Property buyers or homeowners can be easily divided into two broad categories: People that prefer living on or near a main road and people who like an isolated and peaceful location.
Ever wondered why such preferences exist? Well, some pros of living on a main road can include better safety, accessibility to public places, mass transit, shops, and schools. The drawbacks are, however, excessive noise, lack of privacy, and polluted air. Sometimes, these details can turn into major deal-breakers for some property seekers, while others don’t necessarily mind this environment and value accessibility above everything else.
So, is buying a house on a busy street a bad choice? Let’s walk through the pros and cons of living on a main road to find out!
Pros and Cons of Living on or Near a Main Road
Some buyers do not think beyond the fences and just want to place their nameplate on a property if it satisfies their basic criteria, which can be the size of the property, number of rooms, amenities, and neighbourhood, to name a few. Even if some people cross the property line and try to think beyond it, they find it difficult to stick to and verify the most common must-haves. In short, unthoughtful nods at the beginning of buying a property lead to displeasures and regrets later on.
To bring you up to par with the basics of investing in Pakistan’s real estate market, we have hand-drafted a list defining the advantages and disadvantages of living on a main road. You can easily compare the points mentioned on our list with your preferences and personal lifestyle to make a decision that will not haunt you and ruin your experience of owning a property.
Pros of Living on a Main Road
Finding the house of your dreams can be a tough hunt at times since there are a lot of aspects to consider. The most crucial decision is whether to purchase a property in a hustling and bustling location or an isolated and serene one. Well, if you’re also struggling with such a dilemma – here are some pros of living on a main road.
- Proximity to Mass Transit and Public Places: Living on a main road will definitely favour homeowners in terms of staying close to public places, retail stores, and public transportation. They can hop on any public bus or walk a few paces to shop for daily commodities without any hassle. If the homeowners want to be right next to social amenities such as restaurants, cafes, and public parks, then this type of property is a huge plus for them. You can visit Zameen Area Guides to explore options in public places and transport in various Pakistani neighbourhoods.
- Safe and Secure Housing Option: Commonly, heavily trafficked streets or main roads are well lit and are usually crowded with people moving around, so even walking about and around feels safer.
- Affordable Residential Schemes: For obvious reasons, buying a house on a main road is generally more economical. A broadly accurate principle of selling a property on a busy street is that it doesn’t get you the same resale value as a property in the back streets.
Cons of Living on a Main Road
- Noisy and Dusty Streets: We know for a fact that buildings erected on main streets are closer to public places and traffic. So, increased noise from high traffic areas is one of the biggest deal-breakers associated with living on a main road. However, there are certain measures to reduce the intensity of noise by making smart choices during your home décor process. For instance, installing double glazed fixtures can work for some, but the outdoor areas are extremely prone to get punctuated with the happening streets. However, homeowners should also remember that the streets get crowded during peak hours only and not for the entire day. Hence, they should walk the extra mile and investigate this before making a decision. On the other hand, exposure to busy streets will invite dust inside your home. Pollution and dust from automobiles and roads are among the most irritating and uninvited visitors for properties on a main road. The pollution and dust can lead to certain allergies, requiring the owners to install an air filtration system in the house, which is an added expense.
- Slower Price Growth: The general rule of thumb is that buying a property on a main road will cost lower than the one in the back streets. So, as much as buying a house on a main road is an affordable option, the same can go against the buyer when they’re selling out the property. The easiest way to explain is that properties on busy streets have slower price growth and lesser resale value.
- Ill-suited for Families with Kids and Pets: Properties on busy streets and close to high traffic areas will need parents and part-owners to be more vigilant in ensuring that their children and pets are not left unattended in case they wander or escape out. So, living on or near a main road can tend to be a risky option for families with kids and pets if they’ve not installed safety boundaries or alarms.
Are you still wondering what the right option for you is? Well, just like many things in life, there are no rights and wrongs of living on or near a main road. The only thing that you should weigh is the price factor if you plan to sell the house shortly after purchasing it.
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