NWR: Buying house near train tracks

You really need to consider re-sale value as well. I would NOT go into this knowing. It's one thing to own a house and have a railroad track go on, it's quite another buying it knowing.

A friend of mine moved into a house that had train tracks behind the backyard. It was deafening whenever a train came through. It will hurt your resale value too because a lot of people won't want to be that close either. Also, if you're planning to have kids, I would be terrified to live that close to a train track in fear that their curiosity would get the best of them and something tragic could happen.

So why don't you find out a time when they come by. Then set up an appt to see the house so you are in it while it goes by. See if there is vibration/noise and then you can decide if it's something you can live with.

If you can't find times maybe ask one of the neighbors? There might not be a "set" schedule but chances are there is still a close enough guess as to when they will go by(like usually around 5, which could mean 5-5:30.)

Our community took action against our loud and noisy train and now they are forced to be silent when passing through our town. Maybe you can do the same!

I grew up in a house by the train tracks, exactly the distance the home you're looking at is...it sucked. My mom hated it and said when we were younger and napping it was the worse. Oh the plus side, we kept it as rental property and eventually the railroad bought the home to tear down and expand the railroad so my parents got a nice check for it!

Unless this is your FOREVER home you have to think about resale value. It's a lot harder to sell a home that's is so close to the train tracks.

I wouldn't do it.

I grew up two doors down from train tracks. At first it would wake me up but then I got used to it.

When I was little, there were train tracks in the woods at the edge of our backyard. Honestly it never bothered me (I was more bothered when we moved away because I was used to hearing the sounds), but my mom said it took her a few months to adjust and then she never really noticed them anymore.

Thanks everyone. I was able to catch one of the trains and it wasn't that bad but it was pretty early still. I dont know if I could deal with it day in and day out. I know these tracks are very active since its the same tracks that cross through my current neighborhood - I googled it. So these tracks have the same a** hole that likes to hold his hand on the horn all the way through the neighborhood at 5am SMH. We have a lot to think about. I feel like every house we find has something wrong with it (2 houses has train close by and 1 have a super horrible parking situation).

Don't do it! It's terrible for resale and railroads can determine at the drop of a hat to increase traffic through those tracks. Also, even if it is a silent horn area, they can change that to make the horn sound at any time. I know you love the house, but I say to keep looking.

I think you really need to consider resell value and the difficulty you will have trying to sell this home when you decide its time to move on.