Would you buy a house next to freeway? (Seattle, Kirkland: neighborhood, school)

[uday029]

We found a house that we like in Kirkland, but it is next to I-405 freeway. It is next to the freeway but still have to drive quite a bit to access the freeway. There is a sound wall approximately 135 feet away. There is one other house between sound wall and the house we are interested in. This home satisfies most of our criteria in terms of size, location, and school quality. In addition, it is much newer compared to all other homes nearby and is within our budget.

I don't usually mind road noise. I am worried that we might have difficult time if we ever decide to sell in the future. My concern also stems from health effects of car exhaust, dust and pollution. Of course, I can't smell the fumes, but I'm sure it's still there.

I think we should avoid but its just too tempting considering the condition of the home and its cost. What should we do? Do you think it will affect the resale value and/or the health?

TIA for your time.

[Diana Holbrook]

If you're in a rural area, being next to the freeway makes a big difference in noise and fumes. If you're right in town.... does it? What is going on in the surrounding neighborhood? What's it likely to become?

[Botev1912]

I wouldn't. You can't even open the windows because it would be like living on a freeway. Freeways are much noisier than busy city roads 24 hours a day.

[fnh]

That you're asking this question, answers your question. Yes, it impacts resale and health and is priced accordingly now, and you will have to price accordingly and anticipate longer time on market when/if you sell down the road. Only you can decide if that's a tradeoff you want to make.

[pnwguy2]

I would, and have. I lived just above I-5 on Capitol Hill in Seattle in the mid-80's. It's funny, after awhile the freeway noise becomes somewhat like "white noise". Easy to ignore, easy to sleep, but that was just me.

[Hemlock140]

The biggest issue is that someday they may widen it and you end up even closer or lose the house to the WSDOT. Look at the homes along 520 approaching the bridge. I personally wouldn’t like the noise and fumes, but yes, people do get used to it. We are 6 miles from I-90 and 520 and 400’ higher and we can sleep with windows open and it’s silent.

[GraceKrispy]

Originally Posted by pnwguy2

I would, and have. I lived just above I-5 on Capitol Hill in Seattle in the mid-80's. It's funny, after awhile the freeway noise becomes somewhat like "white noise". Easy to ignore, easy to sleep, but that was just me.

I have had that experience as well (different location, but also "white noise" from the freeway).

Originally Posted by uday029

I think we should avoid but its just too tempting considering the condition of the home and its cost. What should we do? Do you think it will affect the resale value and/or the health?

The price reflects the location. That's why it's so temping- it's a good house in a less desirable location. Resale value would have the same experience- a lower price than you'd get for the same house elsewhere. The health concerns would be more of a concern to me, so I'd look into that a bit further.

[thatguy950]

Fumes, sirens, noise from big rigs

[flyingsaucermom]

I would not.

[mayfair]

No. Having lived near Hwy 99 was bad enough. During inversions in winter, the stagnant air from all the traffic lingers close to the ground. If the housing market has a downturn, places near the freeway probably will be harder to sell than somewhere more desirable.