Are you thinking about buying a home on a busy street?

 

There have been a few clients who found THE PERFECT house, but it was a home on a busy street.  Or, the backyard backed up to a busy street.  They always wanted to know how the resale value would be affected if they ended up buying a home on a busy street.

  • If your facing this dilemma: "We found the home, but it backs to a busy street . . ." here is someing to think about:
  • The current owner(s) bought the place.  Are they moving because of the street?  Probably not.  Find out what they think about living where they live.  Houses are sold on the "where is, as is" principal.  Ask them what they thought about AFTER buying a home on a busy street.

Without knowing the lay of the land . . . it's hard for me to say anything sight-unseen. 

A few things to consider:

  • Is the noise "visual" and/or "audio" -- can the road be both seen and heard?  If so, it's not a good thing.  If the road isn't seen -- visual noise might not be a factor. 
  • Does the noise level subdue after the rush hours calm down?  Traffic might calm way down after the rush hours. If that's the case, it might not be that bad of a thing.
  • Do your work hours conflict? If you work the swing-shift and need to sleep soundly during the day -- well, buying a home on a busy street might not make the most sense / cents.

I've lived on a very busy street, but the way the acoustics and sound bounced off the road, it wasn't bad at all.  The visual noise was cut down from trees, fencing and plantings.  The master bedroom was off-street, so it was peaceful.  The home had vinyl windows, which were great in cutting down noise too. The front door was not on the major street, but similar to your situation, it was the backyard. 

If your budget and the current inventory suggest that this home would work you might want to consider buying a home on a busy street.

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 Carla Muss-Jacobs
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10 Comments on Buying a Home on a Busy Street

AUG
24
2009
146,511 Points 1 Featured Post

Interesting perspective...thanks for some things to ask and things to think about.  I usually try to point out, " did you hear anything while you were in the house?  Do you like to spend time outside, is there alot of traffic after 6 pm or on the weekends?  Things like that can make a difference.  The other question I have for the sellers and buyers - has the road been widened already or do you know if there are any plans to do so?  That is usually the deal breaker because if they are fixing to widen it, you don't know how much of the back yard will be compremised?   
2:40pm • #1

I'm working on a deal right now on a busy street.  The buyers are already thinking of mitigation through plantings and fencing.  They had originally dismissed the house because of the location, but once I showed it to them, they made an offer!  Yay!
2:41pm • #2
978,393 Points 114 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Suzanne . . . good points you're making, thanks!  Yes, if the roads already been widened, chances are, it'll stay that way.  But, as you mention, if it encroaches further! 

Hey Marcy -- good for your deal!  Try Bamboo, it's a grass, you know.  Grows like grass too, it spreads and is a very good sound and visual buffer.  I have to check out where you are, part of the nation.  Here in the Pacific NW it thrives!  Bamboo is a heavy drinker ;-)
4:00pm • #3
AUG
25
2009
584,138 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great perspective on a tough real estate pricing dilemma.  The only true comps for a house on a busy street are other houses similarly situated.

If you buy at the right price...no real problem.  If not, it's can be a real disaster.

 

But then price-in always affects our feelings on the way-out.

And its not just whether the road will be widened...it's how much it will cost you in front-footage assessments when it is.

A well-kown REALTOR in this area is leading a fight to stop a widening project on her street that will cost her $20,000 in such fees.  Even the wise....

 
2:34am • #4

Since our airport is downtown, there are a lot of homes in the flight paths, although leaving planes are much noiser than arriving planes. It's amazing, though, what multi-pane windows can do for noise abatement inside.
2:57am • #5
156,166 Points

I have one client who purchased on a busy street a few years ago.  I pointed-out that the home's value was impacted by the traffic levels, but she didn't care.  The house was great and she had no children to worry about.  Fast-forward a few years.  Now married, with two small children.  My client hates the house, and me, for having sold it to her.  The local market has "tanked" and she is upside-down in her mortgage, so selling at this time is not an option.  For this reason, I will probably discourage any buyer in the future from making a purchase on a busy thoroughfare regardless of how inexpensive the home appears to be.
8:43am • #6
978,393 Points 114 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Jim -- yes even the wise.  I knew an attorney who bought without a real estate agent.  He bought a house with no rain gutters, is what he did!  We live in the Pacific NW -- it RAINS here!  Yup, even the wise :-)

Howdy Russel -- WOW your contest sure what taken a fun twist.  Love the new voting.  So you can't decide, now WE can't either  . . . Ha ha ha!  Yes, the traffic above when you are in a flight path.  Good point!

Hey Tom . . . I hope she's really not blaming you.  The market tanked all over, she wanted that house, and you pointed out the negatives.  But, on the plus side, she's got a family with great kids!
12:55pm • #7
AUG
26
2009
1,371,335 Points 151 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I must be insane!  I purposely bought my home backed to a busy street.  The reason being is that I <had> young kids and our lot sizes here are about the size of a postage stamp!  We annoyed our last neighbors by doing family things like hanging out and playing in the pool and having BBQs.  They liked to peek out their windows and see us.  By backing up to a busy street, we have no neighbors behind us to annoy.  Problem solved. 

We have a balcony that has gorgeous unobstructed views of the mountains and red rock and there is nothing they could build behind us that will block those views.

So I hear traffic when I am sleeping with the windows open.  That is now soothing to me!  It's all a compromise!
2:50pm • #8
978,393 Points 114 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Renee -- yeah, I remember those lovely neighbors of yours!  So, that's how you solved it??  Good point, and good for you!!  I love to hear kids romp and frolic.  It reminds me on my days as a kid  -- I don't want to turn into one of those "Yeah, you kids . . . get off my lawn" types!! 
2:57pm • #9
1,371,335 Points 151 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Yep that's how I solved it and it has been bliss since.  BTW, I think the same thing about kids.  Even when they are crying in the distance (and they aren't being abused) I find that a "normal" sound.
4:28pm • #10

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Carla Muss-Jacobs - Principal Broker/ Owner | Exclusive Buyers Agent |

Portland, OR

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Author Bio: Carla Muss-Jacobs is the Principal Broker/Owner of EBA Portland, LLC an Exclusive Buyer Agency representing Buyers in the Portland Metro real estate market since 1999.

The Sellers have their own agent ~~ Why don't you have yours?  

Carla Muss-Jacobs practices the TRUE FORM of Buyer Agency ~~ Exclusive Buyer Agent.  Her office/brokerage never takes listings and never respresents the Seller.  Exclusive Buyer Agency is the BEST form of legal real estate representation a Buyer can have.  There is 100% Buyer Representation - !00% of the Time.  There are NO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST and there is no possibility of ever having YOUR Buyer Agency comprised.  When buying a house -- it's important to know who is working for you!!  



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