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Honestly, you can get used to any noise. I grew up in a house less than a mile from Lambert International Airport and we had big ole jets flying over our house at all hours of the day and night. It was so loud it rattled the windows.
After a while, you don't even notice anymore. :)
I did, it sucked. It went right behind my first apartment, it used to wake me up in the middle of the night because of the noise and it made the place rumble.
Depending on how close it is, and how/when they blow the horn in relation to your house, you get used to it. However, the track by me (like a football field away) recently went silent (no horns in town) and it's GREAT. So I guess I did notice the 2am and 6am trains, just not that I was aware of.
Maybe you can see if you can spend a night or two there (if it's not occupied) to see what the noise level is like??
There is a house that we love too and I can't get over the fact that it's by a railroad. There's something about it that I just don't like.
How far are you from the tracks?? What kind of track is it? We are actually about 1000 ft from a freight track so the trains dont pass by very often and the only time we hear anything is its completely quiet and it's really distant so it doesnt bother us at all. In the house on any normal day we dont hear it. The only other annoying thing is that they arent supposed to toot their damn horns after a certain hour, but they do anyways.... so when I'm trying to sleep at night, I can hear the train and horn. It's not loud enough to wake me or my husband though once we're asleep.
Wow what a beautiful house! I'm wondering where you live since you found a huge house like that for such a small price. My FI's first studio was 130,000 and it was smaller than that living room picture you posted.
Anyway, I'm rambling. In the studio we were across the street from the LIRR trains and they ran all night. Now they never actually blew any whistles but after a few weeks I got used to it and it got to a point where I didn't even notice the noise.
What I did for the first few weeks was wear my ipod to bed with soft music playing (classical or white noise) to help me fall asleep til I got used to it.
I grew up about 2 miles from the train tracks, and I could hear the horns several times a day.
I hoenstly wouldn't buy a house next to it. Even though you probably get used to the noise, I would be scared about resale.
@rubyroad10: I have and I hated it. The trains were so annoying when they rang their horn. And if you are anywhere near an intersection where the train crosses, expect to her it 50,000 times a night. If it is far enough away, it will be muffled and easy to get used to. Otherwise expect to be annoyed and made slightly crazy.
I think you'll probably be able to get used to it. During college I lived in a tiny town with frequent trains that did have to use the horn at crossings. After the first few nights, I never heard it again. The folks that lived literally feet away from the train track had the most issues with it, but never enough to discourage them from living there.
I'd recommend trying to talk to as many neighbors as you can to see what they think about this particular situation with the train. based on your exterior picture, it doesn't look like the house is right on the train track (unless it's across the street in the front) and it's amazing what a buffer of a few houses can do. If you're planning on having young kids in the house, you might also try to ask the neighbors about that too - sometimes it's easier for adults to tune out noise than kiddos during naptime, etc.
The house is beautiful! Good luck!
Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll have to ask the neighbors, I suppose! It's a Canadian National Railroad, and the house is on the opposite side of the street as the tracks (as in, there's a buffer row of houses). And @Otaqueen: I'm in the 'burbs of New Orleans.
Are you planning on making it your long term house or are you planning on staying for five years etc. and them moving again? The reason I ask is obviously resale value. If this is a house you could picture yourself in long-term, then resale doesn't matter as much. However, if you think you will move again soon, then you may want to consider it.
You'll get used to it! I used to live like 1/4 mile from train tracks (in my back yard) and it hardly EVER bothered me. Now I live next to an airport and it isn't that bad either. The only plane that wakes me up is the 6am on Saturday morning. The house is TOO gorgeous to pass up! Congratulations =)
The house is gorgeous! When I was younger I actually lived a block or two away from train tracks and you get used to is really quick. It was actually pretty cool! After a while I could tell if one was late or early. nice pass time:D
I lived right next to some tracks when I was living in Switzerland and I loved it! I got to really love the sound of the trains and the horns. It was very comforting somehow.
