[Carla B]

Yes, the yard is the killer. If you buy a new house, there should be little interior maintenance in the first five years. It would be best not to disturb the landscaping that the developer puts in if you're not here. If and when you do foundation planting, look for dwarf versions. Everything grows so fast here. Landscapers will show you a beautiful computer picture of what your landscaping will look like and then plant shrubs that overwhelm the house quickly.