Location, location, location

[joyeaux]

Originally Posted by LieslMet

If you don't like your potential house during a walk through the neighborhood on a hot, muggy, miserable night, you'll probably not like living there. Everyone is on their worst behavior then. People shouting, tempers flaring, you'll know who has AC and who keeps the windows shut, hear cranky, yipping dogs, loud and unruly parties, etc. If you can't handle what you see and hear on the worst evenings, you won't be able to live there happily.

Your description of a neighborhood at that time of year, sounds like a setup for an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
Can't remember which one specifically, maybe Rear Window ?

[wharton]

One thing I've learned, in moving from one region to another in our state, is how drastically these factors can change in different markets. I moved from a rural mountain area where homes on busy roads, especially those that are physically located close to the road itself, or other "defects" like being the lone home in a commercial or light industrial area, can be market poison. I moved to farm country, with a relatively high population and a shortage of single family housing due to many factors, from being one of the biggest Amish communities in the US, to booming employment and severe farmland preservation pressures. In my old location, I know of places that were eventually demolished, since nobody was interested in buying and inhabiting them for any price. In the new area, what I consider to be really undesirable homes, due to unpleasant locations, end up selling in a few weeks. They do not bring top dollar, but they sell, and are quickly occupied. Obviously, it is logical, but it was odd to be new residents, drive by a place and comment (with a bit of snark) "no way is that place going to sell" only to see a new owner unloading the Uhaul a few weeks later.

[LieslMet]

Originally Posted by joyeaux

Your description of a neighborhood at that time of year, sounds like a setup for an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
Can't remember which one specifically, maybe Rear Window ?

I think that, even for a house that's perfect - in a great location and ideal in every other way - I would draw the line at loud, barking dogs. I HATE that. Especially beagles and hounds that rush the living room window and howl, tiny little things that yip, and dogs chained up outside. They're awful.

[submart]

My house is 1/4 mile away from a highway and I love it for convenience factor.

I used to live on a dirt road in the country and that is 100% a dealbreaker. After it rains it becomes a muddy bumpy mess. I also don't like the long drive just to go shopping or out to eat.

I don't live in a HOA and sometimes it bothers me that my roads haven't been repaved in decades and some people don't keep up their properties. However, I get to paint my house whatever color I want.

Living on a main road where there is a ton of traffic is dealbreaker. I lived on a main road growing up and it was horribe getting in and out of the driveway.

[Slytrix]

How about backing up to a vacant lot that is zoned commercial?

A restaurant with a drive through went in, so besides delivery traffic you have all the drive through traffic plus restaurant odors.

Another instance the city allowed a large fireworks store so basically a bomb, 20 feet from your property. Felt bad for the closest couple homeowners, but, it was zoned for it. Buyer beware.

[Okey Dokie]

Originally Posted by Slytrix

How about backing up to a vacant lot that is zoned commercial?
.

I agree that’s an iffy situation..but in 1984 I passed on a really nice house because it backed to commercial land. Fast forward to 2019......it’s still undeveloped!