House on a busy road?

What are your thoughts? We saw a house that we liked located in N. Jerusalem RD. House has so much potential and is below our budget which allows for renovations. Only con is that it's located on this road. Not very familiar w/ Levittown but I have small kids and that worries me.

Re: House on a busy road?

Is there a large set back on the front lawn from the street? How is the backyard.

it is not ideal to be on a busy street but someone has to live on them.

I would want a bigger backyard than front yard

House on a busy road?

North Jerusalem is a very busy road. I would only consider this if the house was set back further on the property and you had a good size backyard. What schools is it zoned for?

Re: House on a busy road?

Message edited 7/16/2018 3:53:21 PM.

House on a busy road?

I live on a quiet section of a fairly busy road. Not as busy as N. Jerusalem, but not exactly a side street either. No double yellow line. I have no issues with it at all. Seriously none. It’s almost always plowed in the winter. There are stop signs all over the place so it’s impossible to speed.

While I get a main/busy road isn’t desirable anywhere, it seems especially stigmatized on LI and I can’t help but laugh because I live not too far from where you’re looking, which is an area comprised almost entirely of capes, ranches and small splits so it’s not like anyone is stepping out of buckingham palace.

Bottom line, there are pros and cons and if you really love the house, I wouldn’t let the street stop you.

Re: House on a busy road?

House on a busy road?

I grew up in that area. Personally, I would not want to live on that busy of a road. Granted, I feel like even the side streets in Levittown get more traffic than I would like - LOL - so I am not the best person to ask.

Re: House on a busy road?

That would be a deal breaker for me.

I let my children play outside while I'm cooking dinner, for example, and I wouldn't be comfortable letting them play in front if we were on a main road.

It's also more dangerous to back out of your driveway when you have to worry about oncoming traffic.

Plus, parking when you have guests is a nuisance on a main road.

It's noisy on main roads. I like it quiet, especially at night.

When we were looking we wouldn't even consider houses on "thru" streets between main roads. I like quieter roads with more of a "neighborhood" feel.

Re: House on a busy road?

I would just make sure it has a good size backyard for the kids to play in since they won't really be able to play in the front, but the other thing that I wouldn't like is waiting forever to back out of my driveway because of the higher traffic. If that stuff doesn't bother you and you like the house then go for it.

House on a busy road?

It would have to be a real "deal" for me to consider it. Also, it would probably have to be a stop over house for me rather than something I was planning on being in for 20 years.

Most likely the premium you pay now to live on a side street, you will get back when you sell, unless this house is severely discounted.

The only time I think there might be a "deal" there is if someone overimproved the house, and you're getting a really nice house for middle of the neighborhood pricing. or if you're stretching to get into a school district where you wouldn't be able to get a decent house in this price bracket without going to a main road.

I lvied on a cut through street, no line, even by a stop sign. I was not happy living there, people blowing the stop sign, driving fast, a decent amount of traffic. And this was not nearly as busy as N. Jerusleum. So I'm not the best person to ask.

It depends on what you're used to and where you're coming from. I remember when we were looking at houses and were talking to a RE agent about a house someone was flipping on Wantagh Ave with a high price. I didn't think anyone would be buying it close to that price due to the busy street. She said, someone from Queens will buy it without a problem. Its nice, slightly cheaper than the comps and less busy than Queens. She was basically right, it sold, for more than I thought it would. However, it was back on the market a few years later.

House on a busy road?

We lived on a double yellow, cut through busy street for 3 years when we were still renting. My biggest issue was waiting forever to back out of my driveway ! Drove me nuts lol. Also at night when we sat in our den which was in the front of the house it was fairly noisy. We bought last year live in a very quiet neighborhood now and I have to say I don't think I would want to live on a busy road again.

Re: House on a busy road?

When we were looking, I wouldn't even go into the house to look at it.
I didn't want to deal with the noise and the pollution from all the traffic.
Coming from Queens and living near the Throgs Neck Bridge, I have had enough of noisy traffic and dirt.

Re: House on a busy road?

I'm on a quiet street and my DD never plays in the front yard. There is nothing for her there.
She plays in the back yard.
So it's not that that would kill it for me.
It's the backing out of my driveway and the noise.

Re: House on a busy road?

I live in N. Bellmore and am very familiar with N. Jerusalem. It's hard to say not knowing exactly where. Some stretches are more residential and houses are more set back, and other stretches are near commercial properties... shopping centers, etc. Given the schools you named, and you said Levittown, I know there are several shopping centers along that stretch, plus other busy intersections like Gardiner's Ave, and the high school.

I think it's a personal decision. You will get more for your money on a busy road than on a quiet residential street, because it is a less desirable location, harder to sell. You just have to remember it works both ways - you will get more as a buyer, but it will be harder to sell when you go to sell (and you won't get as much as comparable homes in more desirable locations). But as others have pointed out, "busy" is in the eye of the beholder. People coming from other areas, like Brooklyn or Queens, will be more open to main roads as they are not like main roads in the city.

If you really love the area, and you can't afford it otherwise, then maybe it's worth considering.

Also, consider your lifestyle...do you want a block where you are close with neighbors, have block parties, kids ride bikes and play basketball out front? Then, a main road is probably not for you. If you are ok with kids playing in the back or going to local playgrounds (there are many, including one on N. Jerusalem), then maybe it's fine for you. Only you know what you will be happy with.

The other thought to consider with busy roads is parking. It's harder to pull in and out of your driveway, and if you like to entertain/have parties, guests may have a harder time finding parking (especially if you are not right near a side street for them to turn down).

House on a busy road?

It would make me nervous with young kids. I would only let them play in the back, but I would be worried about some scenario where they somehow get out front. I think the road noise would also bother me.

House on a busy road?

My friend lives on Manetto Hill Rd in Plainview, which is a very busy road with lots of trucks. She hates it. She says she can’t open her windows because it’s so noisy and she can smell the fumes from passing trucks. And like a PP mentioned, it takes forever for her to get out of her driveway.
I wouldn’t be able to live on a busy road.

Message edited 7/18/2018 5:28:42 PM.

House on a busy road?

Nope, not for me. I take that road to work and it’s so crazy in the mornings. I can’t imagine trying to get in and out of your driveway. There are a lot of accidents on that street too. I’d be worried cars would end up on my front lawn.

Re: House on a busy road?

I grew up on a busy road (double yellow line) and it was never an issue. My sister in law always joked that growing up on a busy street just teaches you not to play in the street lol. It's not a deal breaker.

I would be concerned about truck pollution, if it's a very commercial area. Not being able to open the windows because of the exhaust would be a deal breaker for me.

House on a busy road?

would be a deal breaker for me