Can Power Lines Near Your Home Have an Impact on Value?

There is a lot of conflicting information out there about power lines and how they affect the value of homes and property. Some people feel they are an eyesore, other's don't like the noise, and others feel that they are a health hazard as well. Here's a closer look at this controversy to help you figure out if this is something that may affect the purchasing or selling of a home.

Power Lines and Cancer
Some people believe that the electro magnetic fields that are invisibly generated by power lines are damaging to the DNA and can cause cancers to develop. This definitely sounds scary, but if you dissect the information available, you'll find that there are no scientific conclusions that this is the case. Research has been done by various top health organizations, and they all have come to the conclusion that there is not enough evidence to say that these power lines can increase the risk of cancer. Here is a look at several of the studies that have been done:

- http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/emf/
- http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/magnetic-fields
- http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs304/en/index.html

Power Lines and Your Home's Resale Value
Of course, even though there is no research to say that power lines can be dangerous to your health, there are still plenty of people who are afraid of the. Many people read horror stories of problems supposedly developed by leaving near power lines and they have a fear of power lines on or near a property. This is an irremediable defect to a piece of property that you can't really change, and it definitely can affect your resale value on a home.

In some cases you will find that fewer buyers are willing to purchase a home that is located near power lines, especially those who have small children. Some are worried about health hazards while others may not want the line towers on or near their property since they look ugly. Studies show that while these properties still sell, you can expect to see a price hit between 1-5%, depending on the area, the number of power lines, and their proximity to the home.

Of course, you'll always have those people who are thrilled to get a beautiful home for a reasonable price, no matter where it is located. There are things you can do to make your home more attractive for buyers as well. Consider planting a nice hedge around your home or some trees that help to block the power lines from sight. If they can't easily see the power lines, buyers may be more likely to purchase the home.

So, you'll definitely find that power lines can throw a wrench in your plans of selling a home, but you should still be able to sell your home. You may take a bit of a price hit, but with a bit of improvement on your part, you should be able to distract buyers from power lines if they aren't directly on your property.