Would you buy a house that you can hear highway noise?

[Anonymous]

We are about 1/2 mile from beltway. It bothers me a lot-my DH very little. Cannot see it at all and parkland between.

To me-the fact that it is a questionable feature for you ought to give you pause! If and when you look to resell it will be a factor that troubles potential buyers so it’s a built in red flag that limits who the house will appeal to. Traffic will NOT improve in the coming years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, on top of the noise and the view, research shows negative health outcomes result from living in very close proximity to highways.

How close?

Agreed. My husband is a scientist that works in non-occupational toxin exposure and he told our realtor 2000 feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, on top of the noise and the view, research shows negative health outcomes result from living in very close proximity to highways.

How close?

Agreed. My husband is a scientist that works in non-occupational toxin exposure and he told our realtor 2000 feet.

If this is a concern, it’s worth checking out how many schools in NOVA are right by a highway. It’s a lot!

[Anonymous]

If the price is right, sure.. I think this lowers the value quite a bit

We had a chance to make an offer on one near the beltway and declined though

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. Total dealbreaker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, on top of the noise and the view, research shows negative health outcomes result from living in very close proximity to highways.

How close?

Agreed. My husband is a scientist that works in non-occupational toxin exposure and he told our realtor 2000 feet.

Yup. EPA says 500 feet is safe, but 2000 is my baseline too. If you do buy closer, make sure you learn everything you can about air filtration and be prepared to spend serious money upgrading the home to ensure the interior air quality is safe.

[Anonymous]

Definitely don't buy if you can hear the highway. Seeing the highway even worse! Sounds like you have both. Location is everything in real estate. Will be terrible for resale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, on top of the noise and the view, research shows negative health outcomes result from living in very close proximity to highways.

How close?

Agreed. My husband is a scientist that works in non-occupational toxin exposure and he told our realtor 2000 feet.

If this is a concern, it’s worth checking out how many schools in NOVA are right by a highway. It’s a lot![/quote]

+1

7 hours per day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once owned a home about a half mile from the interstate. You couldn't really hear it at all, inside or outside, during the day. But, at night, when everything else was quiet, you could hear the hum of engines whizzing by or a big truck rambling along. So, I came here to say that OP might want to consider it, if it's a good deal.

That said, based on what OP said, I would not buy that house. I would not want to actually SEE the highway from any part of my house. Also, if I could hear it during the day while outside, that would seriously impact my enjoyment of the yard/outdoor area. Keep looking, OP!

Our house is over a mile from i66 and we don't hear any road noise at all during the day, but we hear it often at night. We really don't like hearing it and will make sure our next home is even further from a major road. We realize we are really more noise sensitive than most people are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We're near the Beltway. We never hear it.

+1

I know lots of people who live near the beltway. I have house sat, pet sat, babysat, had parties at, and spent LOTS of time at their homes - never heard any traffic noise, inside OR outside the house. Windows open, or closed. The all have and use their decks and porches often. Depends on a lot of factors, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. We're near the Beltway. We never hear it.

+1

I know lots of people who live near the beltway. I have house sat, pet sat, babysat, had parties at, and spent LOTS of time at their homes - never heard any traffic noise, inside OR outside the house. Windows open, or closed. The all have and use their decks and porches often. Depends on a lot of factors, OP.

True, this depends on a lot of factors. If you blasted your headphones growing up, you may have killed enough hair cells to not notice it as much. So congratulations, you can take advantage of the discount on the house. Your lungs may not be so lucky though.

There were other posters who scoffed at the 2000 ft mark and remarked at how close schools are to the highway. First, the decision-makers who placed the school there probably did not have a kid who would go to that school. Second, the kids are only there for 6-7 years max (ES), and for maybe 6h out of the day. Then, they go home. So if you live near the highway AND your school is next to the highway, then your kids would be exposed to the smog/particles 24/7. Unless you move frequently, then you might be ok. Just be advised that someone will try to discount your house when you sell.

Keep looking OP.

[Anonymous]

Nope. I don’t have a lot of deal breakers, but this is one.

[Anonymous]

OP, how far away?

https://www.amazon.com/AIRMEGA-Smarter-Purifier-Covers-1560/dp/B01C9RIACG/

[Anonymous]

We bought 1300 ft from 66. We don't hear highway noise. The danger zone for particulates is 500 feet, elevated up to 1000 ft. Less if you're upwind of the highway. There are other factors at play too. We are surrounded by green space, we are elevated relative to the highway, there are other houses and a large building between us and the highway, and we have an air filter.