It's possible that the trains in Switzerland are less annoying than the ones in Canada though.
GORGEOUS house!!! So jealous. I live about a block from a set of train tracks now (though not a lot of trains come through), and I never notice the noise. My first apartment was about three blocks from the tracks with trains running ALL THE TIME, and while I noticed the noise at first, within a couple of weeks it just became white noise.
I agree with the previous poster, it may cause real resale and property value issues.
There is a train that comes right behind our backyard (maybe 10-15 yards from the actual house) and it never bothered me. My dogs don't even stir when it comes about.
Beautiful house! I lived next to a railroad in college for about a year and a half - split between one summer and a school year (with a year in between). The first few days of both times when I moved in, it was noticable and it seemed kinda loud, especially when they'd blow the horn. But after about a couple weeks, I never noticed.
According to Google, I was less than 500 feet from the tracks. With no houses or trees in between - just a parking lot and horse pasture.
My FI's last apartment was right behind railroad tracks... and by right behind they were about 15 feet away. It is a very busy line as it runs Amtrack and freight lines. Honestly we all got used to the noise. If my dream house was across the street I would probably go for it, especially one as nice as the one you are looking at!
I would recommend getting a copy of the rail schedule and camping out near the house when a train is supposed to pass by. You should definitely note how loud it is and if it shakes your car at all. The schedule isn't that important since it will change over time, but you should definitely figure out how much the house is affected. Also, I know you said there is a 'buffer' row of houses, but make sure your house is not visible from the train at all which would be a little disconcerting knowing there are random people looking in your yard at all hours.
I had a friend who lived on a beautiful cul de sac street before city planners came in and built a highway in her back yard. You would think it was terrible, but it actually wasn't too bad since the highway was about a football field away and they put up a really high concrete fence that no human (or car) could scale. You couldn't hear the highway from her house and you wouldn't really know it was there unless you knew what was behind the wall.
And I live in NYC which could be very loud, but I made sure to buy an apartment in the back of the building so I'm not street facing which makes all the difference. There are also sound proof interior windows you can have installed to minimize noise.
@krsmall: it may cause real resale and property value issues.
I think it's true that it may be harder to sell, depending on how bad the noise is and how many people are willing do deal with it. But I dont think the property value will tank or have issues anymore than any other house in the town. The purchase price should already be adjusted for the fact that it's near the tracks, so as long as you pay market value for it, your property should gain/lose value just as any other.
I grew up always living next to or near railroad tracks. I can't hear any trains where we live now and I MISS them!
We are not far from the airport, so we here planes going overhead several times a week. We don't even notice them unless we are upstairs in bed, with everything turned off and awake. I agree with PPs, sit outside the house when a train goes by, or see if you can go inside to hear the noise level. Also, talk to the neighbors
I'm sure you would get used to the noise but keep in mind that if/when you go to sell, many people may not even consider buying from you simply because of the location near the train tracks.
I grew up in a house near train tracks and I honestly could not hear the trains, even though I could see them over the roof of the home across the street (directly next to the tracks). They were purely background noise that I adjusted to. That said, I would not buy a home near them since we have a child and pets. They are a safety hazard for fearless teens (yeah... let's not talk about the dumb stuff my brother, myself, and our friends did on those tracks). And if a pet gets out of the yard, you may be in for a tragedy. The dog we will be taking in is a runner, and it's just not worth the risk.
When I was in junior high we lived in a condo right by the railroad tracks. There was a buffer of other condows and tall trees. I hated it. Every time it went by the windows would rattle and it would wake me up. I never really got used to it. I guess it's ok for a temporary living situation but not for a home you're buying. You're going to have a very hard time selling it down the line. Most people will not consider buying on a busy street, near a railroad or highway or backing up to a business. We just bought a house and those were the first criteria I gave to our agent.
