Many homebuyers choose to avoid a busy street and instead purchase a house on a cul-de-sac. Some people pay significantly more for a home on a dead-end street than they would for a comparable house on a road with more traffic. While a cul-de-sac has characteristics that may appeal to some homeowners, these same characteristics may frustrate others.
Traffic
Since there is only one way in and out, a cul-de-sac has less traffic than a typical street. Congestion can be an issue if several people leave for work at the same time in the morning. Delivery trucks, garbage trucks, repair trucks and firetrucks may have trouble maneuvering, which could lead to traffic jams. If a storm knocks down tree limbs or electrical wires and the road is blocked, you and your neighbors could be trapped until workers arrive to deal with the situation.
Parking
Depending on the size and layout of the cul-de-sac, the number of houses, and how often neighbors have visitors over, parking could be a problem. Your neighbors’ guests might park in front of your house and block your walkway.
Kids
Since a cul-de-sac has an area at one end for vehicles to turn around in, along with significantly less traffic than other neighborhoods, it’s a natural place for children to gather and play. If you have kids and you want them to be active and make friends in the neighborhood, that can be a great thing. On the other hand, if you don’t have children and are looking for a house where you can enjoy peace and quiet, you may find a cul-de-sac too noisy for your liking.
With kids playing outside regularly in a relatively small area, baseballs, footballs and hockey pucks could go flying through the air and hit cars, mailboxes or houses. You might find damage to your property and have tension or conflicts with neighbors if no one is willing to accept responsibility.
Community
Houses on a cul-de-sac often face each other in a semi-circle. Neighbors may see each other every day, get to know each other, and keep an eye on each other’s properties and kids. This can foster a strong sense of community, but if you would prefer to have more privacy, you might be better off choosing a house in another neighborhood.
Is a Cul-de-Sac Right for You?
Living on a cul-de-sac has several advantages and disadvantages. Think about what characteristics of a neighborhood are most important to you. If you’re considering a house on a specific cul-de-sac, talk to some of the current residents to find out what life is like in the area and to figure out if it’s the right neighborhood for you.
My neighbour parks in cul de sac with so many cars, he even come on my side and when I complain to him he tells me it’s counsel property as long as he don’t park in my driveway, is there something I can do to bring fairness in cul de sac?
No, the streets are public property. You don’t own it. First come first serve.
I’ve lived on two cul-de-sacs. Never again! They say, “never say never”. This is the one exception!!!
Hi! Marcus,
I saw your statement about living in two cul-de-sacs and I have to say that I agree with you. I am not sure what your situation was within the cul-de-sacs, but mine is quite intense. If you could let me know what your issues were, I would greatly appreciate it. I am living with people who are basically on a different wavelength, and I am so upset that I even bought the home within this cul-de-sac. I am at the point that I am ready to sell my house to get away from these people. Do you have any advice? I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Doreen
Never again! I agree with you! We purchased our home when I was 9 months pregnant with our fourth child. We had four children in six years. We wanted a quiet street for our kids. Our kids are teens now, and the street is full of kids. The new families simply dump their children outside to play in the street. Kids who are not old enough to go to school, run wild in the street without adult supervision. Talking to the neighbors does no good. The do not listen and do not seem to care. A street is not a playground. Our street also has a sidewalk which runs all the way around it which they do not bother to use.
It is my belief that this type of street puts people too close to other houses. Not to mention that there is limited parking. Honestly, I think that the main problem we have is that our neighbors are just not very responsible with their children or their dogs. Our daughter has four friends who live on different cul-de-sacs with plenty of children. I have never seen young children unattended, riding toy cars or toy motorcycles or simply sitting down in the middle of the street where her friends live.
I’m house is the very first house when entering the Cul D Sac in which I live. The house next to mine which is not a part of the Cecil D Sac parked his truck ( s) on the street in front of my property. One of those trucks has tarr in it and it smells aweful. I am hypersensitive and highly allergic and smell everything the normal person wouldn’t smell. When I approach him, he tells me it’s the street and he can park anywhere. He is nasty and rude and he has his other trucks park in the space in front of his house and sometimes the tail of his truck is so close to my driveway that I can not even see my own driveway especially at night. Plus it is an eye sore. What do you suggest I do?
Hi
I sympathise, that is not very nice of him. These kind of trucks should not be left in quiet residential roads with already parking difficulties with the number of domestic vehicles nowadays. They should be left in a work’s yard. Or less intruding place within the area. It is very selfish of him. Could you park your car in front of your house, for a little while or ask a neighbour who needs the extra parking space to park there. Enough to get him used to parking elsewhere ? Or leave an old cheap trailor (get one for £70 on ebay) outside your property? Or you could complain to the Council and see if they can do anything.
Anne