Buying on a main road - long term positive of vehicle change

[CoolHands]

I had a thought Buying on busy main roads could be a good long-term strategy if it allows you to get closer to the popular places (I live in london so am thinking generally of london places) - if in 30 yrs time petrol and more importantly diesel engines have been legislated off the road in favour of electric, there will be very little noise, and no local pollution. Hence having properties on a main road near somewhere good will become more attractive, and the price differential will reduce. So buy cheap now, and the price increase (should, according to my theory!) outstrip conventional price increases.

Now all I need is the money to start my portfolio...

[robbieduncan]

There will still be road noise. Tyres on tarmac are not silent. Idiots playing loud music in their cars will still exist. Cars will still have horns. Electric cars may well be legislatively forced to "play" a noise for the blind. In short people will still prefer the quieter streets.

[Mr GrimNasty]

The worst noise living on a main road is not the vehicles, but the high-power stereos, imagine your windows rattling, or a herd of elephants trotting through your house, or your walls randomly being hit with a jackhammer 24hrs a day.

And as cars are going to be forced to emit noise to alert pedestrians, I can foresee customization of said noises becoming popular amongst the moronic masses, so you will be assailed 24hrs a day with buzzes, beeps, rayguns, 'you're only supposed to blow the......', 'woop woop here com da police' etc. etc.

[enjo]

^ Plus if you want your kids to be able to go out and play on the field across the road I'd prefer 2-3 slow cars per hour rather than constant traffic at speed.

[HumbleJim]

You may well have a point.

Out in the sticks it can be worth having a house on a bus route, they keep these clear in bad weather. Many moons ago when a lot of roads were dirt tracks main roads were maintained so popular. Things change and go in/out of desireabilty.

For me, for now, a quiet road on the outskirts of a small town suit but who knows what I'll do in the future.

[anonymous-user]

The common theme here is electronics, get an EMP gun and frazzle all the electronics, peace and quiet will return along with a huge stationary and silent traffic jam.

[Renovation]

Has anyone noticed that homes on busy roads are cheaper ?

Locally they aren't, they are described as being "in a prominent position" and some seem to attract a premium.

[mcflurry]

If the (petrol) car numbers are reduced, won't the "next best thing" be the distance to the tube, or other transport hub?

[Sheepshanks]

Renovation said:

Has anyone noticed that homes on busy roads are cheaper ?

Locally they aren't, they are described as being "in a prominent position" and some seem to attract a premium.

I was going to say that too - I can't think of anything worse than living on a main / busy road, yet some people appear to like houses there almost as if they want to show off.

[Morningside]

robbieduncan said:

...Electric cars may well be legislatively forced to "play" a noise for the blind...

Too late

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26857743

[FlossyThePig]

Morningside said:

robbieduncan said:

...Electric cars may well be legislatively forced to "play" a noise for the blind...

Too late

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26857743

A couple of weeks ago, walking along a quiet urban road (the bottom of Henley Road in Ipswich for those who know the area) with a few cars slowing down to turn off. In the middle of the group was a G-Wiz. As it passed it was no quietter than the rest with all the noise due to tyres on tarmac.

[Murph7355]

mcflurry said:

If the (petrol) car numbers are reduced, won't the "next best thing" be the distance to the tube, or other transport hub?

They've been desirable factors in London for a long time.

And I'm not convinced being on a main road makes a huge difference in London either. Go have a look at property on the Kings Road, Knightbridge or the 316 in Richmond

The property itself, parking, garden etc make more of a difference imo.