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Buying a house in Red Hook - Is it located down a shared driveway?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 10491201242

Buying a house in Red Hook - Is it located down a shared Driveway?

When buying a house in Red Hook there is much to consider.  What if the house you fell in love with is located down a shared driveway?

Shared Driveway

Depending on your need for privacy and the type of interaction you want to have with the neighbors you should give some thought to this subject.

Is  the driveway agreement written in the deed?

In some cases the easement is written clearly in the deed in other cases it is not so clear.

Who will pay for the maintenance of the shared driveway?

Each homeowner sharing the driveway will contribute funds for maintenance.  There is usually some sort of homeowners association.

Will everyone contribute the same amount?

If your house is at the beginning of the driveway you will pay less than the person at the far end.  The amount you pay will be determined by the percentage of the driveway you are using.

What are some of the cons of sharing a driveway?

If one or two neighbors fail to make there contribution to the maintenance funds, you could find yourself having to go over potholes, or lacking  snow removal.

You might get irritated by how fast the neighbors go down the driveway especially if you have children.

The road might be badly eroded because there are insufficient funds for major repairs.

You might not like the heavy traffic going to the neighbor's house.

Are there any pros to having a shared driveway?

You might really like the neighbors, it may be a close knit community in which you really look out for each other's property.

A shared driveway can work, but, if it doesn't work for you then you could find yourself in a sticky situation.

Copyright © by Jennifer Fivelsdal, all rights reserved-Buying a house in Red Hook - Is it located down a shared driveway?

 

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Comments(15)

Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Shared driveways are common around here. Who pays for maintenance and how bad does it need to get before it is repaired is important.

Nov 26, 2012 12:57 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Wayne so it all depends on what the home buyer can tolerate.

Nov 26, 2012 01:15 PM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Not a common feature around here. I have shown only a couple of homes with a shared driveway and both times the buyers didn't like the idea that there would be extra charges for maintaining the road...

Nov 26, 2012 06:12 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Very good advice for prospective home buyers.  Most should avoid shared driveways.

Have an outstanding week.  Enjoy the colors of the season with your camera in hand.

Nov 26, 2012 08:27 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Never ran into a shared driveway situation I guess this may occur more in rural areas.  I could see where the maintenance could be an issue.

Nov 26, 2012 08:32 PM
Kwee Huset
Kwee Huset Realty - Venice, FL
Venice Florida Homes For Sale

Hi Jennifer, suggested. Excellent information for buyers to be aware of the shared driveway, without easement it may be locked in without access.

Nov 26, 2012 10:30 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Jennifer These are some excellent examples of shared driveways and solutions to the problems .I showed a home not long ago with this exact situation . It is something for buyers to consider when buying .

Nov 26, 2012 10:59 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Jennifer excellent blog, and you have given me an idea for a future blog on this topic on what the Lending guidelines are on shared driveways and roads.

Nov 27, 2012 12:51 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Jennifer,

This is a text book question and something Realtors, Buyers, and Sellers need to know when a shared driveway is involved.

Suggested!

Nov 27, 2012 01:39 AM
Will Nesbitt
Nesbitt Realty at Condo Alexandria - Alexandria, VA
Nesbitt Realty is a family-run brokerage.

Good Afternoon Jennifer,

Excellent article - very  good attention to detail on the matter of driveways. Keep up the  good work. Sounds like you're a local area expert in NY.

Nov 27, 2012 02:18 AM
Liz Wallace
Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY
Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

We actually have a number of shared driveways in this Village.  The homes were built when few people had cars and by shared I mean a one car driveway that sections off after the house to two garages.  

Nov 27, 2012 04:55 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Jennifer  Your points are really well made - privacy drives are only a problem if there is no recorded agreement

Nov 27, 2012 07:03 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Jennifer - This is a really great post and while shared driveways are not common in my area I have encountered one in my career.

Nov 27, 2012 09:18 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

 

Larry and Sheila I have come across that situation too.

Roy many do.

Gary this is really more of a rural area issue.

Kwee - Thank you.  This is something buyers need to consider based on needs.

Hannah I so agree.

Nov 27, 2012 01:50 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

George I will be looking forward to your post on the subject matter.

Patricia thank you.  Better to address this upfront than to have regrets after the sale.

Will I listen to what buyers are saying and try to address the issues in a way that it answers questions others might have.

Liz some of the shared driveway came about because the property was family owned.  Parents had their home so would the children and the shared driveway did not matter.

Karen no records you could have issues with the neighbors.

Michelle I have encountered quiet a few, so reason for the post :)

Nov 27, 2012 02:14 PM