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metalblaze

Which cul-de-sac corner lot to select?

13 years ago
Dear friends-- we are in the process of selecting a lot in a new and upcoming community, but are having the dilemma of selecting which lot : In the attached image, Lot 1 (approx. 0.5 acre) is a cul-de-sac corner lot that is "exposed" to 3 streets, and Lot 2 (approx. 0.4 acre) is another cul-de-sac corner lot that is "exposed" to 2 streets.

Here are our observations:

Pros for Lot 1:
1.) Located in a cul-de-sac that will only have 2 more houses built.
2.) Surrounded by a wooded outlot at the back (hence, no more houses at the backyard).
3.) Close to the community park.
4.) Marginally bigger than Lot 2.

Cons for Lot 1:
1.) Exposed to 3 streets. One of them is the "main" street for this community. So, there will be traffic, but mostly for the houses within the community.
2.) Corner lots have a hard re-sell value?

Pros for Lot 2:
1.) Located in a cul-de-sac
2.) Exposed to 2 streets (as opposed to 3 streets)
3.) Surrounded by wooded outlook at the back.

Cons for Lot 2:
1.) Very close to the entrance of the community
2.) Marginally smaller than Lot 1.

Based on these observations, which lot would you select? For the record, both are Flat lots, and we are considering build a 2-story house with finished basement. This location is in Minnesota!

Comments (47)

  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Lot 2 seems to have a large easment from the main road that would help in noise reduction and privacy. Lot 1 is directly on the roadway and eventhough it is closer to amenities I would be concerned with the noise and lack of privacy from the mainroad and foot traffic.
    metalblaze thanked MJS Designers Group
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Agreed, Lot 2 seems to have the best setting, there is a bit of setback from the main road so your house could be screened a bit.
    metalblaze thanked Dytecture
  • 13 years ago
    I'm more drawn towards plot 2 too. Quieter spot.
    metalblaze thanked Carolina
  • 13 years ago
    Just asked my husband (he likes this sort of dilemma) and he'd pick lot 1. Simply because it is bigger.
    metalblaze thanked Carolina
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Cute, carolins, I asked my husband and he ‘d pick lot 2. Simply because it is smaller. He, obviously, is a whole lot older than you sweetie. : > ).

    I’d pick #2, as I like that buffer. Just one question? Who mows that entire strip? Or is it au naturale?
    Cape Cod Outside Spaces · More Info
    metalblaze thanked elcieg
  • 13 years ago
    Husband is... let me think and calculate... 55 years old/young :-)
    metalblaze thanked Carolina
  • 13 years ago
    I like lot 2 as well. Corner lots are definitely harder to sell - especially if there will be snow and shoveling involved.
    metalblaze thanked Debp
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 1 will have people from 18 other houses using it every day, plus the cars from the main entrance road. Lot 2 will have 5 other houses using it every day plus cars on the main entrance road. Lot 2 has more space between it and the main road. If you have kids, lot 1 will have easier access to other kids to play with. How busy will that main entrance road be? Does it lead to another road or development, or is it more of a dead end? I prefer a less busy driveway, so I would choose lot 2.
    metalblaze thanked User
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2. It also looks like it has greenspace behind it as lot 1 does. Smaller cul-de-sac and setback from the street are a plus, IMO.

    What will be on the bigger lots at the entrance? "Lot 2" will be backing up to large lot 2, what is built on large lot 2? Townhomes?
    metalblaze thanked mmilos
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2
    metalblaze thanked 14thstreet
  • 13 years ago
    Mmilos - thanks for your inputs. The first two lots at the entrance are 2.0 acre lots for single family homes.
  • PRO
    metalblaze thanked TJP Designs and Construction LLC
  • 13 years ago
    I also vote lot 2. Seems more private.
    metalblaze thanked Darzy
  • 13 years ago
    I see...being closer to the bigger homesites might have some more cache... :-)
    I'd feel comfortable selecting Lot 2.
    metalblaze thanked mmilos
  • 13 years ago
    carolins…a babe in arms. He has about 17 more years to mow the bigger lot. Hubby invites him here…we have a nice big lot he can work on.
  • 13 years ago
    HI -- Lot #2 -- looks like the better for the future -- as you get older the yard becomes too much to look after so-----less is more in this case .
    metalblaze thanked lefty47
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    We usually design houses with the first criteria is natural light toward view.
    If north is straight up
    Lot 2 has the best solar orientation....and this looks at the buffer.

