I've been hearing more often lately that mowing the lawn and clearing leaves from the roof isn't what it used to be. A family that requested a consultation in Torrance felt the same way. They wondered if it might be better to move to a place without a yard, considering the cost of hiring a landscaping company. This question has both pros and cons.

This family has lived in a single-family home near a golf course in southern Torrance for over 20 years. They initially enjoyed the spacious yard, but after retiring, they felt that the time and costs associated with lawn care and tree maintenance were piling up each month.

Torrance is relatively close to the coast compared to other areas in the South Bay, so the cooling burden during summer is less than in Thousand Oaks or the Valley. However, since it falls under the Southern California Edison (SCE) jurisdiction, the rates are still quite high. The standard SCE rate is around 34 cents per kWh, and if you use a time-of-use rate plan, the charges during peak hours can be much higher. While the burden of yard maintenance is a downside, the relatively lower cooling costs can be an advantage.

Looking at home prices, the median sale price in Torrance as of 2026 ranges from $1.09 million to $1.19 million, with variations in different reports. Condos have a median price around $587,000, with a wide range from $278,888 to $1.225 million, while townhomes typically range from $900,000 to $1.1 million. Selling a single-family home and moving to a condo can eliminate the hassle of yard maintenance, and the profit from the sale can provide extra funds, which is certainly advantageous. However, since HOA fees can vary significantly among condos, the savings from yard maintenance might just go towards HOA fees instead.

Regarding property taxes, thanks to Prop 13, long-term homeowners often have a lower property tax burden. This is favorable for maintaining their current home with a yard. Conversely, if they are over 55, they can transfer this lower tax base to a new condo under Prop 19, offsetting some disadvantages of downsizing. This applies statewide and has been in effect since April 2021, allowing for up to three transfers in a lifetime.

When considering the pros and cons, while single-family homes incur ongoing costs for hiring landscaping services, they offer greater freedom for activities like keeping pets or gardening. Condos reduce this freedom but relieve homeowners from management burdens and unpredictable large repair costs. Whichever option is chosen, it means gaining some benefits while giving up others.

Torrance is known for its quiet neighborhoods, making it a good place for families who value keeping pets or interacting with neighbors. For families who prioritize this lifestyle, maintaining a single-family home may actually be a more satisfying choice, as long as the difference in management costs isn't too significant.

To assess what to consider, the first step is to gather the past year's receipts for yard maintenance costs. Next, comparing the HOA fees and reserve fund status of the condos of interest seems reasonable, followed by checking the conditions for transferring the property tax base.

This family ultimately decided to list the costs of yard maintenance and condo HOA fees side by side and confirmed that the actual difference wasn't significant, leading them to choose the option that offered more freedom in their lifestyle.

In the end, this isn't just a matter of deciding based on yard maintenance costs alone. To truly determine if it's beneficial, one must compare cooling costs, sale profits, HOA fees, and property tax base transfers side by side. Since tax and HOA conditions can vary by complex and situation, it's advisable to consult with real estate and tax professionals before proceeding with any contracts. This article does not constitute investment or legal advice.