If in doubt, don't.

Don't think the law offices are a problem. Do think the parking lot and cinderblock building are a problem because they give the street an entirely different and non-residential.

I wouldn't mind the law offices at all. As posted above, it is the Hardee's lot and cinder blocks that would make me not buy the house. The view, litter, and noise from a fast food chain are detrimental to the houses close by.

I think it looks quite nice. I've lived in similar areas (assuming this is a large town or small city and not downtown Pittsburgh). It depends on what the options are. This is the perfect house? What about convenience to work, schools, etc? If you didn't buy this, what would be your next best option?

Yes, traffic and noise. Not a great view. Is the Hardee's open late? One place I lived was like 20 blocks from a large city downtown and I worked until 2am so I never heard the bar traffic, and by the time I got home it was as peaceful as a suburb. So I guess it depends.

Good luck!

Nope. Keep looking. The price probably is lower to reflect these incurable defects.

I wouldn't. Location, location, location. The one thing you can't change.

Church St. Location, location location!!!!!!! It really depends on what you want to do with the property, and your tolerance for commerce neighborhood. GOODNESS. You're looking at gold, in Nashville, right now. I'd GRAB it, and have a real plan for it. I'd rent that out for thousands a week, vacation rental...Actually, I'd probably live there. But this is a location with a ton of options and a lot of upside.

That's just me, though.

It depends on where you are. Is this a larger metropolitan area, or a smaller community? Like the others said, the law offices aren't an issue. The only issue I see is the ugly Burger King parking lot/back of the building. It probably smells like Whoppers, too. I wouldn't like that, but in the right area, that could mean a place downtown and close (obviously) to food and other businesses.

Law offices fine, Hardees, forget it.

BUT, I'm not in your situation and who knows what I might decide if I was?

While the law offices may revert to residential the Hardees and other commercial property will not. I would make my decision on whether or not I could live with them.

In this area, it is highly unlikely that the law offices will revert to residential. Way too close to all the courthouses they need easy access to.

If this is Nashville- then do it, and don't look back. This is what Austin Texas was, 5 years ago- what Portland was 10 years ago, what Seattle was at about the same time. GRAB, and don't let go. The official city bird, right now is the "crane", right? It will be fine, and you're talking about a quiet neighborhood,

It'd influence me, yes. Not the law offices but the backing to that parking lot. I'm picky about surroundings..needn't be a perfect view but I don't like seeing parking lots.

Here's an idea. Sometimes it's worth going to the municipality, ask them whether they'd consider putting some trees/hedges on your side of the fence. Sometimes they'd agree to something like that, you never know. Would make a difference.

Put your own trees in. Why ask the taxpayers to do it for you? It's not that hard lol.

Hardees creates smells that waft through the air, including that of fries in grease. Pass on this house.

The view from the house itself is a huge negative for resale. However if you're getting the house for a large discount from the other houses in the area, then I might consider it. However it is not worth the same as other houses on better streets or even with better views.

Plus while it's a nicely kept Hardee's now, what happens in 5 or 10 years? Also have you sat in front of the house at dinner time? How about later? Or on a Friday or Saturday night near closing time? What about midnight when the business is closed?

Resale? Sorry, cpartist, but you are out of your depth on this one. This neighborhood is one of the fastest appreciating in the country, Location, location location, Not everybody, though, has it in them to live in that sort of location. That's the OP's dilemma

jn because I understood this part belongs to the city:) I might have misunderstood. But here, i can put trees only on my side of the fence..the other side is the city's side and I need to go to them if I want to enhance landscaping there or something.

(we back to a street..not a freeway but might get busy. and we do have fence and trees so I don't see it. Also the street itself looks nice with trees in the middle, lots of greenery and blooming around, etc. and all. Yet other neighbors also have all sorts of hedges etc next to their fences put there by the city. And first couple houses on the street have something planted too, but not as thick and nice. Our neighbor went and asked whether they can plant some hedge next to us as well. They said "yes". The question is when they will get to it though lol.

But they wouldn't let me planting there, it's their land.

If trees can be put on the property's side-then of course I'd start with it. If they can help and also put trees on their side-another noise barrier, nicer view for everybody, and the OP is a taxpayer too. It's not like he would be asking to move that Hardees and put a pond with lilies there instead. It's not that hard(c)

Right. I suppose it does matter who owns it. I assumed it was their "back yard."

