Back in the pre-energy crisis day, I bought a condo with a western view that took advantage of the view with lots of windows. It became a solar oven.
If you can have a back yard facing north as well as a good view, make that your outdoor living area, since shade is very desirable most of the year. I know some say that being in the outdoor sun in the winter is a plus, the fact is people really just don’t go outside much in the winter.
