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What does "NEAR" really mean?

By Yvette Chisholm

Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. Assc Broker MD DC VA

September 16, 2011 12:25 PM

We all hear it - this home is NEAR the Metro, that home is NEAR a park, that home is NEAR a school. But what is the definition of NEAR?

Defintion of: NEAR =

NOT FAR,
CLOSE IN TIME,
CLOSE IN DISTANCE

Okay, so today - I get an advertisement from a builder finishing a community in GERMANTOWN, Maryland.

Anyone who lives in this area would not say that Germantown is NEAR the Shady Grove Metro. But, in this builder's marketing they say it.

How would you feel if you purchased a home because they builder said it was NEAR the Metro (GOOGLE MAPS SAYS more than Seven Miles) and when you drive there on a Saturday, okay it takes 15-20 minutes - lots of traffic lights or further if you take the fast roads, okay that seems a stretch to say near - but you can live with it.

However, after you move in and try to get there during rush hour and it takes you 30-45 minutes, how near is it now?

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Jennifer Chiongbian

Specializing in all types of Manhattan apts & townhouses - Manhattan, NY

Real Estate Broker - NYC

Near is totally subjective. When people live "near" to something they want, their version of it is what it is. In Manhattan, we are so densely populated, with amazing public transportation not more than 10 mins away walking at the furthest point. To people here, 10 mins. is too far. Even if the bus is 2 min walk away, that is not near enough. I like to call it the Walmart syndrome. People will drive around for 10-15 mins to look for that parking spot right in front, when it would've taken then 5 minutes tops to park and get in the store. But that is too far!

Sep 16, 2011 02:38 PM

Kwee Huset

Kwee Huset Realty - Venice, FL

Venice Florida Homes For Sale

Yvette, comments by Jennifer are right. I came across a house has a storm drainage behind the house, the listing agent's remark was "waterfront home". BTW congratulations on being an Aciverain Member Spotlight today.

Sep 17, 2011 05:25 AM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

"Newer" is another problem word. How new is newer? In once case a couple of years ago I found out that newer meant 1994.

Happy Monday!

Sep 18, 2011 11:40 PM

Bridget "Mortgage Mama" McGee

SWBC Mortgage 410-960-2061 - Baltimore, MD

Maryland Mortgage Mama NMLS#196068

It is the same way with waterfront/waterview properties. I remember a friend looking for a water oriented property. One was listed as waterview. The issue was that you had to be on the third floor, on your tippy toes, and hope that there are no leaves on any of the trees blocking the "view".

Everything is relative. Maybe that builder never tried to get to the metro in rush hour, like this seller never looked for the water in the spring or summer!

Ahhhh, what is truth afterall, should it be based on a technicality?

Maryland Mortgage Mama

Sep 19, 2011 03:53 AM

Alan Bruzee

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Rockville, MD

The builder isn't telling the buyers what they need to hear, but telling the buyers what they want to hear. Shame on them.

Sep 26, 2011 01:48 PM

What does "NEAR" really mean?

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Yvette Chisholm

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