Is it OK to buy a house 0.4 miles away from the freeway?

[Anonymous]

I live right next to Connecticut Ave, which is a highway though nowhere near loud as I495 or I270.

It's noisy, and you hear sirens.

But I have 3 bus routes near me, a train station nearby, and quick access to nearby areas.

Plus I can walk to several shops, grocery, etc.

There are trade-offs to every decision.

[Anonymous]

I live near a freeway and it doesnt bother me. I figure living in a major city has some kind of noise anywhere you are. At least the freeway noise is more white noise.

[Anonymous]

You have just described a large swath desirable neighborhoods in of McLean, Potomac, Bethesda, Arlington, Alexandria, etc.

Until Washington congestion gets up to the level of say, Los Angeles, living close to the interstate will not significantly impact your quality of life.

[Anonymous]

I would not buy it because when I look at the pros and cons of buying a house, I have one eye on how various things will affect resale down the line.

There may be those who are not bothered by its proximity to the highway but others would rule it out. So why buy a house which would be a turn-off for a fair number of people even if I could live with it?

[Anonymous]

I am a public health expert and can attest that there are credible studies showing health problems for people living near freeways. However, the risk is fairly low. I'd be more concerned about schools, noise and resale. On the other hand, there has also been an increase in property values of homes close to Beltway access. If you like it, do it!

[Anonymous]

We live about that close and DS got asthma this summer. We found research showing that the particle pollution can cause asthma in some kids. Do some quick research, esp if you have allergies in the family. We've gotten his asthma under control but we are moving. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

http://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/5709-Fairfax-Dr-22205/home/11237642
Op- any chance you're talking about this place? We looked at it this weekend -- very appealing price wise and Westover park walking distance, oh and the Yorktown pyramid of course. However, 66 is your front yard and with one kid suffering from asthma, we passed on it. I think I could live with the noise, but not the pollution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live about that close and DS got asthma this summer. We found research showing that the particle pollution can cause asthma in some kids. Do some quick research, esp if you have allergies in the family. We've gotten his asthma under control but we are moving. Good luck!

I guarantee that the asthma will follow you no matter what.

[Anonymous]

There is no link to the highway and asthma. Give it to trolliez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no link to the highway and asthma. Give it to trolliez.

True, but if you have asthma, breathing in exhaust is not going to make it any better.

[Anonymous]

No but there is evidence to link pollutants from automobiles to lung cancer, specifically adenocarcinoma. Everyone avoids cigarettes but living in a environment with high levels of particulates is also very harmful. You just get a different histologic type ( squamous vs adeno)

[Anonymous]

We looked at a house in Cherrydale in Arlington once that was close to 66. The highway traffic was surprisingly loud and I'm sure the car exhaust wasn't great either. Glad we passed.

[Anonymous]

The studies link large trucks not cars.

[Anonymous]

We lived in a house across from the highway in a great neighborhood. I don't know if we'd do it again. The noise was fine, but we had a hard time selling the house.

[Anonymous]

OP--

What "freeway?"

Do you mean the beltway?

Rt 50 in Va

6 lanes of Wisconsin Ave?


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