Is highway noise an issue?

Question

I found a potential deal, but it's right next to the highway. 3 bed, 2.5 bath, newer construction, minor updates needed. My plan is to live in it, rent out the other rooms and eventually move out but continue to rent the entire property. My question is... Does the highway noise limit the people who would rent? Does it affect how much I can rent for? I plan on doing what I can to minimize the noise, but don't want to get into something I can't make money off of..

Thanks for your input!

Chelsi Wiejaczka · Answer

@Sam Shueh I should add that I'm in Flagstaff, it's not a terribly busy highway, so pollution and auto exhaust aren't really an issue, it's mainly the noise I'm concerned about.

Thank you everyone else for your advice! I'll probably go hang out in the area during "rush hour" and see how bad it can get and make a decision from there.

Account Closed · Answer

Naturally highway noise is a detriment to finding tenants and resale value .  If the discount purchase is enough to overcome the highway I still probably would not do it

Sam Shueh · Answer

It bothers just about 90% of people unless it is heavily discounted.  The pollutant from auto exhaust is a heath concern along 200-400 ft away. It will take way longer to unload often after multiple discounts.

Dan Gustavson · Answer

@Chelsi Wiejaczka - My only rental backs a busy corridor. It is pretty quiet at night, but all the construction trucks are pretty noisy starting around 630am. It's been a solid rental for the last three years and I've never had a tenant complain about the noise. We lived in it for the first year we owned it. The corridor will eventually become a freeway, at that point, I may roll it into a 1031 exchange for a fourplex as it may become more difficult to rent.

Pat L. · Answer

The major issue we consider is parking & egress onto such a busy road.

Dust & debris is also a constant.

Bryan Richardson · Answer

@Chelsi Wiejaczka

My personal house backs up to a highway. They have built a wall tho to dampen the noise, which it helps. Still kinda loud. Just make sure the house has good windows to block the noise when your inside.

Dave Meyers · Answer

@Chelsi Wiejaczka being close to campus I would say is more of differentiator than closeness to highway.

If you’re targeting college students I don’t see either impacting.

Chelsi Wiejaczka · Answer

@Dave Meyers It is pretty close to campus, so its a good overall location, other than being off the highway (i-40).

Dave Meyers · Answer

@Chelsi Wiejaczka is the deal local? I think specific location matters more. I see a lot of development along I-40 and 89A. Rte 66 and I-17 may be different.

Mike Franco · Answer

don't do it. Just look at the MLS and see how difficult highway adjacent houses are to sell, in general.

Look at the sales history of that street.

Is highway noise an issue?

Most Popular Reply