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Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

We've had a few instances here with that & you always have 'someone' not able to pay etc for the year. We are talking only $300 to $500 per homeowner for paving work, potholes, etc. Some include the snow removal but mostly you better have a 4 wheel drive.

Dirt would be too 'rustic' for around here.

Feb 01, 2016 06:57 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Yes, it's common around here. Some have road maintenance agreements and others don't. One of the cons is, on a mile long road with 8+ houses, everyone is suppose to kick in $100.00 per year for adding gravel and snow removal, but the owners of the first house usually claim that they should only have to pay $10.00 because they only use the first 1/10th of the road.

Feb 01, 2016 06:22 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

yup I would. Lots of those in my market.

Feb 01, 2016 05:48 AM
Rainmaker
856,055
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Hello Fred,  It is not uncommon in North Idaho for privately maintained roads.  It used to be the 'good ole boy' hand shake get er done attitude.  Now lending institutions are requiring a 'road maintenance agreement'. of sorts, by people on the road.  Those are not always easily signed.  People do not move to North Idaho to be mandated to sign agreement of any type.  Even more so native Idahoin's tend to fight the signatures.   Mark

Feb 01, 2016 05:10 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

We have many common element condominiums in my area.  Some have private roads.

Feb 01, 2016 05:05 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I have bought lots of them with all sorts of roads and trails, but will NEVER buy anythign with an hoa.

Roads are easy, government despots are not.

Feb 01, 2016 03:47 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Fred Griffin - as long as buyer is okay with it, I am okay, too.

Since they are aware of the fact that it is not a public road and pros and cons associated with it, they should take the decision.

Personally, me? I will not buy.

Feb 01, 2016 02:44 PM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I would want to see the written road maintenance agreement...

Feb 01, 2016 12:03 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Your photo looks like a road where I sold a house out near where Lenn Harley lived.  And off the gravel road was a dirt road leading to the house.  I thought about them during Snowzilla.

Feb 01, 2016 11:30 AM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

We have properties on Private Roads in my area. That's no problem as long as the parties understand.

Feb 01, 2016 10:44 AM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

Some people prefer to be on a more private street.  They think the gravel keeps the Sunday drivers out.

Feb 01, 2016 09:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,209,215
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

Most of our sales are in the city, but every once in a while we'll sell one in the country.  People around here know that they need their 4 X 4s in situations like these.  

Feb 01, 2016 09:23 AM
Ambassador
2,161,048
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

We have quite a few communities here with private roads that they maintain themselves. We also have dirt roads in some of the rural areas. Some people like it, others don't, it's a preference. 

Feb 01, 2016 09:11 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Sure I would. It happens out my way all the time. 

Feb 01, 2016 08:37 AM
Rainmaker
564,720
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

I personally hate those.  I see them in some more remote areas.  Not safe in the winter or in some rainy weather (if walking).  And easy to twist your ankle. And, not good for pets, so no thank you!

Feb 01, 2016 07:54 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

the safest situation is a public roadway....maintained by the town....private roads are an issue....if someone cannot participate financially, there are problems....

Feb 01, 2016 07:46 AM
Ambassador
2,436,099
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Yes, if that's where the buyer wanted to live! We have areas here with private dirt and sometimes not well-maintained roads. Some mortgage companies want a legal road maintenance agreement and some don't. It's all doable.

Feb 01, 2016 03:58 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Dirt and gravel roads in my area is not uncommon.   I would buy and sell on the same.  Private roads are not common but we do have a few in my area

Feb 01, 2016 03:52 AM
Ambassador
2,178,603
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Not personally, but there are a lot of people who would.  I had some clients who wanted to totally live "off-grid".  But, they found out the bank doesn't like financing homes without power or a year 'round supply of potable water.  

Feb 01, 2016 03:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I have lived and currently in a neighborhood where the HOA takes care of the roads but have had good experiences and bad.

Feb 01, 2016 03:30 AM
Rainer
225,526
Bob Betel
Allstar Home Mortgage, Inc. - Sweetwater, TN
President, Allstar Home Mortgage, Inc

I live on a private road and we do need to maintain it through our association. The pros are that we don't have local traffic driving on our road, but the con is we have to contract out for snowplowing and paving, when necessary. I am the President of our association, so for me it requires more work and effort for no pay.  I don't have a problem with dirt or gravel roads, unless you live in an area that rains a lot. 

Feb 01, 2016 03:13 AM
Ambassador
5,049,183
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

That would of course depend on the buyer, or seller. Knowing if a road is private or not is key. Is there a road maintenance agreement? Is it noted in the title? 

Feb 01, 2016 02:55 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,544
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Some of the latest sales WANT the privacy, which comes with non-maintained roads. 

Feb 02, 2016 12:38 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Beyond HOA-maintained roads, this isn't an issue in the areas I cover.

Reading and understanding the required documents is important for buyers of such properties.  

Feb 01, 2016 10:51 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Yes.  I have lived on such a road.

Feb 01, 2016 09:47 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

We don't see to many dirt and gravel roads in the Charlotte metro area--and not in the areas I sell in. In our area if the community is a gated one, the roads immediately become privatized and the responsiblity of the HOA. We have very few gated communities, but they seem to sell fine.

Feb 01, 2016 08:45 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Absolutely!  We live on a private gravel road, which gives us the ultimate in privacy and control.  It is not for everyone, of course, as you have the means to maintain it, whether that means cutting up the tree that has fallen and is blocking it or removing the snow, both of which are things that we have done in the past week.  

Feb 01, 2016 07:12 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

It is an eyes wide open decision to make. It would not stop me and yet there are always concerns of someone not paying as Lyn Sims points out.

Feb 01, 2016 07:25 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

It is complicated with easement, private road etc.

Feb 01, 2016 04:57 AM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

I would live on but I can drive a back hoe. Pros- privacy, quiet of rural or off beaten path. Cons- in a storm this is a pain, may need 4 wheel drive, Dominos might not deliver

Typically the down side can be addressed with a road maintenance agreement between land owners or those using the road. Collect some funds annually for gravel to be compacted or deep ruts to be filled or in even of wash out by floods...

Feb 01, 2016 04:45 AM
Rainer
94,105
Val Evans
Scottsdale, AZ

Our "bug out house" doesn't have any roads— which is exactly the way we want it. 

Feb 01, 2016 04:00 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

In a heart beat; it would mean less visitors and probably no neighbor's.

 

Feb 01, 2016 03:38 AM
Ambassador
1,076,551
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Sure, as long as there was a good private road maintenance agreement in place.  I'm sure there are minor inconveniences, but then again, those are present with government owned roads as well.

Feb 01, 2016 03:19 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Happens often enough around here.  The biggest pain is that some banks will require all the neighbors to sign an affidavit saying they will continue to help maintain the road.

Feb 01, 2016 03:04 AM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Fred - Are you talking personally, or helping clients. For clients, I would say that I would, as long as the clients understood what they were getting into, and were okay with it.

Feb 02, 2016 05:06 PM