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House values and cell antennas

January 10, 2019

One reason you would not want a Close Proximity Microwave Radiation Antenna (CPMRA) in front of or near your home is that it will lower the value of your home.  This is one of the reasons cities and towns should limit and regulate the permitting of CPMRAs to the greatest extent possible.  Among other things cities and towns can amend their zoning codes to say that:

CPMRAs are not allowed in residential zones, only in commercial and industrial zones.
There must be at minimum distance of 2,000′ between CPMRAs.
There must be a buffer or setback of at least 500′ between a CPMRA and the nearest home.
Other than the antenna and wires all of the electrical equipment must be placed underground.

and so on.

If you are looking for resources on the relationship between the presence of a CPMRA and house values, either for yourself or to provide to your city or town, here are some.

There is a legal obligation for a real estate agent or broker to disclose the existence of a facility when selling a home which will decrease the home value.

The California Association of Realtors maintains that “sellers and licensees must disclose material facts that affect the value or desirability of the property” and this includes “known conditions outside of and surrounding the property”.  A material fact is one that a reasonable home buyer would wish to know.

The California Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement requires disclosure of “11. Neighborhood noise problems or other nuisances.”

The California Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement also requires disclosure of “19. Whether the subject property is affected by or zoned to allow certain manufacturing or commercial or airport use as set forth in CCP 731a.”

Make no mistake – everyone will know the cell antenna or Close Proximity Microwave Radiation Antenna (CPMRA) is there.  Besides the unsightly antennas placed on light poles or utility poles there will be safety, emergency notification and warning signs that will signal their presence.  Also, neighbors will know they are there and hopefully will speak up against them to prevent them.  Of course there is also the moral obligation to consider in making disclosures when selling one’s home.  Would you sell a home to a couple with young children if there is a CPMRA in front of the home?!

You can download these documents, reports, studies, etc.

TAJSummer05p256-277

Bond_The_Impact_Of_Cellular_Phone_Base_Station_Towers_On_Property_Values

Burbank Action on DECREASED REAL ESTATE VALUE

LACRPB letters on house values

Santa Cruz preschool closes citing cell tower radiation

Burbank Real Estate Professionals Statement

Burgoyne appraiser on Cell-Towers-Home-Values

NISLPP survey on lower house values

EMF-Real-Estate-Survey-Results-PDF

Good luck!