Will I regret buying a house next to the freeway?

by Alessandra Imanabadi

By Alessandra Imanabadi · Nationwide Fine Homes

Find out how the location feels during your real life—not only during an afternoon showing.

I often recommend returning to a neighborhood late at night. Listen from a public place, notice the surroundings and arrange any additional property access with permission. An open house cannot tell you what bedtime will feel like.

Listen where you would live

Ask to experience the bedrooms, garden and main living areas at relevant times. Compare windows open and closed. Traffic, wind and the position of the home can change what you notice.

If the sound bothers you during a short visit, do not assume you will stop noticing it after paying for the home.

Investigate the improvement before relying on it

Windows, sealing and ventilation improvements may help particular issues, but a quiet bedroom with closed windows is not the same as an enjoyable backyard. Have specialists assess the result you can reasonably expect. Do not assume filtration or a wall eliminates every concern associated with the location.

Think about your future sale

A location discount may buy more home for your money. But the next buyer will consider the same trade-off. Compare actual nearby sales rather than assume a universal discount.

Your agent should help you evaluate both the extra house you receive and the compromise you will live with.

I would be pleased to walk through that balance with you. You can take time to experience the setting and decide whether it feels like somewhere you will enjoy coming home.