I lived in a small college town and you could hear the trains no matter where in town you were. I loved them, personally; the sound of trains at night makes me think of home. That said, it's not everyone's cup of tea, but you definitely can get used to any noise. I live directly under the flight path to an international airport and I don't even notice them.
You might want to be concerned about resale value, though, because a lot of people *do* have the same resistance to living near train tracks.
I personally wouldn't. To me location is just as important as the house. And I would not want a house by the railroad tracks. Regardless of whether we would get used to the noise or not.
Our current house, I don't even know where the railroad tracks are but occasionally I can hear them in the distance!
I lived on a farm for a couple years and freight trains passed throught the property. Not only did I get used to the sound, but I actually miss it. Granted, it wasn't right behind my house. I wouldn't want a train so close that the house was shaking, but I wouldn't let a train "derail" me from purchasing a great house.
I live near tracks now and I've grown to really like the sound of trains.
Are you planning on having children though? That's the only thing that would make me nervous-- if the kids could get close to the tracks.
I'd also take a look around the neighborhood-- our part of the tracks are nice, but railroads often have the reputation of seedier neighborhoods and more crime.
While you will get used to it, it was amazing when we moved and didn't hear those railroads anymore!
i use to live next to railroad tracks as well and after about a month you wont even wake up anymore. Its not as terrible as you think it is lol :)
The house is gorgeous btw!
I personally would run away from that one! It's gorgeous, but we spent one night in a hotel next to train tracks, and it was AWFUL. We barely slept all night. I don't think I could get used it.
That house is gorgeous! Wow, it looks awesome.
However, I probably wouldn't buy it. FI lived next to railroad tracks in college (honestly, not even RIGHT next to, but probably 1/4 - 1/8 mile away?), and they woke him up ALL THE TIME. These trains in particular ran a lot at night, and when I would visit, the CHOO-CHOOOOOOOOing would wake me up from sleep in a panic. It was SO LOUD.
That said, I'm sure it varies depending on the tracks/trains/routes. Perhaps this track won't have trains running at all hours of the night, or perhaps the tracks aren't close enough to cause you trouble. I'd definitely visit the house during different times of the day, and maybe even ask the neighbors what they think about the trains (if they're bothered by them, if they're really loud, etc.).
I don't live near a track (nearest one is over 2km away) and I can still hear when one passes
I lived with RR tracks one street behind us and it was no biggie! It's used quite often too... atleast 1x a day. Every now and again if I was on the porch talking on the phone I'd have to go inside b/c of the horn, but otherwise you get used to it. Never woke any of us up (including my DS who was 2-5 while we lived there) and when we were up we never seemed to really hear it (except for the horn when it would blow)...
Now my mom lives on the next street over so it runs RIGHT BEHIND her house & we still never really hear it.... guess all those years at the other one got us that used to it. lol
I live beside a railroad that runs 7 to 8 times a day and I can only hear it when it stops since they all bang together or in the summer if I sleep with my door opened. I actually find the sound super comforting for some reason. I barely ever hear it unless it's totally quiet and I'm 'trying' to listen for it... I think that house is too cute to pass up because of train tracks =) When we look for a house one of my 'requests' is that we be within earshot of a train. lol
I grew up less than a block from railroad tracks and it never bothered me. Our house now about a mile from railroad tracks as well. We have trains that go by about twice an hour, less on weekends. You get used to it. I find the noise soothing too. The only time I 'consciously' notice the noise is the odd time they blow the whistle because it's so rarely. They were doing work on the tracks for what seemed like forever (seriously, at least a year), and that sucked, but now that it's done, it's nice and quiet again. We can also see the train bridge from our back yard and it's kind of neat and nostalgic to see it going by. And pretty at night too :)
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We found a gorgeous house that we're interested in buying for a steal of a price (229,000)! Here are some pictures:
(yes, it comes with the hot tub)
Problem? It's next to a railroad! Have any of you lived next to a railroad? How horrible is it?