What Do You Consider A Busy Street?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found a house that checks a lot of the boxes except it sits on a street that some may consider busy, which got me thinking, what would you consider a "busy street" when looking at a house? Cut through traffic? Double yellow line? Speed bumps?

This street in particular doesn't have any lines, but does have speed bumps and seems to get a fair amount of traffic. Sitting outside for a half hour at rush hour there were 50 cars. I would consider that to be busy but DH doesn't have a problem with it which made me curious what others think. Has anyone bought on a similar street and have regrets, advice, etc.? It does have a large, quiet backyard with a privacy fence.

Why would you care what other people think is a busy street? Do you like the house or not? Why on EARTH would you let what people think about the street in front of your house influence your decision to try to buy it?

So weird.

Because if OP buys something on a moderately busy street, eventually she will have to sell that house and wants to hear what people consider to be a busy street. Relax.

[Anonymous]

I would not mind living on a busy street since I am never in my front yard and street noise doesn't bother me. What would be concerning though is having no room for guests to park.

[Anonymous]

Depends on age of household members.
For me, it would have been nice if my kids could have walked out and walked to park. Our street was too busy (double line 35 mph). So they could not “go to the park” or to a friends on their own until much later than my sister’s kids who could cross a much quieter streets.

[Anonymous]

We bought over 20 years ago, with an eye towards our then future young children. Living on a double-yellow, a street with speed bumps, or on the same block as any religous institution or school was a no-go for us.

Even now, as we contemplate retirement in a few years and where we might land, I would apply those same rules. I don't ever want to not be able to quickly and easily get out of my own suburban driveway. Unless we end up in a city, in which case I will be taking the elevator down and walking everywhere, so I wouldn't care.

[Anonymous]

Our rule was if it’s a smaller road with no more than two lanes, and there is a sidewalk, then it is ok. Our main concern is that we want a way for our kid to be able to walk to the parks.

[Anonymous]

More than one buggy or 2 horses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found a house that checks a lot of the boxes except it sits on a street that some may consider busy, which got me thinking, what would you consider a "busy street" when looking at a house? Cut through traffic? Double yellow line? Speed bumps?

This street in particular doesn't have any lines, but does have speed bumps and seems to get a fair amount of traffic. Sitting outside for a half hour at rush hour there were 50 cars. I would consider that to be busy but DH doesn't have a problem with it which made me curious what others think. Has anyone bought on a similar street and have regrets, advice, etc.? It does have a large, quiet backyard with a privacy fence.

Why would you care what other people think is a busy street? Do you like the house or not? Why on EARTH would you let what people think about the street in front of your house influence your decision to try to buy it?

So weird.

Simmer down - someone is itching to Karen no all caps please... NP here but it matters because buyers should care about the future, specifically resale value and appeal to a wider swath of potential buyers. Sure, OP and her DH might be fine or live with it, but if a lot of future buyers won't, they'll have to factor that in. In this market, buyers are overlooking all kinds of flaws, rightfully being told to not be super picky. But when buyers have even a little more choice, things like this can cause a house to linger if it is not priced to account for something like a "busy street" or a quirky layout.

OP - as other PPs have said, depends on context. Suburbs? Then 35 mph and above, even if two-lane arterial. In DC? Low speed cut-through streets with street bumps can also fit this definition, regardless of double striping of lack of. A PP's Upper NW description spot on.

1) Don’t tell me to “simmer down.” Who do you think you are?
2) Again with the stupid. Who in EARTH buys a place worrier about resale later? It’s like a renovation — why would you worry about something that will happen on 5, 10, 15 years or more affect your decision today? This is such a weird way to think. If you like the house (or reservation), you are the one who has to live with it. Don’t base your decisions in some hypothetical transaction years in the future. That is no way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found a house that checks a lot of the boxes except it sits on a street that some may consider busy, which got me thinking, what would you consider a "busy street" when looking at a house? Cut through traffic? Double yellow line? Speed bumps?

This street in particular doesn't have any lines, but does have speed bumps and seems to get a fair amount of traffic. Sitting outside for a half hour at rush hour there were 50 cars. I would consider that to be busy but DH doesn't have a problem with it which made me curious what others think. Has anyone bought on a similar street and have regrets, advice, etc.? It does have a large, quiet backyard with a privacy fence.

Why would you care what other people think is a busy street? Do you like the house or not? Why on EARTH would you let what people think about the street in front of your house influence your decision to try to buy it?

So weird.

OP here. I'm not letting what people think influence my decision. I was genuinely curious what others would define as a busy street. I see it mentioned a lot in posts about deal breakers when looking for a house and realized we could all be talking about completely different things when we say busy street.

But you are. All that matters is whether or not the street’s traffic is acceptable to you. Yes or no? The rest of this is immaterial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found a house that checks a lot of the boxes except it sits on a street that some may consider busy, which got me thinking, what would you consider a "busy street" when looking at a house? Cut through traffic? Double yellow line? Speed bumps?

This street in particular doesn't have any lines, but does have speed bumps and seems to get a fair amount of traffic. Sitting outside for a half hour at rush hour there were 50 cars. I would consider that to be busy but DH doesn't have a problem with it which made me curious what others think. Has anyone bought on a similar street and have regrets, advice, etc.? It does have a large, quiet backyard with a privacy fence.

