Benefits of Buying a Home on a Busy Street
By Michelle Carr-Crowe, San Jose Lynbrook High Home Expert Selling Homes in Cupertino Schools
Did you know there are multiple benefits to buying a home on a busy street? With the advent of the Internet, many buyers make the mistake of outright rejecting a home on a busy street before even visiting the virtual tour or an open house to see how a home possibly meets their needs, including financial affordability.
First, a home on a busy street is usually less costly than one on an inside street, often resulting in owning a significantly larger, nicer and/or better quality home. Surprisingly, people living on busy streets find it seems they have less crime because of the traffic and number of "eyeballs" of people out and about. Three, fewer solicitors (legitimate or otherwise) come knocking on the door.
Finally, there are two groups of people who frequently purchase homes on busy streets: investors and real estate agents. Both groups know the neighborhood benefits, such as award-winning schools, easy access to bus and public transportation as well as walking distance to shopping, dining and parks are the same, and sometimes better than, homes on inside streets, are at a lower price, and will still be easy to rent.
For someone who runs a small home-based business, such as tutoring, music lessons or alterations, a main street location offers extra benefits. As there is already existing traffic noise, the sounds from singing or music lessons is less likely to disturb the neighbors. Depending on the city, you may be able to display a small sign offering your services, giving you free daily advertising for your business. New business prospects find it easier to locate you on a well-known street.
Actually this last is true when your children begin meeting and making new school friends as well. Their parents know where you are, and that other people around will be on the lookout, too. Because it's a main street, parents feel okay just "driving by" to make sure everything seems okay. For families who entertain a lot or enjoy loud activities (band players, drummers or music lovers) a busy street can even eliminate neighbors' noise complaints.
Also, it can be the difference between living in a townhome or owning a single family home, especially when you factor in the cost of HOA dues. For example, in San Jose Lynbrook High a large, ~1790-sf townhome is asking $850K while the ~1441-sf storybook cottage on ~7700-sf at 6404 Bollinger is asking $883K.
ALL San Jose Lynbrook High Homes 1200-1750-sf sold since 01/01/2011
# LISTINGS: 33 AVG VALUES: 16 35 1,452 $694.96 6,275 $961,664 49 $1,000,255
Inside Streets San Jose Lynbrook High Homes 1200-1750-sf
# LISTINGS: 26 AVG VALUES: 14 37 1,445 $710.61 6,238 $970,813 50 $1,017,670
Streets with Traffic San Jose Lynbrook High Homes 1200-1750-sf
# LISTINGS: 7 AVG VALUES: 26 29 1,496 $622.43 6,670 $921,954 50 $922,286
In the example above, homes on low-traffic streets sold for about $95,000 more than those on streets with traffic. At these prices, that represents about a ten percent difference in price paid.
Before bypassing what could be your dream home because it's located on a busy street, why not take a look at homes like 6404 Bollinger, San Jose at the July 17, 2011 open house, and examine all of your options before choosing the perfect home for your family.
Recent San Jose Lynbrook High Homes for Sale and Sold
ACTIVE Single Family Residential
Address City Beds Bath DOM LOE SqFt $/SqFt Lot (SF) List Price Age Sale Price
6312 Bollinger Road San Jose 4 3|0 4 1,363 $636.83 7,370 $868,000 52
SOLD Single Family Residential
6585 Prospect Road San Jose 4 2|0 38 30 1,731 $557.48 8,300 $997,900 54 $965,000
6283 Rainbow Drive San Jose 4 3|0 39 32 1,606 $594.65 5,940 $978,000 50 $955,000
1197 Johnson Avenue San Jose 3 2|0 29 21 1,685 $563.80 5,959 $968,000 43 $950,000
1112 Johnson Avenue San Jose 3 2|0 31 27 1,379 $667.15 6,060 $943,888 53 $920,000
1132 Miller Avenue San Jose 3 2|0 7 22 1,226 $750.41 6,264 $918,000 50 $920,000
6448 Rainbow Drive San Jose 4 2|0 20 28 1,484 $647.57 6,800 $899,000 51 $961,000
6312 Bollinger Road San Jose 4 3|0 15 41 1,363 $575.94 7,370 $748,888 52 $785,000
# LISTINGS: 7 AVG VALUES: 26 29 1,496 $622.43 6,670 $921,954 50 $922,286
# LISTINGS: 2 AVG VALUES: 3 1,402 $624.80 7,535 $875,500 53
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