Whether you’re house-hunting for your dream home or looking for a lot to build it, you might have come across a corner lot and been contemplating if it’s a good location.
What is a corner lot?
A corner lot is a plot of land at the intersection of two roads or streets. Typically, the streets run in the front and one side of the lot or property. Corner lots have a range of locations; it could sit in the middle of a neighborhood or at the top of a very busy street.
Back in the ‘90s, when developers first started building cookie-cutter McMansions, builders had a challenging time selling corner lot homes. Buyers did not appreciate the additional street exposure, less privacy, and noise, among others.
To combat the negative feedback, some developers decided to add a premium to these corner lots of $5,000 to $10,000, which drew attention, and they began to sell. Now, they are more comparable to living on a cul-de-sac in terms of popularity. A corner lot is, typically, always preferred in today’s market due to the characteristics and the many benefits these pieces of real estate offer buyers.
Here, we’ll explore the pros and cons of corner lot properties to help you make informed decisions before buying or building your next home in this type of unique zoning lot.
Most desirable features:
Bigger yard space
One of the most significant advantages of a corner lot is the increased yard space it offers compared to other regular lots. This provides opportunities for a home to have a different floor plan and yard configuration. For example, you could have a side-entry garage instead of a front-entry garage, which makes for great curb appeal as the front of your home won’t be obscured.
Also, you have more room to create outdoor areas that can accommodate various activities—whether it’s a pool, play equipment for kids, a bigger garden, or just extra land space for playing sports or hosting gatherings.
Plenty of natural light
Corner lots offer more natural light than the others because, in most cases, no other homes are blocking the sunlight on three out of four sides. Especially for south-facing homes, you can enjoy natural light pouring into the home from every angle as the day progresses. It’s also ideal for most sun-loving plants.
More privacy
With just one neighbor close to your home, you won’t feel nearly as exposed whenever you’re spending time in your backyard. If you’re concerned about the people walking down the sidewalks, you can install a privacy fence that will prevent anyone from peering in. Research if there are any restrictions on fencing, especially when it comes to materials and height.
More prominent
If you enjoy the limelight and love exploring your creativity when it comes to landscaping and gardening, building a home on a corner lot will give you such freedom since they will feature prominently in the neighborhood.
The downsides:
A bigger yard means more yard work
Since these lots tend to have larger yards, it could mean more work to maintain. Be prepared to do the extra work when it comes to keeping your lawns, landscaping, and cleaning other debris, or save up extra money to hire gardeners and other necessary service providers.
More traffic
Corner lots see a lot more traffic given their location, bringing more noise, light from headlights shining into the home, and worse, some fairly bad accidents due to drivers running stop signs on the intersecting streets. However, it still depends on the neighborhood where the home is located since you won’t likely get much traffic if it’s in a quiet, residential neighborhood. Depending on the layout of the house and the location of the windows, light at night may also interfere with your sleep. Determine if these things are a concern to you and consult with your real estate agent when assessing the home’s location.
Higher visibility
While you can get a bit more privacy with fewer neighbors surrounding your home, it can have higher visibility due to its corner location. This could pose a higher risk for burglaries since the property is more accessible from two streets. Still, there are ways to mitigate those risks if you’re worried. You might consider having additional lighting and installing security cameras in various locations so you can have a bird’s eye view of what’s happening all around and near your property.
Bottom line
So, is a corner lot right for you? It’s still up to you to decide. As with any other unique property location, you must evaluate the pros and cons, decide what features are most important to you, and do your due diligence on the home and neighborhood. Lastly, consult with your trusted real estate agent before making a huge decision. Maybe the right house for you is in a corner, just waiting for you to give it a second glance.