But the tree blocks the driveway, "build it anyway"

I love it. It provides shade, a lovely view out the window, probably brings wildlife within view as well.

And it was the home-owner's choice, ("it's really all quite simple: the original owners of the custom-built home wanted to keep the tree there.") so if it made them happy, that's what the builder is going to do.

I certainly agree with the bit about how many people opt not to park in their garages anyway, either using them to store a ton of other stuff or using them for workshop/man-cave/rec area/etc.

The people who had the home built got to enjoy the tree all of the time that they lived there. If someone with 1.6 million to spend move in and don't wish to keep the tree, the cost of removal certainly won't be in any way painful for them.

I don’t care if the original owner wanted it, I wouldn’t buy it. You can’t even park two cars on your side the driveway (this looks like a duplex). And I also don’t want a tree that close to the house. The roots can cause a lot of damage to the driveway and any underground pipes.

I wonder if they figured that a tree might need to come down at some point, no matter what, so at least if and when it came down, the garage was ready to use as a garage.  That's my guess, anyway. 

Weird, but here in Houston where we can't have basements, many people use the garage for storage and leave the cars in the driveway. If and when they decide to sell, easy enough to have the tree cut down and the driveway filled in.

Nope. I park my car in the garage and use about half for storage. What an inconvenience and I am sure someone would hit that tree!

Of course, some people do, but there are very many who don't.

I spend nearly half the year in Texas and see this quite often. Texas loves their trees. Very often there is a tree in the middle of the road. They just curve around it and keep going. Or there is a strip mall with a 100 year old tree in a section of it. They just build around it.

There are a lot of things I don't like about Texas, but I love this part! I LOVE trees.

I’m usually team “it’s your house so do what you want” but that’s the stupidest effing thing I’ve ever seen.

Also the idea of not using your garage to park your car also seems so weird. If that’s the case, why not forgo the garage for a storage room?

This house is not too far from mine. It's in a great neighborhood right next to Memorial Park. You CAN still get into the garage. I kinda get where the owners are coming from leaving the tree there- it is so beautiful and healthy-looking.
Would I spend 1.6MM on a townhouse though? Not a chance. I too live in a townhome with a wonderful tree, but "my" beautiful tree is in my neighbor's backyard

Some people do convert their garages and replace the door with an exterior wall - especially in older neighborhoods like mine. Others prefer to keep the flexibility in case a new buyer wants the garage.

I would love to convert our garage to half storage room, half laundry room and a powder room where the current (tiny) laundry room is. DH doesn’t want to spend the money because we won’t be here that much longer.

www.zillow.com/homedetails/6506-Rodrigo-St-Houston-TX-77007/80598326_zpid/

Beautiful house!