It's not so much that I'm in love with the house more than that there are hardly any options in the area where I live (outside of Boston) so barring any problems as it stands today, I will likely move forward with buying the house. I definitely will ask the inspector to take a look at the hill to spot potential problems with the slope. As for adding any structure uphill, that was something I was considering, but not at the expense of risking the stability of the slope. The deck is level (see attached photo) which is why I'm puzzled by the railings. One thing I am considering is removing the deck (or half of it, if it was an add-on) and the old patio stones to the side of the deck and reinstalling a whole new patio, new sod and with a spa to the side. It sounds like the most prudent thing to do is to leave the hill alone aside from adding low-maintenance border plantings along the retaining wall.

I live outside of Boston too!

We found our dream house on .65 acres (granted part of it is sloped and a pain but we love it). If you haven't already made on offer on this house I HIGHLY suggest looking west and south west of Boston. Houses are 50-100% cheaper than on the Northshore

youll get more house and more yard, the trade off is a longer commute but in our experience it's 100% worth it and our home is like an oasis :) but that's just my 2 cents

if you decide to proceed with this house I wish you the best of luck!!

The rail could have been a device for closing off a portion of the deck -- such as to confine little kids -- in conjunction with a portable gate. But you can remove it if you have no need for it. It also could have been the result of the deck being built in phases with a long period of time between their construction, whereas the rail was the edge of the first deck.

One thing to look for is that grade below the deck, surrounding the house, slopes AWAY from the house. if it doesn't, you'll like face drainage problems around the house or in the basement or crawl space, depending on how the house is build. Water collecting next to the retaining wall would be directed around the house to each side yard and then on to the front yard. It would be fairly costly to fix this if it is not already done properly. The photos do not tell if it is properly done.

Thanks everyone for the tips. At the home inspection, I had a chance to get a closer look at the hill with the inspector, and it turns out that it's pretty rocky and stable, and although it's hard to tell, upon closer inspection it looks like the previous owner did do a bit of landscaping awhile ago. There is a line of burning bushes at the crest of the hill, visible from the window which will be beautiful in the fall, and some ground cover. I think i may leave it alone for a year and watch the colors throughout the seasons before making any hasty decisions. I also realized that the deck is not actually level, which explains the railings. Eventually I'd like to hire a landscape designer to help with transforming it into a cozy retreat.

Be aware that you may want to change out the burning bushes relatively soon. They are invasive, meaning that they seed into unmowed areas readily via seed drop and birds. So you will end up with a lot of volunteers that need weeding out based on my experience and observations of others' properties, something that will be a hassle with your slope. It's on the MA invasive species list, so removing it makes you a good neighbor. A couple of good substitutes: blueberries or fothergilla, both of which have stunning fall color but also are of interest at least one other season, which the burning bush isn't.

In general, however, the idea to wait and watch for a year before making changes is an excellent one.

I am quite surprised by the general negativity regarding a house on a hillside. They are choice locations all over the world, with good reason. I bet this house has a wonderful view. The back slope, presumably stable rock, gives you automatic privacy. Think of it as a screen to paint. If it is like my slope the challenge is choosing plants that thrive in often shallow soil above the rock. Use this year of observation to get to know what's UNDER the soil layer. You may discover beautiful outcrops that can be revealed and pockets and crevices where trees and shrubs can fit. You will find where steps or a path might make it accessible. And find some alpine and rock garden friends to inspire and guide you. FWIW I'd choose this hillside aerie over one on with a flat lawn any day!

kitasei, For me the remarks urging caution stem from the number of folks who buy houses that back up to slopes with retaining walls and who then post here about the issues with drainage or the wall or hill not being stable, all expensive fixes. Knowing what you are getting rather than just falling in love with what turns out to have problems because one hasn't done due diligence is the issue, not random negativity. If the hill is stable, and the grading around the house has been done properly and one is willing to do the work involved, a slope like this can be a real asset, but if there are grading or stability issues, it can be expensive, and if the owner is someone who doesn't want to do more than ride a mower around the yard once a week, a hillside can get unattractive really quickly. So going into something like this with eyes open is important if the owner wants an attractive yard.

I agree with you completely, Babs. Just wanted to point out that hillsides have some merits along with pitfalls. Knowing the topography is so valuable. In the case of a new development it may be possible to gather intelligence from the municipal planning/building department, which may have done environmental assessments. Permits for septic and well also would have required some investigations, which should be on file with that department. Soil and water conservation districts/agencies often map underlying geologic formations. All of this would have been helpful to me. Would it have deterred my decision? Probably not, because my breath was taken away by the view from the high point. I love seeing my garden from so many prospects.