What to Know About North Texas Homes with Alleys

When we first moved to the Dallas area, we were surprised by how many subdivisions had homes where there were no driveways placed in the front of the house. Instead, homes back up to each other where an alley is used to access driveways and for the garbage trucks on garbage day. After almost four years in DFW, I am still not a fan of alleys behind homes, but it does present a nicer looking street when you see absolutely no cars parked down an entire block. Unfortunately as families get bigger, homeowners are forced to park some cars in front of the house as kids reach driving age and more cars are needed. If you do end up picking a neighborhood where garages are in the backs of the homes, here are some tips to help.

• Try picking a home that backs up to a greenspace (greenbelt) so that there is no home behind you. The best alleys have no fence or barrier so if you happen to have a long car or truck it will be easier to make the turn out of your driveway.
• If you do have a home behind you, ideally you get one where the neighbor’s driveway behind you doesn’t line up exactly with yours. The edge of the driveway is used to place garbage cans on garbage day. If you have a neighbor that doesn’t regularly pull their cans up, then you will be constantly backing up to garbage cans as you pull out. Also, if your neighbor needs part of your driveway to back up their car or boat, and runs partly onto your grass they can crack one of your sprinkler heads near the edge of your driveway – ask me how I know (smile).
• Lighting is another big one. Be cognizant of whether any lights from the homes behind you will shine directly into your home. Some may not mind this for security at night, others may find it annoying that you have to constantly keep the shades drawn at night because there is too much light coming from the house directly behind you. It sounds petty, but this is how those nightmare neighbor stories start when the new family or the existing family feels they have a claim to stake on their property.
• Trees are your friend. If you want to sunbath or have some privacy, then pay attention to whether the trees block enough of your backyard from homes directly behind you – especially two-story homes that can look down into your backyard.
• Pick a home that is closer to the entrance to the alley and it will be easier to get out. Most alleys can only support one car moving in one direction. If you’re in the middle of the block, you will have numerous occasions where it’s a standoff and someone will need to back up to the let the other car pass. We live two houses in from the entry, so normally we can quickly get to our driveway before another car is headed towards us.
• Pay attention to particular blind spots. Some driveways are harder to see from the alley due to trees and fences. When neighbors use the alley as speedways it’s very easy for an accident to happen as you’re trying to back out in the morning for work.

​If you absolutely love the house, then these things might not matter, but go into your purchase with eyes wide open knowing the little things that may become big things after living there a few years.