Choosing a place to live is probably one of the most important decisions a person has to make in their lifetime, and with rising real estate prices, the choices are limited. There are several factors to consider when looking for a property, however, price and location are the main factors that influence our decision – even more so when considering living near an airport.
There is always a tradeoff in finding the perfect home since no property can fit the definition of “the perfect home”. Living near an airport might not be the ideal choice but some people have adapted and have found their “Perfect Home”.
A person that wants a calm environment might not prefer having their house being in the vicinity of an airport. On the other hand, a hearing-impaired person or someone with a job at the airport might instantly snap at the opportunity of lower-priced properties.
To help you make the right decision, Graana.com, Pakistan’s smartest property portal, features everything you need to know about living near an airport.
Pros of Living Near an Airport
An airport is the hub of all major transportation routes and living near one comes with some enticing benefits.
Cheaper Prices
If a property, especially residential, is located near an airport, its value is automatically lowered by some margin due to a variety of negative attributes associated with airports. However, this is not an iron-clad rule as some commercial properties may rise in value. Although, if you can adapt to living near an airport, cheaper home prices are something to look forward to.
Quick Access to Main Highways
Airports have quick access to the main highways as they require high-quality road infrastructure. Convenient access to the main highway usually means that traffic issues are mitigated and most places in the city are relatively easy to access.
Never Miss a Flight
This might seem like an obvious and small benefit but for frequent travellers, travelling to and from the airport can take up a sizable portion of time that could be used for other important tasks.
Jobs
An airport is a megastructure and requires many auxiliary systems to keep it running smoothly. This opens up several opportunities for jobs at the airport. Airports claim that they create jobs. However, this number is usually on the optimistic side and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Cons of Living Near an Airport
An airport is a very busy place and living near one comes with a few significant downsides.
Noise Pollution
The most obvious drawback of living near an airport is noise pollution. A jet taking off registers very high on the decibel scale. An airport has about 4 times the amount of noise compared to an average urban living space. A high level of noise on the decibel scale certainly means that airplanes taking off would shake the whole building due to resonation.
Moreover, if an airport has a higher frequency of nighttime flights, it may disturb your natural sleep patterns, increasing the risk of detrimental effects on your health.
Air Contaminants
Commercial jets burn a lot of fuel and expel harmful particles in the air such as sulphur dioxide, Ozone, and Carbon Monoxide. When jet fuel burns, it can leave behind a lot of microparticles. This can easily cause respiratory complications, if exposed for prolonged periods.
Longer Travel Times
Due to their immense sizes and negative effects on quality of life, airports are generally constructed on the outskirts of the city. This means that if you live near an airport, a lot of crucial services such as hospitals, educational institutes, and shopping centres will be farther away from your house. It also means that your friends and family might not be able to visit you more often.
Pro tips to consider if you have no choice
Life doesn’t always present us with choices, forcing us to make do with what we have. Here are some tips to make living near an airport more bearable.
- Invest in Insulation
Triple glazed insulation can reduce noise levels by a significant margin and is a worthwhile investment to consider if you’re deciding on living near an airport.
- Study the Airport Traffic
Sometimes, an airport with lower traffic or low-powered jets might not be that much of a nuisance. Therefore, if the airport has no nighttime flights and you go to work in the morning, you can avoid a major portion of the noise pollution.
- Invest in Air Filters
Air pollution is a major issue and high-quality ventilation systems with good air filtration can significantly mitigate the number of pollutants you breathe.
High-quality air purifiers can significantly help with the problem.
Airports are being constructed in more and more cities as the economy expands. Some of the most prominent societies to look out for in the three main cities of Pakistan have been listed below.
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan and is host to some of the most modern infrastructure in the country. Some housing societies and their distance from the airport are listed below.
- Supreme court housing society (10km)
- Eighteen (23km)
- Top City 1 (10km)
Lahore
Lahore is also host to some impressive housing projects in the vicinity of the Allama Iqbal International Airport. Therefore, a few have been listed below.
- Askari 10 (6km)
- DHA 5 (10km)
- Cantt housing scheme (6km)
Karachi
Karachi is the most populous city in Pakistan, resulting in limited choices for deciding where to construct houses. Some of the city’s prominent housing societies near Jinnah International Airport have been listed below.
- Model Colony (3 km away)
- Green Town, Shah Faisal (5 km away)
- Malir Cantt (7 km away)
While every neighbourhood has its downsides and upsides. Certainly, it all comes down to your particular preference and circumstances and how you adapt to them.
For more informat0ion, visit Graana.com – Pakistan’s first online real estate marketplace.
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