The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: nic1 on April 29, 2020, 06:41:24 AM
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Need some opinions on if anyone has had this issue, I am sure we are not the only ones.
We have been in our current home for 13 years. We need to stay in this immediate area, and overall we like the neighborhood and while we would like a little more square footage (2100 sq ft for 4 people), we are content and it is a beautiful home. A few years ago an interstate was built directly behind our lot, probably 1000 feet? It was not super noisy at first, but it has become much more heavily trafficked and the noise is constant all day. We have a gorgeous backyard on an acre and I love sitting out back relaxing and even sleeping on our deck. I spend at least a couple hours out here a day on my days off thursday through sunday. We also live in a single cul de sac without a neighborhood to walk through or other kids available. I know there are no guarantees that our kids would meet friends even in a bigger neighborhood, which is why we haven't moved before now, but they are 14 and 12 and it would be nice to have that possibility.
We owe 230k on our current home and could sell it for 400k. We are looking at a lot and building in a bigger neighborhood golf community with lots of kids and pool available, home would likely cost 500k.
We are 43 and 40 years old, combined income of 250k. Around 500k in retirement assets (I know that is low, but we have only made this higher income for the last few years). Husband will be retired military officer in 6 years, if all goes well his pension will be around 80k per year for life. I have calculated we would like to have 1-1.5 million in retirement assets and I think we can get there in 10 years. I already work part time, 3 days per week, and I would like for both of us to retire in 10 years. If we move we would likely try to pay off the new home the last few years of working by taking all of his pension money and putting on the mortgage. We do have savings set aside for girls college, but will probably cash flow some of it for their living expenses. No other debt besides our mortgage.
So....Is it worth moving because I am annoyed by road noise? My husband doesn't mind it because he never just "sits outside" and he is around jets all day, but it just grates on me. I love being outside and want a home with a peaceful outdoor living area and I hear trucks go by all day long. I'm just having a hard time swallowing the cost of an increased mortgage, and then the cost of moving with realtor fees and paying for movers will be at least 25k.
Also the elephant in the room the covid situation. I am in healthcare and never would have thought I would have reduced hours and pay, but I do for the next two months. Even with reduced pay we can afford the new house, and I know my pay will rebound in the next 6 months, but it is still unsettling. Unfortunately, there is very little land (we really want to build) where we want to live, so waiting 6 months is not ideal.
Anyone that did move because of noise issues was it worth it? Is it worth the increase in the mortgage payment (probably 500 per month more), and moving expenses? Thanks for any input!
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I specifically avoided buying a house I liked very much because of the interstate behind my house. It was so bad when I was viewing the house with my realtor that we literally had to yell to each other in the front driveway. The interstate was behind the house and through the trees.
Now, we live on a main road in and out of the city and all we here are motorcycles up and down the road, the windows are new so we don't hear it often if they are shut. I also have a sizeable back yard which helps stay away from the street front.
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It would get to me also. I have a lot of noise in my neighborhood 24 seven, new windows helps,I also thought a water feature might help me enjoy the yard and drown out the street noise. I used to wear Walkman all the time I Gardened. Now my plan is to move to a more quiet neighborhood.
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I would move, 100%. Noise is the biggest factor for me to feeling at peace, less stressed, and well rested. If I lived with a constant noise like that I think I would actually lose my mind. And like you said, when you have an outdoor area that you love, it sucks that it isn't quiet and peaceful and you are listening to traffic all day. Does it bother you when you are sleeping? That would be the biggest motivator for me...I have moved several times (renting) when I have had noisy living situations that prevented sleeping well.
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I wouldn't like it.
We're 3/4 mile from a two lane state highway and it's more noise than I would prefer, especially when wind is blowing from that direction.
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I would move away from the noise, but buy used and DEFINITELY not in a golf community. It's a little inconsistent that you're considering moving due to noise, are concerned about cost, but your alternative is a custom new-build. That cost premium is not frugal and will eat into your FIRE plans.
Also it's a well recognized trend that golf communities are dying. Even if you find one that's currently vibrant, if it runs into trouble in five or ten years, you'll have to pay the piper either in increased fees to keep it going or decreased property values because your house is now associated with a failing golf club/course. It's just a financial risk that's not worth it IMO.
Go find yourself an existing home in a quiet location and join a club if you want to golf.
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Have you looked into acoustic fencing/noise reduction fencing?
I agree with FatFI2025 that a new build in a golf community is not a good buy for what you want. Look for an older established residential part of town with community already in place and a low possibility of new development in the area.
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I agree with you on building new typically being at a mark up. We need very specific set up in our garage, we have four dogs and like to have a room for them with access to the yard. They are indoor dogs as well, but we have this set up and it is really nice. We have looked at a ton of resales and by the time we updated them and added something to the garage, it would be very close to the quote we have gotten for a new build. Our current home was new construction and we never regretted it, no surprise maintenance that comes with older homes, and you know how the home is taken care of. We are not opposed to buying something resale though and may go that route. As far as the golf community I have heard the same things that they may go under and property value go down. That is a consideration, however, I don't see golf going completely away, and this course is very reasonable and has a good membership. You also do not have to be a part of the golf membership if you are in the neighborhood, so we are not paying for that right now, we may once my husband retires and has more time. Golf community would not be my top pick, but there are only two communities in the area we like in our price point, that have mature trees and are attractive and they are both golf communities. Other communities are further out which would require significantly more driving, or they have been completely cleared of trees and are unattractive to us. So, we are pretty limited.
Thanks for all the input, I will have to look into acoustic fencing. I would imagine to fence 3/4 of an acre it would be really expensive.
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I would move, 100%. Noise is the biggest factor for me to feeling at peace, less stressed, and well rested. If I lived with a constant noise like that I think I would actually lose my mind. And like you said, when you have an outdoor area that you love, it sucks that it isn't quiet and peaceful and you are listening to traffic all day. Does it bother you when you are sleeping? That would be the biggest motivator for me...I have moved several times (renting) when I have had noisy living situations that prevented sleeping well.
I like peace and quiet too.
I HATE any man-made thrum so I would move.
And I don't want to be near a constant source of inhalable exhaust emissions.
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Yes, I would move. Noise was a primary consideration when my DH and I were looking at a new place. Several houses didn't make the cut because the plane and/or car traffic noise was too much. I'm grateful everyday that we held out.
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It’s worth it to move not just because of the noise, but also worth considering your ongoing health. What kind of air pollution are you exposing yourself to now, especially because of your enjoyment of the outdoors/backyard? If you have the means to move and you want to, i would say it’s worth it for MANY reasons.
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Could you build anything that blocks some of the noise? 300m away isn't exactly next door.
I went to have a look at a place once where a train line went behind the unit, passing maybe 10m away from the back fence. Once I saw that I left!
But yeah, if it really bothers you, it's worth moving.
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Move. Especially if you have kids it's not just an inconvenience. The pollution is a major health hazard. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/highways (https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/highways)
"The area most affected, they concluded, was roughly the band within 0.2 to 0.3 miles (300 to 500 meters) of the highway.
Children and teenagers are among the most vulnerable"
Sounds like you're in the highest risk category.
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Move. Especially if you have kids it's not just an inconvenience. The pollution is a major health hazard. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/highways (https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/highways)
"The area most affected, they concluded, was roughly the band within 0.2 to 0.3 miles (300 to 500 meters) of the highway.
Children and teenagers are among the most vulnerable"
Sounds like you're in the highest risk category.
Came here to mention the pollution too. The damage that particulates, especially from big trucks, will do to your lungs is not something you should tolerate if you can afford not to.
Health is not something you should intentionally ruin.