By tf-lawyer.com Despite the growing popularity of pickleball, the noise generated by the game is reportedly “shrill and unpleasant,” and the volume is loud enough to negatively impact property values near the courts. A case in point is the Comeau couple’s home in Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts, which has seen a price drop of $305,000 yet remains unsold.
Judy Comeau, a 65-year-old retiree, lives just two minutes from the beach. Her three-bedroom house was listed for $1.3 million in January but struggled to garner interest, dropping to $995,000 by the end of August. She believes the incessant “pop pop pop” sounds from the adjacent pickleball court are to blame.
Her neighbor, Kim Hannon, echoed the sentiment, telling the Boston Globe, “The sound of pickleball is both shrill and unpleasant. Ultimately, it can become quite annoying. Initially, I didn’t think it would be that bad, but now it’s truly bothersome.”
In an effort to resolve the issue, Comeau has retained a lawyer to explore options to halt play at the pickleball club, hoping this action will assist in selling her home. “Our belongings are packed and nearly moldy because we thought we would have moved by now,” she lamented.
Comeau’s struggles are not unique. She admits there’s no concrete evidence linking her home’s unsold status directly to the noise from pickleball. According to New Hampshire realtor Josh Judge, however, the sport has become a significant concern for sellers in the area.
Judge shared with Realtor.com, “I had a client who was very interested in a property. But upon arriving and seeing the nearby pickleball courts, they immediately changed their mind and didn’t even want to see the inside of the house.”
He noted that some individuals have chosen to relocate specifically because of the pickleball courts opening up in their neighborhoods.
Hannah Jones, the chief economist at Realtor.com, stated that pickleball courts are far from the only “lifestyle amenities” causing buyers to walk away from a property. “Bars and restaurants can also deter noise-sensitive buyers,” she pointed out.
On the flip side, residents living near pickleball courts shouldn’t worry too much, as Jones suggested that such amenities might boost property values. “There are buyers who may be excited about living close to an active hotspot,” she explained.
For those looking to invest in real estate without the concern of noise, there’s an alternative: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). REITs function like mutual funds for real estate, allowing investors to buy or sell based on their needs without the necessity of owning physical properties.