Resale? Sorry, cpartist, but you are out of your depth on this one. This neighborhood is one of the fastest appreciating in the country, Location, location location, Not everybody, though, has it in them to live in that sort of location. That's the OP's dilemma

Sorry Juanita I'm not out of my depth and I don't appreciate your being insulting. While I'm not a RE agent, (but my son is) I'm no novice.

Yes it might be one of the fastest growing neighborhoods right now, but what happens when the next recession comes along? The houses that sit during a recession are the ones that are looking out on parking lots, or have commercial entities within spitting distance, or are in not so good school districts or face cemeteries, etc. (I too don't consider the lawyer's offices the problem.)

I've lived through several hot markets in great areas that then turned downward during a recession. The houses that sat were ones like this one. When the market turns, people will go for the better location, and this house will become the one sitting for months and/or years, unless it is then priced well below anything else. And there will be another recession and if you have to sell during that recession, then what?

Location, location, location is 100% correct. And looking out on commercial space is not location, location, location.

And definitely go by at all times of the day and night to see who "hangs" out after hours or late night. I for one would not want to have to listen to radios blaring from cars while I'm trying to sleep, or kids shouting or drunks or...

I stand by my advice that if the house price is discounted compared to others in the neighborhood, then absolutely consider it, but if it's priced the same or higher, walk away.

Lastly, if the OP is thinking of buying it and renting it out, that is another ball of wax, but I get the impression that the OP is considering the house as his/her primary residence, so I stand by my comments.

Who told you the city is not allowing new commercial biz and if a commercial biz moves the new must be residential? Sounds like the kinda puffing some realtors use to make a sale. Might be worth verifying with the city, if you are really set on house and to test veracity of whoever gave you info.

See, buying a house is like marriage. You better be head over heels in love b/c the wrinkles don't come out til afterwards but usually the mad love makes you tolerate the irritations. If this house (or potential spouse) give you reason for pause, irritant (usually) only gets worse. Keep looking.

I'm with bossyvossy..chose my now-house for exactly same reasons. I liked several homes and was considering them, but every house had its minuses. I returned to look at each house some more, sometimes twice. With all the other houses, whatever minuses they had, these started being more obvious each time I looked at them, and I understood these would just continue to bug me. Only the one that we ended buying, its minuses while being really obvious, didn't stand mentally in my way..they became smaller and less significant each time I entered the house.

Go back there, try to choose different time of the day, to see how it feels.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! It helped with our decision and we are going to keep looking. We don't want to risk purchasing a home that would be difficult to resale in the future because of the view. BTW the city is Mobile, AL.
Thanks again for the opinions.

Are you sure this isn't in Nashville? ;-)

I lived in Mobile many years ago. Have very fond memories of that place.

BTW the city is Mobile, AL.

Maybe it shows I wasn't the one out of my depth on this one. ;)

People looking to be in a city setting expect businesses to be in close proximity. THATS why they want to live in that surrounding. Everything is walkable. If you are looking for a surburban setting, buy in a surburban neighborhood, if you are looking to buy in a large or small city, businesses are part of the landscape. Buy the house if its perfect for you.

Unless its not been priced correctly, its less than perfect location has probably already been figured in the asking price. I wouldnt automatically rule it out, just research to be sure if its a situation you could live with .... or not.

It could be a way of getting a great house in a great location at a great price. Or not!

I would not mind offices around me - those generally very quiet , even more so eves and weekends. Anything involving food production Id avoid like the plague - generally theres odors, bright obnoxious lights, noise. That stale french fry smell might be ok for a few hours or days but trust me.... it will get realllly old, really fast. Also research the zoning - in my case we had offices across the street many years w/ no problem, but then because it was zoned industrial the next owner could go ahead and put in food production wtihout any hearings or neighborhood meetings required. Next thing we knew, there were semis arriving at 5 am and banging around and the smell of stale yucky curry hanging in the air like a toxic fog The weird thing about large scale food production is it doesnt smell like mom's home cooking - theres a yuckiness factor I havent quite put my finger on.

With any possible house its worth checking out at different times of the day and week to see

cpartist, my apologies- Bad comment. - you got the last word though. :) I take my licks, when due.

Juanita, thank you. Apology appreciated and accepted. :)

Those houses are so beautiful!