This is a total dealbreaker for me--I would completely rule out buying a house on a busy street, no matter how beautiful the house and/or how attractive the price. Perhaps I'm unusually sensitive to noise, but street noise would bother me constantly. My house is at the end of cul de sac backing to a park with no busy street around, and it's totally and completely quiet. I think I'm staying put!

I've lived on some major streets. Here are some thoughts:

The type of traffic matters a lot. Large vehicles are more problematic, as are fast moving ones. A lot of slow moving traffic from smaller vehicles is less of an issue.

The quality of the pavement matters enormously. Rough and/or broken pavement magnifies the noise and the shaking.

The quality of the house matters a lot as well. A few things to consider:
-the structural integrity of the house
-windows. Go for double- or triple- paned/glazed
-insulation. Hopefully there's a good amount
-walls. Either plaster or double-layered sheetrock

To reduce the sound, cultivate a love of carpets and bookshelves with books and other soft furnishings like sofas. You can make the house less noise by huge amounts with some strategy about furnishings.

As for pulling out the car, you learn the rhythms of your street and how to deal with it. I would look to see what the traffic looks like at the busiest times of the day before buying. Being patient is key, regardless of the specifics: you have to learn to wait for less traffic to pull out.

A major street has its advantages, too. Transportation is simplified in many ways. Safety is improved since more people are watching your house. But do think over your issues: I'm hyper-sensitive to sound, so I also sleep with ear plugs. It's never perfect, but nothing is!

We bought on a busy road for our quiet neighborhood in DC. I don't think we got much of a discount because of it but I don't regret it at all. The annoyances are small and infrequent and there are perks that are, IMO, underrated. I feel safer, both in terms of personal safety and security when I am not at the house, since there are always people walking on the sidewalks and there are eyes around all the time. We've never had a single issue with package theft even though our neighbors on quieter adjacent streets do. We are the first to have the street plowed and any other utility issues are taken care of very quickly. Our house is positioned on our lot so that the bedrooms and other rooms you'd want to be quiet are on the side of the house away from the street (with one exception that we use as an office). If the bedrooms were on the street side I might think twice about buying. With renting I wouldn't let this be too big of an issue, though.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone regrets BUYING on a busy/main road. People who buy these homes usually are in apartments and the suburbs just feel different to them and they don't realize all the implications. As a RENTER, I'd be less concerned as long as you feel it is safe because you don't have financial responsibility for the home. I would NOT buy as this is not a financially good call.

No, they don't. What you makes you say this?

They're first to be plowed, tend to have less mosquitoes, and are usually cheaper. No regrets at all here.

Anonymous wrote:I regretted it, mainly because it was a bus route and the whole house would shake when the bus went flying by. The china would rattle in the dining room. There were also some sketchy looking people who would walk by, some would knock on all the doors begging for money...this was in North Arlington. Ended up selling a few years later.

No busses here, and the house itself is set a fair distance back from the road. I imagine your situation was frustrating!

I regretted it, mainly because it was a bus route and the whole house would shake when the bus went flying by. The china would rattle in the dining room. There were also some sketchy looking people who would walk by, some would knock on all the doors begging for money...this was in North Arlington. Ended up selling a few years later.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone regrets BUYING on a busy/main road. People who buy these homes usually are in apartments and the suburbs just feel different to them and they don't realize all the implications. As a RENTER, I'd be less concerned as long as you feel it is safe because you don't have financial responsibility for the home. I would NOT buy as this is not a financially good call.

I don't. I save over $150k over buying the equivalent house not on a main rd. Bought 8 years ago, never regretted it for a minute.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone regrets BUYING on a busy/main road. People who buy these homes usually are in apartments and the suburbs just feel different to them and they don't realize all the implications. As a RENTER, I'd be less concerned as long as you feel it is safe because you don't have financial responsibility for the home. I would NOT buy as this is not a financially good call.

OP here. This makes sense. We're in a European market with European-quality options (read: small, not updated). This house is gorgeous and close to new, which is why I'd be sad to pass it up due to its location (which otherwise is fine).

I agree with pp. As a renter I'd be fine with it, as long as it were easy enough to get in and out of the driveway.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone regrets BUYING on a busy/main road. People who buy these homes usually are in apartments and the suburbs just feel different to them and they don't realize all the implications. As a RENTER, I'd be less concerned as long as you feel it is safe because you don't have financial responsibility for the home. I would NOT buy as this is not a financially good call.

OP here. This makes sense. We're in a European market with European-quality options (read: small, not updated). This house is gorgeous and close to new, which is why I'd be sad to pass it up due to its location (which otherwise is fine).

Everyone regrets BUYING on a busy/main road. People who buy these homes usually are in apartments and the suburbs just feel different to them and they don't realize all the implications. As a RENTER, I'd be less concerned as long as you feel it is safe because you don't have financial responsibility for the home. I would NOT buy as this is not a financially good call.

We bought on a busy road. I don't regret it.

Bump

Anonymous wrote:Does it have sidewalks, OP? That is a big concern.

There are sidewalks, yes.

Does it have sidewalks, OP? That is a big concern.

DH and I are seeking a rental (not in DC) and we have found an amazing house. It has everything we want and is gated, which makes me feel better as we have two little ones. My concern is that it's on a moderately busy road - most of my concern has to do with parking and pulling the car out, as well as potential noise.

If you lived or live on a busy road, how did it work out? Did you regret it?