A lot of time when I look at MLS listing, it would describes CDS is to be consider as prefer option. Having bought my home not on a main street but in a main road leading into our community even though it is a small community, does present more traffic and little bit more noise rather than in a cul de sac location. But at the same time we are not subject to close proximity of our next doors neighbor as in other location such as CDS. I have been considered for my next home that I would prefer somewhat of a very low traffic but with some sort of a view. So the questions here is for those home owner / renter in a CDS what do you like and dislike about the Cul De Sac? Are you more subjected to nosy neighbors or more intimate friendly neighbors people living in such a place?

I think the quality of a propetry in relationship to other nearby properties depends on two things:

1. Number of neighbors who directly border your property.
2. Amount of traffic noise.

For #1, assuming an entirely built up area, a corner lot is best, because you then typically only have two neighbors instead of four.  Two less neighbors to piss you off/for you to piss off.  But, usually a corner lot has some traffic on at least one of the two streets, causing problems with #2.  A corner lot does have some advantages in terms of later additions; IE, you have easier road access, for RV parking or adding a larger garage.  A culdesac location probably has four neighbors, but basically no traffic noise at all.  The cudesac also allows for the street itself to be used temporarily (for kids playing a sport, for example, or for a block party or garage sale).

Two listing phrases you never want to see together: “end of culdesac” and “freeway close”, because that usually means “backyard borders freeway”.

I love CDS locations as long as it doesn’t back or side noise.

To me, the best type of CDS is either bordering an elevation (hillside) or an interior green walkway where the other side is another CDS. To correct geo, a CDS really only has 3 neighbors (not sure how he’s counting them), 1 across, 1 next to, and 1 behind… almost the same as a corner location.

The problem with most newer Irvine CDS locations is that since they are making the roads narrower… most of them won’t allow you to park on the CDS (as bk has explained about emergency vehicle access) and that takes away from some of the utility of a CDS (you can’t park on the curb in front of your own house).

irvine - 13 October 2009 12:15 AM

I love CDS locations as long as it doesn’t back or side noise.

To me, the best type of CDS is either bordering an elevation (hillside) or an interior green walkway where the other side is another CDS. To correct geo, a CDS really only has 3 neighbors (not sure how he’s counting them), 1 across, 1 next to, and 1 behind… almost the same as a corner location.

The problem with most newer Irvine CDS locations is that since they are making the roads narrower… most of them won’t allow you to park on the CDS (as bk has explained about emergency vehicle access) and that takes away from some of the utility of a CDS (you can’t park on the curb in front of your own house).

Unless you are Chinese driving a Mercedes. You own the road and may park anywhere as you wish.

Pending on where you are at the CDS you may have 2-7 neighbors.

Culdesac in Irvine

In every CDS there is a bad location at the end of road.

Less traffic at the CDS and a very large yard usually.

The house is totally hidden behind the garage due to the narrow front.

Yard is often difficult to design when the property walls are not parallel and perpendicular to the house.

irvine_home_owner - 13 October 2009 12:15 AM

I love CDS locations as long as it doesn’t back or side noise.

To me, the best type of CDS is either bordering an elevation (hillside) or an interior green walkway where the other side is another CDS. To correct geo, a CDS really only has 3 neighbors (not sure how he’s counting them), 1 across, 1 next to, and 1 behind… almost the same as a corner location.

The problem with most newer Irvine CDS locations is that since they are making the roads narrower… most of them won’t allow you to park on the CDS (as bk has explained about emergency vehicle access) and that takes away from some of the utility of a CDS (you can’t park on the curb in front of your own house).

Hmm…you’re right…most non-corner lots have three neighbors, not four.  Not sure what I was thinking.

Street parking is frequently very bad on any CDS, with corner lots having the most street parking.

Thank you all for your input. My house in on the corner lot and I have only one immediate neighbor to the left. I like this location immediately when we first look at our house. We also have view of the mountain and the street lined with pepper tree exactly 20” apart. But as the neighborhood mature, more kids use to ride bikes now drive car, oh and by the way they are only in high school, yet able to drive BMW and Lexus that create more noise than when we first live here. I can still remember my first car and it was in senior HS year, an old beat up honda 4cyl civic, 1982, but get greats mileage. Talking about silver spoons kids in Irvine.

So if there is a bad location in every CDS, those homes at the end of the CDS where the car headlight would beam straight into the house when driving into the street, then these are the least desire location in the CDS. It almost as bad as a house at a T section where the house sit right between the T and that car headlight would hit it, right BK?

If this is the case then why would this consider to be a better location? I like that it has low traffic, but often time some of the other neighbors who live in the CDS next few street down would complained that in their CDS location, they would see people get lost in them and having to circle back out quite often. They would know it immediately that these people does not live or belong in this community with the confuse expression on their face as they circle the location.

irvine_home_owner - 13 October 2009 12:15 AM

.. most of them won’t allow you to park on the CDS (as bk has explained about emergency vehicle access) and that takes away from some of the utility of a CDS (you can’t park on the curb in front of your own house).

Yes, it seems most complexes restrict parking. Every c.d.s. in Ivywood in West Irvine has this sign:

A Con story for a CDS location.

We used to live in a CDS in Culver City. Revere Pl.
These were very long CDS`s that ended at Ballona Creek.

One night a Motorcycle going about 80 MPH found the end of the CDS street the hard way.
Girl on the back didnt make it. She was pregnant too. First time I had someone die in my arms.

I know that neighborhood set on a bluff above Jefferson Blvd. I studied it 2 decades ago learning the danger of streets relative to grade. That neighborhood not only has straight streets but also dead end into a small land parcel without a house. The end parcel even with vegetation on it could not stop any vehicle.

Long straight street has fast “shi” is considered bad feng shui.
Long straight street going down hill has “sha Chi” is very bad feng shui.

Property at the end of either is very bad. However there is a remedy.

“Sha” is translated to deadly. Your story validated this 5,000 years old philosophy.

residents there are opposed to building a wall because of view at the end of the street.

bltserv - 21 October 2009 09:52 PM

A Con story for a CDS location.

We used to live in a CDS in Culver City. Revere Pl.
These were very long CDS`s that ended at Ballona Creek.

One night a Motorcycle going about 80 MPH found the end of the CDS street the hard way.
Girl on the back didnt make it. She was pregnant too. First time I had someone die in my arms.

What a tragic and horrible experience for the girl family and you too…......A very sad situation.