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Electric Transmission Lines and Home Values

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 New Millennium

 

The heart of my market area includes Culpeper, Fauquier and Rappahannock Counties in Virginia. These counties are now doing battle with Dominion Virginia Power over their plans to add and/or expand their powerlines in this area.

I've been looking for information on the effects of these lines on property values. There have been a couple of dozen studies done over the years, although none of them are particularily recent. And they're all over the map in their conclusions, although some trends do emerge.

So I thought I'd pick all of your brains here and find out what your experience has been with these. Have you had listings in close proximity to one of these gigantic towers? In your opinion did it make the property harder to sell? If you believe that it hurt the value of the property, can you quantify that at all? I'd appreciate any and all feedback!

If you're a consumer, how do you feel about buying a house in close proximity to these lines? Does it matter to you? Have you owned a house near these lines and sold it? Did you feel that the proximity to the lines made any difference either in the length of time it took to sell the property or in the ultimate price you got?

Thanks for your help and ideas!

Chuck Cornwell
RE/MAX Regency - Warrenton, VA

The true issue at hand, is "change".  No one likes change, and the idea of these huge towers.  I agree, they will be ugly, but, they will be a necessary evil, with the research I have read.  The choice at hand, a set of power lines, a couple of new power plants in our area (with these big power lines feeding to them) or brown/black outs at peak times. 

This is no different of an issue then when our cell towers were a new issue.  We now see them all over the area, and do they cause you to think "I will not buy a home here"?  I know I feel better when I see a cell tower.  I know I will get cell service, not just for business, but espcially necessary if there was some kind of emergency.

Perhaps, one of our best and closest examples to our market place is Remington, Virginia.  Home sales today still occur in The Meadows, and the power lines are right out many of the homes back door.  Is value adjusted just under the line?  Perhaps.  Is value adjusted within the Town of Remington - within site distance of the lines?  I don't believe so.

But, this is just my opinion.

Mar 11, 2007 12:58 PM
Julie Emery
Century 21 New Millennium - Warrenton, VA

Chuck,

Opinions were definitely part of what I asked for so thanks for speaking up! Good to see you here on ActiveRain!

 

Mar 11, 2007 01:37 PM