Pickleball in Real Estate: Not In My Backyard?
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, Guest Contributor
The latest sports craze may be driving some homeowners crazy. Homeowners who live next to pickleball courts say the constant popping noise of a hard paddle hitting a wiffle ball is too noisy and, in even some cases, making it impossible to sell their home. The location of pickleball courts near residential areas is even triggering some lawsuits.
In the latest pickleball feud to grab national headlines, a Cape Cod couple in Massachusetts has blamed the noise from the pickleball courts bordering their backyard for blocking the sale of their $1 million dollar home over the last eight months, despite price drops. Homeowner Judith Comeau described the noise to Boston.com similar to a vacuum cleaner constantly running. She’s hired an attorney to get the courts removed.
Pickleball complaints are growing. More cities and neighborhoods are adding courts, due to public demand, which means more homeowners may find themselves co-existing near pickleball. Also, more home buyers are starting to question whether they can live next to the constant rackets of a pop, pop, pop.
Trying to Soften the Racket
As the backlash grows, firms are popping up to offer some sound-proofing relief to noisy courts. For example, Spendiarian & Willis Acoustics & Noise Control told KPBS in San Diego that it has handled about 80 pickleball noise consultations since 2010. The firm’s research has found that noise mitigation measures may include lowering the courts several feet into the ground and constructing sound barriers for courts that are within 350 feet of homes. The firm advisees that courts not be constructed within 100 feet of residences.
Also, companies are offering up quieter paddles and balls, although pickleball enthusiasts may argue that it changes their game. However, USA Pickleball certified the OWL paddle, which touts that it can potentially reduce noise by 50% compared to standard paddles.
Are You Just ‘Noise Sensitive?’
Regardless of noise, many real estate professionals say they don’t view nearby pickleball courts as a negative when listing a home for-sale. In fact, they’re increasingly marketing pickleball courts’ proximity to their listings—with a 64% increase this year in pickleball references being made in home listing data, according to Zillow research.
Elyse Sarnecky, director of marketing at Marketplace Homes, a real estate brokerage and property management company with operations nationwide, has seen nearby pickleball courts even work to homeowners’ advantage. For example, in a recent home sale in Tampa, Fla., a couple lived three doors down from the neighborhood’s new pickleball courts. Marketplace Homes launched “pickleball ad campaigns” targeting nearby apartment communities geared to ages 55-and-up, and mailed pickleball-themed postcards to draw pickleball players who’d like to live so close to courts.
“This is a great example of taking what could potentially be a negative and turning it into a positive,” Sarnecky says. “We were able to form a marketing strategy and game plan.” The home sold for above asking price—$520,000 (originally listed for $515,000). Sarnecky credits the courts as being a big draw.
Rebecca Hidalgo Rains, a CEO/Designated Broker at Integrity All Stars Realty in Chandler, Ariz., views pickleball noise complaints similar to potential gripes about nearby freeway noise or living near power lines. “When it comes to noise objections, it’s very personal,” she says, adding that some people aren’t as “noise sensitive” as others. “As long as the house is priced right for the market, it will sell,” she says. “Pickleball is the newest craze in outdoor recreation, and to live near it, I believe is a good thing.”
