my house sits right on a busy road and someone told me that always hurts resale value is that true and is there even any

Shane, yes, living on a busy road can affect resale value, but it doesn’t automatically mean your home is worth less than it should be. Traffic noise, privacy, safety concerns, and the amount of traffic can influence how buyers perceive the property, and research has found that homes near major roads can sell for less than comparable homes in quieter locations. The good news is there are things you can do before listing, such as improving curb appeal, maintaining landscaping, adding privacy screening where permitted, and making sure the interior feels quiet and inviting with windows closed. Ultimately, the key is pricing your home based on comparable properties with similar road exposure and highlighting the features that make your home stand out. A busy road may affect your buyer pool, but with the right preparation, marketing, and pricing strategy, you can still position your home competitively in the market.

Shane, it often hurts resale, but not always, and it usually shows up as a price discount rather than a house that will not sell, so the goal is to reduce what buyers notice and price it accurately. Why it matters: buyers pay for quiet, safety and privacy, and a busy road hurts all three. How much it costs you depends on traffic volume, how close the house sits, and the market. In a tight market, buyers will often overlook it, and in a slow market, it becomes a negotiating point. What you can do before you list: - Add sound and sight buffers: dense evergreen landscaping, a solid fence or wall, or a berm if you have room. - Upgrade windows and doors on the road side, since newer double or triple pane windows noticeably cut noise. - Move outdoor living away from the road, and make the back or side yard feel like the main space. - Highlight what buyers like, such as location, convenience, light, and a good floor plan. - Photograph and show the home at quieter times of day, and ask your agent to schedule showings accordingly. Then get a pricing opinion that uses comparable sales on similar busy streets, not just the quiet streets nearby. Buyers will see the road, so pricing for it up front tends to beat a long listing followed by a cut. Your state's disclosure rules also may cover noise or traffic, so ask your agent. I am a real estate professional, not an appraiser, so lean on a local agent's comps for the numbers. I work in the Palos Verdes and South Bay area of Los Angeles, so for Fargo I would point you to a strong local listing agent, and I am glad to help you find one. Zoltan Peresztegi Zoltan

Partly true. A busy road usually does limit your buyer pool and can affect price compared with the same house on a quiet street. But it doesn't mean the house won't sell. It just has to be priced and presented right. The big one is pricing. Your agent should compare your home to other sales on similar busy roads, not homes tucked in a quiet neighborhood. Price it right from day one. Overpricing a busy-road house and letting it sit hurts more than the road does. Things that can help before you list: Buffer the road. A privacy fence, a hedge, or evergreen shrubs can block the view and some of the noise. Ask your agent what's worth doing before you spend money on it. Make the inside quiet. Seal gaps around windows and doors, fix weatherstripping, and add rugs and curtains in front rooms. Small stuff adds up. Make the yard feel private. A backyard sitting area, away from the road, gives buyers a place to picture themselves. Fix the driveway if you can. If there's room for a turnaround so people don't have to back into traffic, buyers notice. Sell the upside. Easy access, a quick commute, and being close to shopping matter to a lot of buyers. Some love not being buried deep in a subdivision. What I wouldn't do is spend big, like new windows throughout, just because of the road. You often won't get that money back. Get a local agent to walk it, pull comps on similar roads, and tell you what actually moves the needle in your market.

Yes, Shane, it certainly can but you can mitigate it a bit. Market the Convenience & Visibility: Target daily commuters who want instant highway access, or small business owners and work-from-home professionals looking for high street visibility where zoning allows. This turns a main road from a noise issue into a major daily efficiency gain. Reframe Privacy at the Gate: Instead of standard sound barriers, install an automated front entry gate or private courtyard entry to shift the home’s perception to a secure, exclusive retreat. This psychologically separates the residence from the street before a buyer even steps inside. Capture Value-Driven Buyers: Price the home accurately relative to quieter neighborhood comps from day one. This immediately attracts buyers seeking maximum square footage or premium interior finishes who would otherwise be priced out of the neighborhood. Best of luck to you! Becki Cronin, FC Tucker Licensed in Indiana

A main road location can lower resale value by 5% to 15% because it shrinks your buyer pool, but smart prep offsets the location: Block Noise: Install dual-pane windows and thick insulated drapes in front rooms. Add Privacy: Plant tall, dense evergreen hedges or put up a solid front fence. Create Ambience: Add an outdoor water feature and play soft background music during open houses. Price Right: Competitive pricing from day one attracts value-seeking buyers.

Shane, this is HEAVILY market dependent, but yes main road location usually trades less than private or secluded roads. Is your market red-hot like a NYC/LA or is it more of a Topeka Kansas? Additionally, this is no "traditional" formula for a main road location. It is going to depend on the comps and the severity of the situation. Have you spoken with a local real estate professional who can advise further on your specific market? Keith Jean-Pierre Managing Principal The Dapper Agents Real Estate Operations in ALL 50 States

Not much you can do about being on a busy road. I think its important to undersatand that this doesn't necessarily hurt the value, it limits the amount of buyers that could be interested. 4 things sell a home. 1. Place 2. Product 3. Promotion 4. Price Your place will come into consideration when buyers compare your home to others. So it doesnt hurt resale value but it would likely be less valuable than a similar home in a different location. So when you look at comparables or value of the home. DO your best to determine the value difference between your lot and the other comparables. Hope that helps.