people have such different definitions of a busy road. Ex- the thread about the 'massive' house where people are saying N. Harrison st is too busy. As a result, it is hard to answer.
I live on a main thoroughfare- think one of these- Washington Blvd, Lee Highway, Glebe Road. Honestly, if I could afford to get the same house/metro proximity/ etc- one block off the road, I would have- but I couldn't, so I am happy with my decision.
The speed limit makes a HUGE difference. The amount of noise that comes from a car going by at 30mph vs. 40 mph is significantly different, as is the ease of turning onto the street, etc.

Ask all those spending big $$ living on custom homes off Georgetown Pike, Old Dominion, River Rd, etc? I don't think they care either way....

We are in a neighborhood but on the bus route. It is busier then one street over but not super busy. AND we get plowed first because we are on the bus route. One street over sat unplowed for a week after Snowzilla.

Such an interesting thread. Think the level of regret depends on the situation. Our first home was at the intersection of two busy DC roads. Drove me crazy! We put up a privacy fence and nice tall plantings and that helped somewhat. Still was super loud every time we stepped out of the door. But we got a good deal in buying the home (our first) and had amazing Metro access. We priced right and sold that home quickly when the time came.
I vowed never to live on a busy street again.
Except... we found our dream home on a somewhat busy street in a close-in suburb. It's set back off the road a great deal and was priced well. We snapped it up. So glad we did. Never any road noise inside. Rarely any road noise while in the yard...it just fades into white noise. Great public transportation access. Road is always plowed quickly during storms, ditto on PEPCO working on power outages. Slight annoyance pulling out of driveway in the am, but it's ok if you time it right with the light. Overall, very happy with the decision.

Anonymous wrote: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?

Since you're renting, you could try it and see how you like it. If you don't like it, move when the lease is up. The joy and flexibility of renting!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Lived in a cul de sac and will NEVER do it again. Too many cars and those damn basketball hoops and soccer nets...Yuck"

Do you live in a trashy neighborhood? If you have a HOA or live in an area with mostly teardowns cul de sac are great. The worse is blue collar workers parking their nasty terrible works trucks on the street.

Count de Monet: It is said that the peasants are revolting!
King Louis: You said it, they stink on ice!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Lived in a cul de sac and will NEVER do it again. Too many cars and those damn basketball hoops and soccer nets...Yuck"

Do you live in a trashy neighborhood? If you have a HOA or live in an area with mostly teardowns cul de sac are great. The worse is blue collar workers parking their nasty terrible works trucks on the street.

Regretted. Lived in Hawaii in a "single wall" house (no insulation or drywall, just paneling) across a busy street from the park/beach. The noise was unbearable. We moved withing a year and a half.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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!

Lived in a cul de sac and will NEVER do it again. Too many cars and those damn basketball hoops and soccer nets...Yuck"

+1. Yup...cul de sacs are not exactly quiet. I also hate it when the developers compress too many homes at end of the cul de sac, where all of the yards are pie shaped...

Anonymous wrote: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!

Lived in a cul de sac and will NEVER do it again. Too many cars and those damn basketball hoops and soccer nets...Yuck"