    I'd go for lot 2...If North is straight up
    R
    metalblaze thanked Sinclair Associates Architects
  • 13 years ago
    Yes, regarding direction...I would not buy or build a house where the back yard faces west - the setting sun. I like evening shade in my back yard.
    metalblaze thanked Darzy
  • 13 years ago
    No brainer for me...lot 2 for SURE! You would be hard pressed to sell lot 1 when it came time to move, also, in my opinion whichever house is built on lot one will look very odd...it's on it's own little island!
    metalblaze thanked jabber629
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2.
    metalblaze thanked apple_pie_order
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 seems like there would be much less traffic to deal with. Only a few cars will turn onto your street and you appear to have a buffer from the main road.
    metalblaze thanked pcmom1
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2.......bigger is not always better. And as someone else already pointed out, less traffic because there are only 5 other houses versus a gazillion on Lot 1.
    metalblaze thanked pegonia1
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 for me also. I'd rather look at greenspace out my back door than a busy road and houses across the street.
    metalblaze thanked kimdee24
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 less traffic.
    metalblaze thanked Starbella
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 for sure. Not next to the main road the big reason.
    metalblaze thanked Angel 18432
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 - I live on a 6 house cul-de-sac and I like the fact that it's pretty quiet in terms of traffic, especially since my kids like to play outside and ride their bikes. I personally would avoid being on the main street - it's a huge negative for me, and I would guess, anybody with kids.
    metalblaze thanked msp1tzer
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Two! Seems a lot quieter....
    metalblaze thanked Terracegallery
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 for me as well .. hey, depending on what state you live in, lot #2 would be less in real estate tax!
    metalblaze thanked indianpatti
  • 13 years ago
    hands down...no question....lot 2! more private and safer for the kids!!! now you have to let everyone know what you decide!!! We will all be curious!
    metalblaze thanked staciathompson
  • 13 years ago
    I would go for Lot 2. More private. If you have small kids you will end up wanting to fence nearly the entire lot if you go with 1. I lived on a cul de sac for quite a while, and when my kids were younger it was much more comfortable for them to ride their bikes around the circle, etc. Depending on what is going to be on the easment, you could plant something fast growing on your property line and have a nice screen. Love the idea of the woods behind you too. That was a selling feature in two homes I purchased, and I enjoyed the view of woods instead of someone else's back yard or a street.
    metalblaze thanked Anina Salerno_Aita
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Good points by n247! No, you don't want to be that close to a walking path. Who knows who is there scoping out your house!

    I live on a cul de sac with only 5 homes, and one of the benefits is that each of us checks out all cars entering. Might be someone to see us! You learn who should be there, and who shouldn't, very quickly!
    metalblaze thanked pcmom1
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2
    metalblaze thanked stars26
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2...those roads right outside will cause you to not want to use that gorgeous outside.
    metalblaze thanked Margaret Bannerman
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2, the difference in size to lot 1 is minuscule, you'll have a better quality of life with lot 2.
    metalblaze thanked RosemaryR
  • 13 years ago
    I would pick Lot 2.

    We used to live on a corner lot like Lot 1 for 17 years and cons were: 1) no privacy anywhere but inside the house 2) had to look after boulevard, but the town dumped snow with gravel/salt in it so it got higher and more difficult to maintain each year 3) higher taxes 4) way too much traffic 5) no safety for children/pets.

    We now live on a crescent with only front yard facing public and quiet neighbours, so it's like living in the country with the amenities of living in town. Plus, only 1/4 of sidewalk to maintain.
    metalblaze thanked Rosalinda Marie
  • 13 years ago
    I would also consider the direction of the house, sunlight, which direction most of the windows face.
    metalblaze thanked zgirl18
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I like lot 2 but I would also try to find out who your neighbors are, if that's important to you. My family was in a nice house in so cal, problem was that at the time my wife and I were 20 years younger than our youngest neighbor. They were very nice people but in totally different phases of their life, fast forward 3 years we moved 100 yards away into a neighbor's home with only 7 homes. Now we have 20 kids in neighborhood, young families, block parties, backyard camp outs, etc. much, much happier. Good luck.

    Btw, I have family in minn, where are you located?
    metalblaze thanked Wholesale Flooring Orange County
  • 13 years ago
    @judianna, thanks for the offer, but we have almost 4 acres of our own. Come to think of it... I usually mow the lawn. Hmm... that explains a lot ;-)
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 definitely. Lot 1 has a larger number of houses that would continuously bring homeowners in and out of there on a daily basis. Lot 2 would have less. We lived in a new area where our house use to be the end of the street until they added more homes. It is a huge difference that we didn't consider when we bought our home.
    metalblaze thanked kmkirei
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 definitely. I owned a home on a similar lot as lot 1. My back yard was very private, completely fenced, and quiet (only neighborhood traffic on main street). When I put it on the market, however, potential buyers objected to the fact that it backed to the main neighborhood street. It was a problem that we could not fix.
    metalblaze thanked lyn's home
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 2 has good access to the trail system at the end of the street. Lot 1 may require going through woods.
    metalblaze thanked joanmcd
  • 13 years ago
    Dear friends, thanks a LOT for all your inputs. We were inclined for Lot 2 from the beginning, and ended up purchasing it. Once again, appreciate all the advise. Now the fun begins in building a house :-) Cheers!!
  • 13 years ago
    Congrats! Good choice. :-)
  • PRO
  • 13 years ago
    Congratulations and best wishes, pls. post px when completed.
  • 13 years ago
    Lot 1 lol. Only because lot 2 looks like the back of the house backs up directly to the side of someone elses house. Is there a side of the house that has Southern exposure? That was a must for us in the back of the house where our kitchen and family room are. It saves us a lot on heating in the Winter months and gets us a lot of light.