What Happens to Home Values If You Live Near a Nuclear Reactor?

In response to the nuclear crisis in Japan, U.S. real estate experts are keeping a close eye on domestic home prices in areas near nuclear reactors — especially given talk that some states may require that a dwelling’s distance from a nuclear power plant be disclosed during the sales process. More buyers likely will ask about nearby nuclear stations, and Marquette University economics professor David Clark expects downward movement in residential prices for affected properties — at least temporarily. Experts note that it takes a couple of years after a new power plant is built for home prices to edge back up after the initial drop caused by owners of nearby properties putting them on the market all at once. Clark says prices take a bigger hit in areas where cooling towers or stacks are visible than in closer-in areas where the reactor cannot be seen. | Read More