But when a pamphlet for a new subdivision near their community landed in their mailbox, the idea of a home backing onto the pond appealed to them so much that they went over to check out the available lots right away.

“I felt encroached upon,” says Joy of their current home lot in Calgary’s McKenzie Towne, where two tall garages have been added to the yards on either side since the couple moved into their home in 2005.

Joy is also not fond of backing onto an alley and overlooking other yards. “Growing up, I always lived in houses where there was space behind us,” she explains.

A few months later, they are the proud owners of a lot backing onto the pond and the community path in this developing community in the southeast, and are awaiting the completion of their new, larger home, expected this month.

When it comes to lot selection, many people want to live on a pond or backing onto a natural reserve. Most buyers want to be within walking distance of shopping and servicwes, and many wish to be close to schools. West-facing backyards with walkouts tend to be the most popular type of lot in general.

As Carol Wallace, development manager with Melcor Developments in Edmonton points out, “when you start looking at the most popular lots, you’re looking at a financial aspect.”

Indeed, lots overlooking ravines or water features come at a premium and are generally reserved for established homeowners or those who can afford to pay more. Apart from these premium lots, choosing your home lot comes down to a whole range of preferences, most of which will be prioritized differently from one buyer to the next.

First after a pond view on Charles and Joy’s list was privacy. By the time they visited the show home, there were only two lots left that back onto the pond. They chose one over the other because it is less exposed to the hockey rink and community centre just around the bend of the pond, and instead offers a longer vista of water out the back windows. They felt more comfortable knowing that neighbours would not be able to peer out of the community centre and view them in their housecoats.

For many, the orientation and lay of the backyard is high on the list of priorities. Pat Lothrop, controller and marketing co-ordinator at Dundee Developments in Calgary, says that west-facing backyards with walkouts do tend to be the most popular, but some buyers enjoy an east-facing backyard with afternoon shade. Wallace agrees and adds that pie-shaped lots are also very popular. As Lothrop says, “a good neighbourhood has variety to offer everyone.”

The direction and timing of sun exposure should be a main consideration, says Wallace. Better to sit down before you shop and think about whether you want morning sun in the kitchen or your bedroom window, or afternoon sun on the deck. Keep in mind that the angle of the sun changes with the seasons.

“Sun exposure is a huge factor in the enjoyment of your home,” stresses Wallace.

Other factors that tend to be important to buyers, depending on their personal needs and preferences, include proximity to services such as schools, community centres, stores and other services, churches and green space, as well as transportation considerations such as pathways, roads and bus routes.

As for the lot itself, buyers look for an abundance or lack of grass, depending on their lifestyle, room for a garden or hot tub, and the location of the garage, if there will be one.

Wallace recommends that in a colder climate like Edmonton, buyers look for a lot where the garage, if in the front of the home, will be to the north side of the front door, protecting the front entrance from wind and drifting, and allowing for more sun exposure in the front yard.

When a developer’s community planners plan a new neighbourhood, they first look at the topography of the land and the natural features such as wetlands and trees. Though Lothrop acknowledges that developers get a bad rap for razing land, she says that often, there is not much there to clear, and that they try to preserve the natural features of the land as much as possible.

“We try to use the natural contours of the land, and the growth of mature trees, and maintain those instead of tearing them down,” she says.

From there, buffering zones between home lots and natural areas are accounted for, and plenty of green space and walking paths are incorporated.

Both Dundee and Melcor incorporate different segments such as multi-family, starter, move-up and estate homes into their communities. Overall lot size is said to be shrinking, but with the inclusion of all segments of housing, the average lot size allows for higher density multi-family and starter housing and lower density move-up and estate lots.

Community planners are experts in making the most home sites out of a piece of land, while allowing for the layout, infrastructure and look that buyers expect. They also must account for required components, which may include parks, schools and commercial zones.

In the end, Charles and Joy are excited to move into their new home on the pond. They are two of the many buyers that wish to feel a little bit like they are out in the country, while maintaining a proximity to the downtown core. And they feel they have accomplished that by moving near the pond, which will be left natural to allow wildflowers to grow.

It’s obvious that the proximity to nature means a lot to Joy. Of her new home, she says, “You can hear the ducks quacking from the back door.” NL