Pros And Cons Of A Corner Lot

What You Need To Know About Corner Lots

Are you considering buying or building a home on a corner lot? Here are the Pros and Cons and what you need to know!

When it comes to selecting the perfect spot for your dream home, corner lots spark a debate among homeowners and buyers alike. The allure of a spacious yard, the potential for a unique home design, and the promise of a grander presence in the neighborhood can be quite enticing. However, the realities of increased maintenance, traffic, and noise can't be ignored. In this comprehensive look at the pros and cons of corner lot living, we'll help you weigh your options, answer some burning questions, and ultimately decide if a corner lot is the right foundation for your home.

Pros of Corner Lot Living

The design freedom associated with a home on a corner lot stems from several unique characteristics that these lots offer compared to their interior counterparts. Here’s a breakdown of how corner lots provide more architectural and landscaping creativity:

Architectural Presence

A corner lot home has two visible facades instead of one, providing a prominent architectural presence. This visibility allows for more elaborate designs and the opportunity to make a statement with the home's architecture. For example, the house can have a grander entrance, more windows, and features like wraparound porches or balconies that capitalize on the views and available light.

Varied Orientation

Homes on corner lots can be oriented in multiple ways, offering flexibility in how the home sits on the property. This can affect not only the aesthetic appeal but also the functionality of the home, such as maximizing natural light or enhancing privacy by orienting living areas away from the busier street.

Side Entry Garages

Corner lots often allow for side entry garages, which can be a significant aesthetic advantage. This design moves the garage doors out of the front view, allowing the home's facade to be more visually appealing and less dominated by the utilitarian aspect of the garage. It also means that the driveway doesn't cut across the entire front yard, preserving green space.

Landscaping Potential

With a corner lot, homeowners have an additional side yard to landscape, offering a larger canvas for creating outdoor living spaces, gardens, or intricate landscaping designs. This can include features like side patios, garden paths, or decorative plantings that wrap around the home, providing a more comprehensive and immersive landscape design.

Enhanced Outdoor Features

The extra space in a corner lot can accommodate outdoor features that might not fit into a standard lot. This includes larger patios, outdoor kitchens, pools, and children's play areas. The additional frontage also allows for more elaborate front-yard features like water fountains or sculpture gardens that contribute to the home's curb appeal.

Privacy Configurations

Design freedom also includes the ability to create private enclaves within a corner lot. Strategic placement of the home, along with fences, walls, and hedges, can create secluded areas that are shielded from the street, offering a retreat-like atmosphere.

Unique Home Layouts

The L-shaped configuration, often possible on corner lots, allows for unique home layouts. For instance, the home can be designed with wings that extend into the lot, creating distinct zones for living, entertaining, and sleeping, each with its own relationship to the outdoor space.

Expansive Views

Corner lots can provide expansive views that influence home design. Large windows, glass walls, or second-story balconies can be incorporated to take advantage of the available vistas, whether it's a cityscape, a landscaped boulevard, or a natural setting.

In essence, the design freedom of a corner lot is about the potential to maximize a home's aesthetic, functional, and experiential qualities due to the additional space and positioning options available. This freedom can result in a home that not only stands out in the neighborhood but also offers a living experience tailored to the homeowner's preferences.

Cons of Corner Lot Living

Living on a corner lot comes with a unique set of challenges that can be considered drawbacks for some homeowners. Here are the cons commonly associated with corner lot properties:

Increased Maintenance

Corner lots often come with more land, which means there is more lawn to mow, more hedges to trim, and more garden beds to maintain. This can translate into additional time and money spent on upkeep.

More Sidewalk to Care For

With sidewalks on two sides, corner lot owners are responsible for more sidewalk cleaning and maintenance. This means more shoveling in the winter, more sweeping in the fall, and potentially more repairs.

Higher Exposure to Traffic

Being adjacent to two streets increases exposure to vehicular traffic. This can lead to more noise from cars, trucks, and motorcycles, as well as more headlights shining into the home at night.

Light Pollution

Corner lots are often well-lit for safety reasons, which means a streetlight is likely to be right at the corner. The light can be a nuisance, especially if it shines directly into bedrooms or common areas, potentially disrupting sleep patterns.

Less Privacy

With more of the property exposed to the street, there is inherently less privacy on a corner lot. Passersby have a view into more of the home's yard and possibly into the home itself, depending on the layout and window placement.

Potential for Higher Risk of Burglary

The visibility and accessibility of corner lots might make them more attractive to burglars. With more sides of the home exposed to the public, there are potentially more points of entry and fewer neighbors to notice suspicious activity.

Landscaping Challenges

The shape of a corner lot can present landscaping challenges. The front yard is often larger and more prominent, which can be difficult to design effectively. Additionally, the corner itself can be an awkward space to utilize and landscape.

Snow Removal and Drainage

Corner lots may have more issues with snow piling up from the plows that clear the intersecting streets. Additionally, corner lots can sometimes have more complex drainage issues due to the street grading around two sides of the property.

Fencing Restrictions

Many cities have ordinances that limit the height and type of fencing allowed on corner lots to preserve sightlines for traffic. This can limit the homeowner's ability to create a private outdoor space.

Higher Costs

Some corner lots are subject to higher property taxes due to their larger size. Additionally, the increased frontage can sometimes lead to higher costs for services like internet and cable installation, where pricing is based on distance from the connection point.

Social Dynamics

Living on a corner lot can sometimes feel less neighborly. With only one adjacent neighbor, the social dynamic can be different from living in the middle of a block where neighbors are directly on either side.

Resale Considerations

Although corner lots can be attractive to some buyers, others may be put off by the cons listed above. This can affect the resale value or the time it takes to sell the property.

While these cons can be significant, it's important to note that many of them can be mitigated with thoughtful design, landscaping, and home security measures. The impact of these drawbacks also varies greatly depending on the specific location, neighborhood, and the homeowner's personal lifestyle and preferences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are corner lots more expensive to maintain?

Yes, generally speaking, corner lots require more maintenance due to the larger yard and additional sidewalk, which can translate into higher costs for landscaping services and time spent on upkeep.

Do corner lots have less privacy?

It can vary. While there's only one adjacent neighbor, the exposure to two streets can reduce privacy. However, strategic landscaping and fencing can mitigate this issue.

Is parking really better on corner lots?

Typically, yes. Corner lots often provide more on-street parking options, which is ideal for those who entertain guests frequently.

Are corner lots a good investment?

Market trends can fluctuate, but corner lots often have a unique appeal due to their size and potential for distinctive design. While they were once considered less desirable, they have gained popularity and can sell faster in today's market, potentially offering a good resale value.

In conclusion, while corner lots can offer a range of benefits from design freedom to more generous outdoor space, they also come with their own set of challenges. It's essential to consider your lifestyle, your willingness to invest in maintenance, and your personal preferences when deciding if a corner lot is the ideal place for your dream home. Whether you're drawn to the allure of a corner lot or you're more inclined towards a traditional plot, the key is to make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term happiness and comfort in your new home.