House buying near a motorway

hurricane_2

My partner and i are just about to buy a house approximatly a field and half away from the M5. The house is very much what we want being in a rural location away from other properties but obviously is somewhat blighted by traffic noise that differs on wind direction and weather

So far a price has been accepted on the 3 bed semi, from its original price of plus 300k to 265k and all is set to go through but i am beginning to wonder about its resale value come the time we may want to sell.

Does anyone have any views on this situation?

Having stood in a neibouring field and listened for a while is not so bad and i would accept the noise. people everyday buy houses right next to roads too but are we trying to convince ourselves.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated

Woby_Tide

eventually you get tuned into the noise, like living next to an airport, so you don't notice it as much. As you say number of factors affect it like wind etc. also when indoors you'll have double glazing, guess you have to equate how much you like the house to how much the noise in summer say would put you off?

lush_walrus

My parents previous house was located quite close to the M25, luckily when it was built they at least had the benefit of a junction being located closely to them rather than just the downside of the motorway. For them after living in a completely rural house the motorway being built was the end of the world and they lost a considerable amount due to the addition, but that is a different situation to yours where you are proposing to buy a property where the motorway already exists.

From memory, the noise from the motorway did vary hugely from day to day and time of day too. Rush hours were the quitest as obviously cars are going slowly, getting noisier in the late evenings. You do get used to the noise and of course double glazing will block a considerable amount when you are inside with the windows closed, so winter and sleeping arent a problem generally. The one thing I would say that forced my parents to move though was the loss of any relaxing time in the garden, even though you do get used to the hum, it is always there and some days will be more annoying than others.

You dont say where you live at the moment, is it quite or next to a main road, or town centre. The reason I ask is because what you can stand will depend on what you come from, to me the motorway was significantly less intrusive than some other places I have since moved to, personally I find it unbareable where my bf lives which is right in the middle of a city with a busy intersection outside his door, but to him he doesnt even hear it!

meanmachine_2

Everyone is different, but I would only ever consider a quiet road, a property set back from that road, and well away from any dual carriageway.

But that's just me.

Some people like being on a busy road as it means that you don't get kids playing and other nuisances.

The problem you will have is expectations. People won't know your property is near a motorway, then when they arrive they'll inevitably be disappointed. Or at least 50% of people will.

I'd be in that 50% without question. But then, I work from home and am a light sleeper.

But the asking price no doubt reflects its location, doesn't it?

John_M_Business

hurricane wrote:

My partner and i are just about to buy a house approximatly a field and half away from the M5. The house is very much what we want being in a rural location away from other properties but obviously is somewhat blighted by traffic noise that differs on wind direction and weather

So far a price has been accepted on the 3 bed semi, from its original price of plus 300k to 265k and all is set to go through but i am beginning to wonder about its resale value come the time we may want to sell.

Does anyone have any views on this situation?

Having stood in a neibouring field and listened for a while is not so bad and i would accept the noise. people everyday buy houses right next to roads too but are we trying to convince ourselves.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated

For most, as others have posted, you would get used to the noise - and the motorway isn't THAT close...

However, if and when you do come to sell, you would have to take into account that there will be a number of buyers who would be completely put off by such a property (perhaps as much as 50%).

So, the question is - are you buying the property for a long-term home, or are you going to be moving on reasonably quickly. If the answer is the latter then you might want to 'pass' on this property.

Also, is the motorway issue reflected in the price? Is it cheaper than equivalent properties not near a motorway? If so, by how much? This percentage will indicate the impact on future value.

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't even consider viewing a property near a motorway, never mind buying it, even if it was the perfect house, I am sorry I know it is not what you want to hear.

calleyw

You say you get use to the sound of being near the motorway and airports. Do you. I never did.

I lived about 15-20 miles in a straight line from Bristol international airport. And after living there for nearly 7 years I never really got use to it. And at the end I was glad to leave as the planes got on my wick. As we where on the circle path for both landing and also for take off.

It interferred with radio so I had to get a DAB radio. The planes may have only come over a dozen times a day. But it started early in the morning until late at night.

But then I was at home all day so that could have been why it effected me more.

Not sure what to suggest but it is your call.


Yours

Calley

mandi

Hi ,
good question about the resale value of your property, can I ask how long its been on the market?could be that its been on for a while because of its proximity to the motorway which has put other buyers off and this would be the reason the vendors reduced the asking price by a whopping £35 k.. if this is the case ask yourselves one question if the current owners have had problems selling the chances are that you will too.. sorry I dont want to put you off but I hope this isnt the case :think: :think: :think: :think: :think: :think: :think: :think: :think:

skintchick

My parents live near the M5, not sure of exact distance but pretty close, and I think it sounds like the sea! Quite soothing because it is constant so you do get used to it - I hardly notice when I go to visit and I don;t even live there so you'd think I would notice it more than they do.

Where is your house? My parents are in Droitwich.

NervousYetFeisty

I wonder if noise is worse living close to an A-road than it is a short distance from a motorway. We live on a main road (renting) and it's horrible. After five years we are still not used to it. It sounds nothing likie the sea and when it rains you can hardly hear the TV. Triple glazing might sort that out, but we are unable to open the windows when it's hot, because of the noise and the diesel fumes. So no fresh air in half the place, ever. We are buying soon, somewhere as far away from a road like this as possible.

edda

hurricane,

I think it's down to you and your partners as individuals - both from the noise and value point of view.

Noise is very personal to each of us - I find the helicopters buzzing over the motorway near us more disturbing than the constant drone of vehicles.

As far as the value goes, I agree that the 5 being so close should be reflected in the price already. Are there any plans to build in the area, though, as you say it's quite rural at the moment (e.g. more feeder roads or in-fill housing courtesy of Mr. Prescott)?