New Road Construction is it a curse or a blessing?
Roads are a necessity for transportation. How will you get to work or shops without roads? For many people, new roads are fantastic unless it is in your backyard!
I was with a client once, and he asked: “Why are the backyards so far from each other?” Then I pointed out the street lights and said this is the proposed extension of a Street that is labeled a Parkway. Keep in mind that there are reasons streets have terms and the definition a Parkway is a landscaped highway! On a Parkway do not expect a low-speed limit, speed bumps or easy street crossing. Do expect at some point in time you may experience noise and vibrations (think radios, tire sounds, engine sounds and heavy trucks transporting goods). Well, back to the story, my buyer decided not to buy that $450,000 house. One year later, there was a road being built, and high sound barrier walls were going up!
For some people this is not a concern; however, for many of those people the 
road noise and vibration will eventually get on their nerves. For others it is just fine and the new road is a great addition.
In Virginia Beach, VA there is a Nimmo Parkway that was built for the greater good and in another instance the city connected two separate parkways to form another southern corridor. In both cases for those homeowners that are not up against the road this is great news! It is a better way to get there from here and has cut travel time as much as 20-30 minutes on some commutes!
Each state has different disclosure concerning this, but all homes have the same concern. As a REALTOR® it is important for my clients to know about any current or future road creation or expansion that is known to me.
In Virginia our disclosure states:
TRANSPORTATION / ROADWAYS: The... are planning new roads and/or relocating existing roads within..., as well as considering other forms of public... Changes to transportation right of ways may temporarily or permanently affect the use and enjoyment of a property and in some instances, subject property to the exercise of the right of eminent domain... Please visit… for future transportation plans in Virginia.
When purchasing a home, check out the distance between homes. Whenever you see that homes are far apart and that space does not have a home built ask why?
As a homeowner has this happened to you? As a homebuyer does this factor into your decision to buy?
What are your thoughts? I can be reached at my website Homes For Sale Virginia Beach
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