Should You Buy a Cul-de-Sac House?

The cul-de-sac home has been a symbol of traditional suburban life for decades. While cul-de-sacs have been built for centuries in the form of dead-end streets, they are commonly built nowadays for other reasons—one of which is to alleviate vehicle traffic.

Basically, a cul-de-sac is a street that has only one inlet/outlet. They became popular in America cities after World War II, and they are a classic symbol of suburban life. However, lately cul-de-sacs have been viewed in a negative light by some urban planners. But the popularity and charm of the cul-de-sac will always be present with homebuyers, and for good reasons.

If you’re thinking about buying a cul-de-sac home, here are some pros and cons that you should consider:

Pros

Privacy- Cul-de-sac homes offer more privacy than others because most of the traffic will come from the people that live in the cul-de-sac itself.

Good for families- Less traffic means a safer play area for children. Plus, many families who live in the same cul-de-sac often become tightly knit.

Good resell opportunities- Buyers will pay 20% more for cu-de-sac homes. (Hopefully you won’t have to when you initially buy!) But this is good news if and when you decide to resell.

Cons

More driving- It’s rather difficult to get anywhere without driving when you live in a cul-de-sac because you have to funnel the roads to get to the main road. Traffic can be a challenge once you get to the main trunk.

Less privacy- While you have more privacy from other traffic and pedestrians, you are basically living in close proximity to at least five other homes when you buy a home in a cul-de-sac. All of your neighbors will know a great deal about you.

Vehicles turning around- Many cars will drive to the cul-de-sac to turn around, and this extra traffic can pose safety issues for children who are playing.