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Help! I found a house in Apex but was told there will be freight trains running twice a day behind the house. The distance between the house and the rail is 200 feet apart.
Do you think when the freight trains come by, it will be very loud? Any idea how loud it is? Anyone have similar experience about living next to the rail road? Please share your thoughts. Thanks!
Depends on how much you enjoy the rattle and rumble of trains twice a day and whether you have children.
We have a cabin in Alaska about three hundred yards from the railroad. When I was footloose and fancy free, I loved the rumble of the trains going by. Loved the sound of the train whistle off in the distance. Once we had kids, not so much. For some reason, railroad tracks are so enticing to kids. The love to search for unique rocks in the gravel bed. Love to put their ear on the track and listen for trains. Love to do whatever it is that Mama does not want them to do.
Every time I heard that rumble, I had to quickly count heads. Once, our two year old sat on the tracks and stubbornly refused to move. I had to run through knee deep crusted snow to grab her. I got her off in time to see the stunned look on the engineer's face. Later, we found out that they look for movement ahead. Since she was sitting still, he didn't see her. But, in any case, the train could never have stopped in time.
Also, what is two trains a day might be a dozen in the future. Read that Warren Buffet bought up railroad stock a year or so ago as he believes moving goods by train will go way up as the economy recovers. The guy has a good track record in investing, or so I understand.
If the property is near the rail line from Apex to Durham -- the one that runs roughly parallel to NC 55 -- there is very little chance that train frequency will increase. Existing freight trains on this line are short and run at slow speed.
If the property is near the rail line that runs Raleigh-Cary-Apex-Sanford, there are two Amtrak (passenger) trains in addition to longer and somewhat faster freight trains. It's more likely that train frequency on this line will increase, but I doubt it will happen in the next 10 years.
When I was younger I once lived on the final approach flight path to a major Navy air station. Very loud but fantastic sights. After awhile you just got use to it. Occasionally a C5A would come in and that WOULD get your attention (different sound than other aircraft). Never once bothered me back then. I returned recently and visited a friend who still lives in the area. We walked out back and all of a sudden I found myself wanted to hit the ground as a fighter jet approached tree top level. I guess bottom line is you will get use to the trains but visiting guests will either find it fascinating or aggravating. I don't think it would be too bad as long as you are not in the area where they blow their warning horns every time they pass.
The way i look at it is, if you have to ask it is already not OK in your mind. That is pretty close, I would just keep on looking for a better location to buy a house.
If you think it may be an issue, then when you would attempt to sell this home potential buyers will also see this as an issue. I lived near train tracks before and would never do it again. It's not just the noise, freight trains actually cause your home to shake. It's gets old quick!
It depends on if they blow their horn. I live in Wilmington (for now) but am two blocks away from the train tracks and the trains blow their horn in the middle of the night - it's incredibly loud - I cannot imagine living right next to the tracks. Interestingly, we also get fighter jets above - it's living surround sound !
We lived in a house with train tracks in the back yard and a block over in front of our house; near downtown Cary. They didn't blow the horn and we basically never noticed them. The only concern I have is resell potential.
Resale value is less of an issue if the trains are priced in when the OP buys.
Can the OP get similar new construction and amenities in a great Apex location at the same price? If yes, then Village of Apex becomes less compelling.
Trying to resell in a subdivision that is not nearly completed, and trying to compete with the builders to resell a house is much more of a concern.
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