Houses with Shared Driveways -- Pros and cons please

[Anonymous]

We looked at house this weekend with a shared driveway and wondered about people's experiences. I know a lot depends on the neighbors but is access is a real issue or kids playing basketball, etc. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

It really does depend on the neighbors. Imo the only pro would be a discounted house that I otherwise could not afford.

[Anonymous]

We have a long drive that is shared between four houses. It's not a problem. Occasionally you have to wait for people to back out. I get along with all my neighbors though.
I am towards the back and occasionally workers have blocked my way when doing work at the front houses. That's annoying.
I would prefer to have my own drive, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

[Anonymous]

Who gets rid of the snow?

[Anonymous]

deal breaker.

[Anonymous]

The only pro is that you wouldn’t otherwise have a driveway in most shared driveway situations.
It’s a negative, but like a pp said, it can get you into a home you otherwise couldn’t afford.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really does depend on the neighbors. Imo the only pro would be a discounted house that I otherwise could not afford.

This... the neighbors and also the possibility of any future neighbors if the current neighbors move one day... and you never know who you could get. I wouldn't do it in most cases.

[Anonymous]

Pros?? None.

[Anonymous]

This was one of the most awesome things in an old house of ours. Nice and level so we got a huge basketball court out of it. And we as well as our neighbors were great - we both shoveled, washed each others cars, accommodated large events, etc.

But, I wouldn't try this in an unfriendly part of the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Growing up, we always played at the houses with the shared driveway, because it gave us more space to play that wasn’t in the road. The families would be the de facto neighborhood party hosts. I have really fond memories of that.

Of course, the situation worked because no one was a jerk.

[Anonymous]

we have a Y shaped shared driveway for two homes with 1 spot for each home. wasn't a dealbreaker for us, as we're in the very close-in burbs and street parking is typically not a problem. i'm sure our house would be more expensive if it had its own drive but we moved from Dupont Circle, where parking is very limited and expensive, so this has always been a huge upgrade in ease for us. we do have a neighbor kid who likes to play basketball and asks us to move our car occasionally, but that's not that big of a deal. he's getting older now, and doesn't ask so frequently.

[Anonymous]

Living in DC - I am simply estactic to have a driveway. Only way one would work is to be shared so I take it with a grain of salt. Occasionally annoying but we get along well with our neighbor so all is well. It would suck to have an inconsiderate neighbor but we park out front a lot. We made a deal not to do snow removal on it as we both have good snow cars. We split repaving costs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who gets rid of the snow?

It depends how they are set up. We have a very long driveway (in Potomac on large lots) and the houses each have drives that branch off. The HOA is responsible to plow to the pipe stem (where they split off). Then each owner is responsible for their own short drive.
If you are considering buying, you really do need to see who is responsible for snow removal, and maintenance. When we repaved, the people in back ended up paying more because they use a longer share of the drive (it's hard to explain). Make sure you think about all of that in advance.

[Anonymous]

Even weirder behind Potomac Pool Club there is a cul-de-sac off Oaklyn. It was built where actual street with a sign and all, public street is responsibility of houses on street . No HOA, builder did it to get quick approval and put in deed owners have to pay

This is a wide street off Oaklyn where it is a cul desac and neighbors all have separate driveways

[Anonymous]

We have a long shared driveway that leads to four houses. In the middle is a big square. We share the cost of getting it plowed in the winter and on maintenance. It hasn't been a problem for us. The kids do like to ride their bikes, roller blades and hoverboards in the driveway, but it's a minor inconvenience.