So some of you guys have rentals, anyone own any next to fairly active railroad tracks? How does that work out?

Their is currantly an occupied house next to them, but I found a lot next to the house thats alongside the tracks too. I think I can steal it and build a 2 family cheap. I'm going to try to steal the house and the lot and convert the house to a two family, than build a two next to it. So I'll have 4 units.


Other than being close to the tracks the location is perfect. Close to town for night life, close to the train station and I95. Ideal location, my uncle owns 10 condos up the street and they are always full and he gets a good dollar for them.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Don't have any rentals near a railroad track but from my experience, as long as you price them less than comparable places away from the tracks, they should be rentable as long as the market is strong. In my experience, units with some kind of 'defect' like that become harder to rent as the market weakens. You might be able to overcome the undesirablity by adding a desirable feature like a washer and dryer.
I have two units that share a bathroom. I'd put those units in the same kind of category as ones near a railroad track.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I know a house that is near rail road tracks and a crossing. The poor folks have to deal with the rumble of a train coming by 60 mph WITH a horn.

I believe they put up a stone barrier which probably helps with the rumble of a train, but the horn is the most annoying aspect. Then again they probably are quite used to it.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

Yeah. Big difference if they are near a crossing or not. The bells and horn are the worst. Also, what kind of tracks, commuter train or heavy freight? And what speeds. Where I work we are at a crossing and heavy freight trains come through at 60 MPH. The building shakes and we have to stop talking since we can't hear anything. No wonder it is the "bad" part of town...

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Well I have a set right in my backyard so we can talk at length.

First off is this the Amtrak line that goes into NYC? (Which would make it a lot busier then the north south line)

How far is the house from the tracks?

Is there anything between the house and the tracks? (Even if its just trees)

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

If it is truly a great location and you price it a bit lower than the market then I would think you could keep them rented.

My philosopy is to have first class units with quality features and keep them up. That way I can attract first class tenants.

My first rule of landlordism is to let them set empty before renting to the wrong tenant.

I have not had to evict any of my residential tenants for about ten years....same for commercial tenants.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Evaluate the house from a structural standpoint. The continual vibrations from passing trains "works" the structure.

Its an Amtrak line going into the city, so you have trains going by ever 15 at peak to every hour.

Not so much freight mostly commuter trains, but its close to the train station so they are not going that fast.


The existing house actualy isn't on the tracks, it has another house as a barrier. The lot would be right next to the tracks, you would have about 30-40 feet between the structure and tracks.


The location is great, my uncle has no problem getting $1,100-$1,300 for his units right up the street. He is on a main road but is off the tracks a bit. If I price the units at say $1k a month just below market I should be able to rent them.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You should be able to rent them - it's amazing how it's a big distraction to certain folks and not a concern to others. We bought a Loft in a new development and there was a set of tracks behind it - it was concerning to me and we almost didn't do the deal because of it, but I'm glad we did - tenants don't seem to mind if the price is right and there are enough other desirable features in the units to make it an attractive package. Proceed carefully, and keep evaluating but I wouldn't consider that a deal-killer.

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Well if they are going slow you really won't notice them with that other house acting as a barrier. I've noticed too that over the years the number of freight trains coming through has really fallen drastically. A good size freighter can really rumble a house even from a few hundred feet away.

Overall though I think living on a main road would be much worse and much louder. But like anything else, people would eventually get used to it. The trains come by infrequently and at predictable times. Also most of the trains aren't used during the night (When most people are home)

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Yeah it doesn't sound like a deal killer. I'll look at it tomarow and make the guy an offer.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

So your going to buy the existing house, break it down and then rebuild a new two unit structure? How bad is the condition of the existing house/how old is it?

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

I lived by railroad tracks for 6 years. You get used to it quick, or at least my family did. The rent was about 150 cheaper then a comparitive property located elsewhere, that was our draw.
I am sure there are some that would never get used to it.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

I was going to resist, but I have to follow my grammar police instinct....

This is a "currant":



Proper spelling is current - currently.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Good luck getting Hattie to spell and stuff.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.