would you buy a nice house on a busy street?

[Anonymous]

https://www.redfin.com/city/250/VA/Alexandria/filter#!uipt=1%2C3%2C4%2C5%2C6&min_price=475000&max_price=600000®ion_id=250®ion_type=6&market=dc

Love this house but it is on Telegraph Road...I have not heard much about neighborhood either (Wilton Woods).

We are expecting our first baby in the spring. The busy street makes me nervous, but I am swayed by nice house, plus has a nice back yard.

Another house we are planning to see is in Old Town Alex. but small & needs some work/updates -- but great neighborhood.
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Alexandria/1315-Princess-St-22314/home/11839758

Clearly we are still a bit all over the place in our search =) .. would love any thoughts =)

[Anonymous]

Bad link on house #1.

[Anonymous]

Are you planning on private school? I know school feels ages away, but 5 years will go by quickly. The house in Old Town is zoned to a failing elementary school.
As for Telegraph, as one of the few roads in and out of Alexandria from the south, it gets very backed up during rush hour. I personally wouldn't want to live on that street.

[Anonymous]

I bought a house on a busy street. No regrets.
I don't notice the noise. You want to be set back enough that you don't feel vibrations. And you should also be aware that it will take longer to sell. But you get a significant discount.

[Anonymous]

You'll have to clarify how busy the street is.

This is a DC forum; clearly, lots of people buy houses on busy streets including the present owners of the houses you are looking at.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I bought a house on a busy street and it has been fine. That said, I'm not noise sensitive (and we have good windows that cut down on road noise). We also bought where we did because we were able to get a larger lot with a nice backyard for the kids to play.

[Anonymous]

There are busy streets and then there are BUSY streets.

I bought on a busy street. I wouldn't buy on a BUSY street.

[Anonymous]

No, a busy street is a dealbreaker for me.

[Anonymous]

From a rush-hour traffic perspective there is no difference between being on a busy street and being right off of the busy street.

For me the biggest concern about being on a busy street would be, nice sidewalk for riding bikes etc. If the busy street is right around the corner from neighborhood streets, no problem. But if you'd have to go a good 3-4 blocks to get to a neighborhood street, forget it.

Parking can also be an issue. If you have 4-5 families over for a dinner party, will there be anywhere for them to park.

Noise-wise, you get used to it so quickly you forget it's there, and windows can be upgraded.

[Anonymous]

I can't do a double-yellow line.

But beyond that, it really depends what type of neighborhood you are looking in. If you are in an area where you are going to get street noise anyway and you have a good fence set-up, then I probably would go for it. If, however, you were looking way out in the burbs (like we were) and getting peace and quiet was the whole point of the move... then, no.

[Anonymous]

Here is the house on Telegraph road (sorry)

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Alexandria/6005-Telegraph-Rd-22310/home/9758583

[Anonymous]

I bought on a busy street (Washigton Blvd) in Arlington so I could walk to metro. I ended up selling a few years later, I hated the street noise and the whole house would shake when the metro bus went by. It was my #1 priority for the next house to have a quiet street since we had a kid on the way. I regret ever buying that house.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would not live on Telegraph Road. Cars go really fast and there are no sidewalks for people to walk on. I'd encourage you to drive that stretch at multiple times of day to gauge the traffic and level of activity and whether you are comfortable with it.

[Anonymous]

You know, I would drive it and see, as someone suggested. It looks like a good price and it appears to be very wooded, and that front driveway is ideal for that situation. Could you make a left out of the house at busy times?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't live on Telegraph Rd. That's a BUSY street. Would you feel safe with your kids playing there? What about wanting to walk to a neighbor's? I think it would be loud and very trafficy.

We wouldn't live on anything but a residential street off a main road that is NOT a through road. That way you get only the people that want to be there, and they're aware they're on a street with homes and kids. sure through streets people may be aware there's kids around, but they may be using the "through" part to avoid traffic, and be less inclined to pay attention/think about kids presence.