Re: Your home & the LIRR

Re: Your home & the LIRR

It would be a deal breaker for me, sorry Moe

Re: Your home & the LIRR

Do not make it a deal breaker, I live right next to the track and it is up high so we hear the train but you get used to it. By the second night it will not be a problem. When I brought my son home from the hospital he adjusted quickly and has slept through the night. If you love the house I would get it.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

Deal breaker for me. I have friends who live near the train and all conversation must cease if we are outside because the train is coming through. You can hear it in the house even with all the doors and windows closed.

When we were looking we saw a few houses that were next to the tracks - we didn't even look at the houses because of that.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

I lived in an apartment in Kew Gardens that backed up to the railroad. It was fine for my one year rental but honestly, I wouldn't buy there. Watching tv I had to sit with the remote in my hand. As I'd hear a train coming, up went the volume... as it started past, down it went. This occurred allllll the time.

We now live 1.5 blocks from the railroad and that is totally fine. Other than the horn (which will stop soon ) you would never know it's there.

ETA: both tracks for me were non-elevated tracks.

Message edited 8/16/2007 9:12:37 AM.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

My ILs have the train tracks right behind their house. There is only a fence and some grass separating them. They have a deep property. They live on the south shore in Suffolk County.

It's a tough decision to make. For them, it works. The train does not come by that often, rarely blows the whistle when it's behind them and they've really gotten used to it. I've been there plenty of time hanging out in the backyard (they have an in ground pool) and honestly, I've never minded it. If you ask them, they actually LIKE it. No neighbors back there to worry about!

Re: Your home & the LIRR

my gf looked at a HUGE house in St James , huge property , beautiful new huge house but the deal breaker- LIRR in backyard!
for resale very bad.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

I would not buy a house with the LIRR in the backyard. That is a definite deal breaker for me.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

Moe, it would depend on the line and the setup of the house.

I had an apt. in a house and the LIRR was right in front of the house - house, front yard, street, RR tracks. You do get used to the noise of the train, but I think it would matter to me if the bedroom windows are facing the tracks, or if they are on the other side of the house. Also, the line we were on did not run often late at night - after 10:00 I think it came by maybe once every 2 or 3 hours. If you are on more of a main line and will hear trains all night, that would make a difference to me.

One plus side - the noise of the train might be better than really annoying neighbors behind you.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

The LIRR runs right behind our backyard-- we are walking distance from the station. DH and I were kind of looking at houses and had actually agreed that if we found a house that happened to be close to the tracks again- it really wouldn't bother us. In the beginning, we would hear it, but it has never really bothered us. I don't even notice it now until my 2 yr old says "Choo choo train!"- He loves it : )
We did build a sound wall when we moved in-- basically a concrete filled cinder block wall -- and covered it with a pretty cedar fence. Good luck : )

Re: Your home & the LIRR

It's up to you, but I would skip it. It's going to be annoying, and you would probably have trouble reselling in the future for this reason. DH and I went to look at one house that was like this--when we saw where it was located, we didn't even bother.

Our old co-op complex was near a LIRR station, though not our apartment. Some of the others were right behind the tracks though. Our REA said everything in those apts. shakes a bit when the trains go by, and they are very hard to sell.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

That would be a deal breaker for me Moe, sorry.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

I'm sure you get used to it, but it was a deal breaker for us.

I grew up 1/2 mile away from (Metro North in CT) train tracks and it they were few and far between, but I always noticed the whistle. I insisted that whatever house that we looked at must be at least 1/2 mile away (since DH does need the train for work)

Re: Your home & the LIRR

I lived in an apt on the 5th floor right behind the LIRR tracks and it was LOUD. Also, anytime the honked their horns (which seemed like all the time) it was painfully LOUD.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

OMG I wonder if it's my parent's house that you are looking at?? Is it in Massapequa Park?????


The train is hardly noticable if you live down the block unless you're really listening for it..

Re: Your home & the LIRR

The LB line of the LIRR runs in back of my parents house - the house I grew up in. There are two other neighbors yard's as a buffer, so my parents house is not on the tracks, but you can see the train go by. I guess growing up there it was second nature and I totally didn't even notice it when it goes by.

The only thing I would look into because it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, is that its not 500 feet from the station, because that is where they start blowing the horns entering the station.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

Re: Your home & the LIRR

DH and I actually wanted something close to the LIRR (Walking Distance) - We're about 4 blocks away, but the Massapequa Train station is elevated, which makes it less noticeable .......... -
you CAN hear it if it's really quiet, to be honest I hear the "ding" of the doors' opening and closing louder than I hear the train coming through .........-

I wouldn't want the train IN my backyard though, that would be too close for me -

Re: Your home & the LIRR

Re: Your home & the LIRR

It wouldn't be ideal but I don't think I would rule it out completely.

I used to rent an apartment that was right next to the Pt Wash. train tracks - the tracks were maybe 8 feet from the side door. I got used to it pretty quickly and it didn't bother me.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

My grandparent literally had the RR in there backyard and we got so used to it, Personally I wouldnt want it. I would think about accidents and commotion then the "what ifs" GL.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

Message edited 8/25/2007 9:48:34 AM.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

We have it across the street and it doesn't bother us at all and it's a major line (Babylon). You can hear the train at night, but you tune it out quickly.

My only concern would be if you are close enough to a street-level crossing where the whistle would be blowing frequently.

Re: Your home & the LIRR

My aunt lives right up against the track like what you're describing and she's been there for at least 15 years so I guess it doesn't bother her at all

Re: Your home & the LIRR