Why would you care what other people think is a busy street? Do you like the house or not? Why on EARTH would you let what people think about the street in front of your house influence your decision to try to buy it?

So weird.

Because if OP buys something on a moderately busy street, eventually she will have to sell that house and wants to hear what people consider to be a busy street. Relax.

Stupid people here. First of all, a busy street a feature for as many as it is a drawback, like anything else. In many towns, the grandest houses are on the busiest streets because they were once the primary thoroughfares. But more importantly, worrying about future sale is an idiotic way to go house shopping.

[Anonymous]

We recently moved to street like you're describing - it's a cut through with speed bumps. I think it's fine, I do notice cars driving by (trucks moreso), but it doesn't bother me. No trouble pulling out of the driveway or anything. We have a large, fenced backyard and a medium sized front yard with a sidewalk. When considering it, I realized that our previous house was also on a street kind of like this - I guess I care more about the house/lot and don't need to live on the quietest street (and I was definiltey team no cul de sac on the other thread!).

The only downside that I see is that my kids won't be able to ride bikes in the street, but we'll work around that. Oh, and after I moved here people started telling me "I drive by your house all the time!" which felt a little weird at first!

I wouldn't buy on a double-yellow line street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It totally depends on your comfort level, OP. I would not have any problem with speed bumps (in fact, would like that) and cut-through traffic is not that big of a deal. I can't deal with being on a bus route. We are in CCMD and there are some strange bus routes through quiet residential streets - creates so much noise and traffic.

I know, God forbid people use public transportation in your neighborhood. The gall!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found a house that checks a lot of the boxes except it sits on a street that some may consider busy, which got me thinking, what would you consider a "busy street" when looking at a house? Cut through traffic? Double yellow line? Speed bumps?

This street in particular doesn't have any lines, but does have speed bumps and seems to get a fair amount of traffic. Sitting outside for a half hour at rush hour there were 50 cars. I would consider that to be busy but DH doesn't have a problem with it which made me curious what others think. Has anyone bought on a similar street and have regrets, advice, etc.? It does have a large, quiet backyard with a privacy fence.

Why would you care what other people think is a busy street? Do you like the house or not? Why on EARTH would you let what people think about the street in front of your house influence your decision to try to buy it?

So weird.

OP here. I'm not letting what people think influence my decision. I was genuinely curious what others would define as a busy street. I see it mentioned a lot in posts about deal breakers when looking for a house and realized we could all be talking about completely different things when we say busy street.

But you are. All that matters is whether or not the street’s traffic is acceptable to you. Yes or no? The rest of this is immaterial.

NP, but let it go. Are you personally offended by her question? Do you live on a busy street and are you bitter about it?

[Anonymous]

I live on what is considered a busy street. It is a cut-through, has speed bumps and is off of a busier 4-lane road. BUT, I have a huge back yard that is our oasis. And I live in a close-in suburb that gives me access to loads of trails, shopping, my work commute, and more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found a house that checks a lot of the boxes except it sits on a street that some may consider busy, which got me thinking, what would you consider a "busy street" when looking at a house? Cut through traffic? Double yellow line? Speed bumps?

This street in particular doesn't have any lines, but does have speed bumps and seems to get a fair amount of traffic. Sitting outside for a half hour at rush hour there were 50 cars. I would consider that to be busy but DH doesn't have a problem with it which made me curious what others think. Has anyone bought on a similar street and have regrets, advice, etc.? It does have a large, quiet backyard with a privacy fence.

Why would you care what other people think is a busy street? Do you like the house or not? Why on EARTH would you let what people think about the street in front of your house influence your decision to try to buy it?

So weird.

OP here. I'm not letting what people think influence my decision. I was genuinely curious what others would define as a busy street. I see it mentioned a lot in posts about deal breakers when looking for a house and realized we could all be talking about completely different things when we say busy street.

But you are. All that matters is whether or not the street’s traffic is acceptable to you. Yes or no? The rest of this is immaterial.

OP again - It was a simple question asking what people mean when they say busy street. It's not as black and white as saying you must have sidewalks or don't want an HOA.

You may think it is "so weird" to ask such a question, but I would think it's so weird to spend $1MM+ without thinking everything through, and if this thread helps me feel more confident in my decision one way or another then why not? Isn't that what this forum is for, to ask questions and help your neighbors out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We found a house that checks a lot of the boxes except it sits on a street that some may consider busy, which got me thinking, what would you consider a "busy street" when looking at a house? Cut through traffic? Double yellow line? Speed bumps?

This street in particular doesn't have any lines, but does have speed bumps and seems to get a fair amount of traffic. Sitting outside for a half hour at rush hour there were 50 cars. I would consider that to be busy but DH doesn't have a problem with it which made me curious what others think. Has anyone bought on a similar street and have regrets, advice, etc.? It does have a large, quiet backyard with a privacy fence.

Why would you care what other people think is a busy street? Do you like the house or not? Why on EARTH would you let what people think about the street in front of your house influence your decision to try to buy it?

So weird.

Because if OP buys something on a moderately busy street, eventually she will have to sell that house and wants to hear what people consider to be a busy street. Relax.

Stupid people here. First of all, a busy street a feature for as many as it is a drawback, like anything else. In many towns, the grandest houses are on the busiest streets because they were once the primary thoroughfares. But more importantly, worrying about future sale is an idiotic way to go house shopping.

Enough with the name calling. You've already called OP weird and idiotic, just stop already.