There are countless perks about moving into a big city. Shopping, public transit, diversity of restaurants and dining, and of course, easy access to convenient air travel and so much more; but at what cost are we willing to pay for these conveniences? Increased market prices? Influx of heavy traffic and louder vehicles? The steady rumble of a freight train passing at 3AM?
Las Vegas is a very unique market in a lot of ways. Before moving here from the East Coast, I never really considered air traffic to be a key consideration in marketing lifestyles around real estate. Growing up around the Boston area, airplanes always landed and took off over the ocean with minimal impact to residential neighborhoods; I experienced similar scenario the short time I was in Los Angeles.
As an aviation aficionado, moving to Vegas was a dream come true for me. Being just southwest of the McCarran International I could tune into the control tower frequency and 'plane spot' all day from both runways!
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| Aerial photo of McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas) on December 24, 2012 looking north on approach |
There is a fascination with aviation that seems to draw us in from all directions. We see runway observation areas, restaurants and businesses being built to overlook airfields, and even smart phone apps you can download to listen to all of the aviation chatter between the flight deck and the various control towers around the world... But what do you need to consider before purchasing a home near a major airport such as Las Vegas' McCarran International? Here are a few key considerations:
- Runway and air traffic patterns: If you're concerned about the noise factor that accompanies living near an airfield remember, planes are louder on take off than landing. Some cities require primary runway use to facilitate that and ensure minimal noise to residential neighborhoods. Although the preferred departure runway in Las Vegas departs to the West, all runways are eligible for use as-needed. Before purchasing, look at the runway maps of nearby airports and see if your neighborhood is aligned for a noisy early morning departure push!
- Has the home been sound-proofed? When some airports are built out, as an effort to maintain property values in the area, the airport, city, or other entity may reimburse homeowners in direct path of the runway to have their homes sound-proofed. This was the case in Manchester, NH in the early 2000's where, through federal funding, the airport paid approximately $25,000 per home for 1,400 homes to have new, insulated doors and windows installed to minimize airport noise.
- Will further airport expansion take over my neighborhood? While with eminent domain, there are never any guarantees, as home buyers it is our duty to exercise adequate research and risk assessments. Having your home bought out from under you just so another 4,000 feet can be added to a runway to accommodate bigger planes, or another 5-level parking structure can be erected to handle additional passengers may not be your plan 6 years down the road. If you've selected a seemingly perfect property. Know your local zoning laws, and research to see if additional expansion plans are in the works.
Christopher Greenleaf
The Greenleaf-Elving Group
Keller Williams Realty-Southwest
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 900-4741
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